F. W. Murnau's mastery of the medium is without question, and 'Tartuffe' represents still another showcase of his great skills as a director. I'm immediately taken in by his arrangement of shots and scenes, which largely seems distinct from some of his other films. The camerawork often favors tightly focused shots that spotlight a single element of a scene, drawing forth all detail thereof - whether every nuance of an actor's expressions, or a specific aspect in a space. This approach especially lets us appreciate all the more the subtleties of the stars' performances, and superb rounding aspects like hair, makeup, costume design, and set decoration. It's strange to me at this point that Murnau is a filmmaker most widely known for a single horror film - it's unfortunate, for even recognizing that picture's quality, his fantastic body of work speaks for itself and is far, far more than one genre piece.
I admire Carl Mayer's screenplay, adapting another work with the novelty of telling a story within a story. It's a tack that's not without pitfalls, as overemphasis on one segment or the other may well weaken the integrity and impact of either or both. I'm not entirely sold on the usage here, but I will say that both components are written quite well. Characterizations are strong, and the intertitles are generally cheeky and biting. Moreover, hand in hand with Murnau's pointed scene work as director, Mayer's screenplay seems to prize concrete, distinct moments above all, even as all together they build a whole story. And, with that, 'Tartuffe' is a great success that ever advances with what feels like careful exactness from one beat to the next - a precision that, for the skills of all involved, nonetheless feels perfectly natural.
Why, it's certainly not just Murnau and Mayer - the whole cast likewise operates with a high level of remarkable intelligence. All on hand embody their characters with vivid completeness that rather seems to defy the inherent constraints of the silent era. The exaggerated facial expressions and body language demanded by the lack of sound or dialogue broadly portend a built-in sense of artificiality, but I think in this case the rigorous precision from every angle instead simply brings the tableau to brilliant life without so severe an air of pretense. For that matter, it may be that in the moment I'm prone to overexcited praise, yet I can't help but be roundly impressed with how strikingly rich every facet of 'Tartuffe' is, from start to finish. Any minor deficiency there may be in the production is far overshadowed by the substantial, far more prominent quality.
Despite being so enamored of Murnau otherwise, I admit I began watching with uncertain expectations. Any possible doubts were quickly laid to rest, however, as the direction readily enthused, then the writing, and then the acting, to say nothing of fine technical craft. I wouldn't necessarily say that the movie is perfect; there remains something about it that just feels a little off to me - perhaps in the framing of the story? - that ever so slightly dampens my enjoyment. Still, it's just as likely that I'm nitpicking as that I'm watching the picture through rose-tinted glasses. No matter how you look at it, 'Tartuffe' is a wonderfully entertaining, engaging film, vibrant and fulfilling - another marvelous testament to the abilities of all involved, and to the lasting value of the silent era. As far as I'm concerned this comes very highly recommended, well worth checking out wherever you're able!
I admire Carl Mayer's screenplay, adapting another work with the novelty of telling a story within a story. It's a tack that's not without pitfalls, as overemphasis on one segment or the other may well weaken the integrity and impact of either or both. I'm not entirely sold on the usage here, but I will say that both components are written quite well. Characterizations are strong, and the intertitles are generally cheeky and biting. Moreover, hand in hand with Murnau's pointed scene work as director, Mayer's screenplay seems to prize concrete, distinct moments above all, even as all together they build a whole story. And, with that, 'Tartuffe' is a great success that ever advances with what feels like careful exactness from one beat to the next - a precision that, for the skills of all involved, nonetheless feels perfectly natural.
Why, it's certainly not just Murnau and Mayer - the whole cast likewise operates with a high level of remarkable intelligence. All on hand embody their characters with vivid completeness that rather seems to defy the inherent constraints of the silent era. The exaggerated facial expressions and body language demanded by the lack of sound or dialogue broadly portend a built-in sense of artificiality, but I think in this case the rigorous precision from every angle instead simply brings the tableau to brilliant life without so severe an air of pretense. For that matter, it may be that in the moment I'm prone to overexcited praise, yet I can't help but be roundly impressed with how strikingly rich every facet of 'Tartuffe' is, from start to finish. Any minor deficiency there may be in the production is far overshadowed by the substantial, far more prominent quality.
Despite being so enamored of Murnau otherwise, I admit I began watching with uncertain expectations. Any possible doubts were quickly laid to rest, however, as the direction readily enthused, then the writing, and then the acting, to say nothing of fine technical craft. I wouldn't necessarily say that the movie is perfect; there remains something about it that just feels a little off to me - perhaps in the framing of the story? - that ever so slightly dampens my enjoyment. Still, it's just as likely that I'm nitpicking as that I'm watching the picture through rose-tinted glasses. No matter how you look at it, 'Tartuffe' is a wonderfully entertaining, engaging film, vibrant and fulfilling - another marvelous testament to the abilities of all involved, and to the lasting value of the silent era. As far as I'm concerned this comes very highly recommended, well worth checking out wherever you're able!