Review of Phantom (1922) by Cindy I — 30 Jun 2010

Talk about love at first (and only) sight!!!! "Phantom" is a silent german movie directed by the famous F.W. Murnau, who later would direct the magnificent "Sunrise" (1927), and written by Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang's wife at the time, and who wrote such classics as "M" (1931), "Metropolis" (1927) and the "Dr.

Mabuse" series, until she became a nazi and divorced Lang, who fled to America. But back in early 1922 Murnau was famous for his also great "Nosferatu" and so, when later in the year he released a movie by the name of "Phantom", everyone expected another darker fantasy genre.

But the phantoms in "Phantom" are others, are the phantoms of the soul and conscience. A good prequel to the emotional depths of "Sunrise" but without really getting close to the immortal status in film history that "Sunrise" holds, "Phantom" is a story about an innocent and naive man falling into the depths of corruption and shame.

Yet it is told in flashback, so we know that it will end well. Lorenz Lubota (played by Alfred Abel) is a public civil servant devoted to his mother who aspires to be a poet. His mother is a poor old woman, his brother appears in two scenes only and his irrelevant, and his sister chose the bad life, a prostitute.

His editor friend who beliefs in his talent has a daughter who loves him, although he does not notice her. But we know, because of the first scene in the movie, that he will marry her in the end! There is also a rich aunt who trusts him and a scoundrel, the sister's current boyfriend.

The twist is, honestly, a stupid one. One day he is run over in the street. A lady helps him get up. He looks in her face, he falls in love instantly. He follows her home and that's it, he never sees her again.

Ever. But he becomes madly in love with her, and supposes he needs money to woo her. So he becomes an easy and gullible pray to the scoundrel and to another hooker who looks like that girl he thinks he loves.

So they convince him to rob the aunt, and squatter all the money on alcohol, parties, presents, etc. Lorentz always regrets, but his obsession with the girl and the threats that they will denounce him unless he complies make him fall deeper and deeper.

He looses his job, his mother gets sick, he tries to swindle the aunt again. Off course, it all turns bad, but in the end is made right. Murnau was a delicate director, so this descent into the abyss is magnificent, with a touch of delicacy like the ones that exist in "Aurora" or the Lillian Gish films of D.

W. Griffith. Yet, "Phantom" has two flaws. First the reason for his descent. A girl he sees once for 30 seconds? It doesn't make much sense really. He steals, lies, loses his job, etc, just for her? Was he that innocent and naive to begin with? Was he the saint lead by bad wolves the movie makes him out to be? And second, it is too long.

After a while the story is the same, he regrets, he wishes to go back on track, but can't because of the threats over his head. Half an hour less of film would produce the same results. But all in all, a delicate and easily watchable silent film about how easily anyone can be corrupted, but not in the least comparable to "Sunrise".

Thought lost for many years, a print of "Phantom" was found and restored, and is now available on DVD.