Review of Phantom (1922) by Sören G — 03 Dec 2008
I had a major catharsis with this film. it is rare that new musical ccompaniment can meld so well with a silent film, biut somehow Robert isreal has finally equalled the epic scores of Carl Davis (Greed, Flesh and the Devil), and created a score (the first I have ever heard that he has not cimply compiled from other pieces) which would disable the film should it be replaced.
The film itself, while very simple in the plot and extravagant in special effects, seems to evoke deeper feelings than any other Murnau film, except for SUNRISE. In a sense, it is a precursor to SUNRISE, in that it has a very similiar plot; man falls in love with woman and has many hallucinations and dreams about her, torturing him to the core.
Alfred Abel's performance is the best he's ever done and although he is very rigid, it connects on a personal level. He is a simple, callow fellow, a clerk who reads every chance he gets. He is very studious and his education is self produced.
He has become so engrossed in fiction that he cannot relate to the real world, hence his fantasies and taking poetic liberties with reality. At the same time, his aspirations bring about his social downfall and after a night in jail he returns to the world, enlightened.
I cannot say much for Lil Dagover's performance or that of Lya Di Putti, but the only female in the cast who is a decent actress (other than the mother), if Grete Berger. She is the only actress who knows how to perform, in this specific film.
Dagover and Di Putti provide a waxworks fascination, lacking personality. The mother and the aunt are character roles, illustrating two different ends of the spectrum of society. Both actresses play the roles as though this were a cheap Grand Guinol melodrama, but in some ways it heightens the effect.
All in all, this is a wonderful film and an excellent restoration by the Murnau Stiftung. For those of you film buffs, this DVD belongs on your shelf next to Dreyer's THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC and Sjostrom's TERJE VIGEN.
This review of Phantom (1922) was written by Sören G on 03 Dec 2008.
Phantom has generally received positive reviews.
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