Written by John Fusco while he was still a student, this American twist on Faust was inspired by the mystery behind blues guitarist Robert Johnson and the legend behind his talent. After a failed attempt at hanging himself, the devil, under the alias of George Spiggott, played by Peter Cook, appears and offers him seven wishes in exchange for his soul. When they reach their destination, Willie reveals that he has signed his soul away to the devil and the only way to get it back is to duel him at guitar. To make matters worse, he is hopelessly in love with a wealthy woman who will not pursue a poor man. 8. Things go Balduin’s way for a short while but soon take a sinister turn. The focus of Clair’s story also differs from many of the interpretations. It was produced by Ted Chalmers, Carlos, Julio and Antonio Fernández, Bea Morillas, Miguel Torrente and Brian Yuzna. They hitchhike down, meeting a young runaway, played by Jamie Gertz, who Eugene falls in love with. Faust subtitles. British superstar Dudley Moore plays Stanley Moon, a depressed fry cook at a restaurant named Wimpy’s who has lost all reason to keep on living. Because it is a musical, the focus of the creativity is still on the song and dance numbers, but its plot is significantly more interesting than most of its kind. Many of the ideas in the film have been copied in various ways for horror movies ever since and many of the effects in the film are very revolutionary for the time. per page 1. At its best, Faust is a powerful piece of German Expressionism that uses its marvelous special effects to tell a classic story about humanity’s capacity for good, evil, and love. With Will Quadflieg, Gustaf Gründgens, Ella Büchi, Elisabeth Flickenschildt. The appeal of this story, and why it has lasted so long, is its universal relatability and the ease with which it can be located to a more contemporary format. Michel Simon is Prof. Henri Faust who has aged greatly and, despite dedicating his life to the practice of alchemy, has not attained a solid understanding on life’s mechanisms. Jan Svankmajer’s Faust is a rendering of the infamous Dr. Faustus fable of temptation and damnation. 7. Faust accepts and the two switch appearances. Speaking of the songs, there are many memorable tunes from the musical that are still performed regularly today, such as “Whatever Lola Wants.” While the film is somewhat dated in many ways and is not quite up to the caliber of the musical classics like West Side Story, Damn Yankees is a fun, unfairly forgotten film that puts a uniquely American spin on the Faust legend. The Best Shows and Movies to Watch This Week: Moonbase 8, Grey's Anatomy Season 17 Premiere Sensing vulnerable prey, the devil, alias Mr. Scratch, played by Walter Huston, shows up and offers Jabez seven years of good fortune and riches, at the end of which the devil collects him. Kagle is an extremely interesting character, partially due to Muni’s skill, but also because of the character’s lack of morality and lack of transition. Best | Worst. Set in New Hampshire a decade in the 1840s, the film follows Jabez Stone, a poor farmer, who can’t provide for his family and is about to be foreclosed on by his lender. Detailed | List | Gallery. The special effects are probably the first thing to come to mind, however, for those who have seen the film. After going to the spot, he says that he is Faust, triggering a production of the play to begin with him playing the lead alchemist. In the film, Kagle is killed by one of his associates and sent to Hell where he meets Nick, played by character actor Claude Rains, who offers him a deal. "Faust" is a must see for anyone that shares an equal love for satanic horror and divine tragedy. The only thing that had excited him before was the possibility of a waitress, Margaret, falling in love with him, but that too looks bleak. Wegener plays Balduin, a young student in Prague. Faust Release Date: November 15, 2013 A version of the German legend in which a man sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge. Typical of Murnau, the camera trickery and innovate techniques create absolutely stunning images and fantastical scenes, many of which are still awe-inspiring today, despite the advances in special effects. Author Bio: Matthew Benbenek is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In this German film, Emil Jannings glowers his way through the role of Mephistopholes, who offers the aging Faust an opportunity to relive his youth, the price being Faust's soul. The demon Mephisto wagers with God that he can corrupt a mortal man's soul. Free download from source, API support, millions of users. George Abbott, who also wrote the play and directed the stage version, leads this fun fantasy movie about America’s favorite past time. Chad Faust has done it all in Hollywood, evolving from an actor to a writer, and now a director. Watch Faust movie trailer and get the latest cast info, photos, movie review and more on TVGuide.com. Rosemary’s Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968). Below are the ten greatest cinematic interpretations of the great myth. Murnau. Faust: Love of the Damned is a 2000 American English-language Spanish superhero horror film directed by Brian Yuzna.It is adapted from a screenplay by David Quinn and Miguel Tejada-Flores based on the comic book of the same name by Tim Vigil and David Quinn. He targets an alchemist Faust and casts a plague on his city. The Student of Prague (Hans Heinz Ewers, 1913). Filmmaker Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau was one of the pioneering forces behind the German Expressionist movement, responsible for, among other things, the horror classic Nosferatu. Faust, however, shows that love is greater than despair and stays with his wife as they are burned at the stake, ascending into heaven and stumping the devil. Unlike much of the other renditions of this story, Stanley, the Faust character, is never corrupted by his power, but is constantly fooled by the wording of his wishes. A twist on the traditional telling of the story, Polanski’s adaptation of a novel by Ira Levin shows the tale from a different perspective. They move into an old apartment building which has a mysterious backstory and although things seem to go well initially, they soon take a turn for the worse. He wrote the script, and also plays a pivotal role in the indie-thriller. Privacy Policy (http://www.tasteofcinema.com/privacy-notice-and-cookies/) Theme by, Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists, 10 Great Faustian Movies That Are Worth Your Time, Taste of Cinema – Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists, The 15 Best Performances in The Movies of Woody Allen. The legend of Faust dates back to the 1400s in Germany where it spread as a popular folk tale, in the form of cheap stories and immature plays. One month free trial! The film begins with the devil Mephistopheles, played by the great Emil Jannings, who makes a bet with an angel that if he can corrupt a good man, he will win Earth. Faust is a 2011 Russian film directed by Alexander Sokurov. 666 – Traue keinem, mit dem du schläfst! This movie has perked my interest in the silent film era. Directed by Peter Gorski, Gustaf Gründgens. Things are looking up for Jabez, but soon he becomes arrogant with his success and he even leaves his wife for the mysterious Belle, played by Simone Simon. From that time, continuing all the way to present day, the artistic world is just as fascinated with the legend, inspiring everything from operas to paintings, and yes, to film. The aging scientist Faust is desperately in search of knowledge and insight, but without success. 0–9. Faust's bassist, Jean-Hervé Péron, once said to The Wire that when the band started out, they were 'trying to put aside everything we had heard in rock 'n roll'. Unbeknownst to Rosemary, Guy has been approached by the satanist cult in the building and has been coaxed into a deal with the devil. The Student of Prague has been remade many times after this initial release, most notably in 1926 by another German, Henrik Galeen. As a German, he had always wanted to make an adaptation of the Faust legend and finally, as the last film he made in Germany, Murnau created this masterpiece. FAUST: LOVE OF THE DAMNED (the movie and the novel) was a post-millennial apocalyptic idea based on several pagan beliefs including the ending of the Mayan calendar, so it is no surprise that part of the soundtrack includes Latino heavy metal bands. Stanley is also does not sell his soul for the intention of wealth or power, but to win the heart of Margaret, which he still fails. In his latest movie, Girl, he does all three.The film, starring Bella Thorne and Mickey Rourke, marks Faust's directorial debut. This film is a great example of how easily the classic story can be molded to fit any environment. With Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn, Frida Richard. Angel on my Shoulder (Archie Mayo, 1946). This film deviates from the Faust myth probably more than any other film on this list and the troubles of the protagonist are of a different, more helpless nature. 4. Typically the main character, Faust, is a man who is tired of his monotonous life which does not seem like it can go anywhere. The effects were also impressive, especially the ghost jury at the end of the film. Faust is considered by many to be Goethe's magnum opus and the greatest work of German literature. Rent Faust (2013) starring Johannes Zeiler and Anton Adasinsky on DVD and Blu-ray. For instance, the devil is not evil incarnate as he usually is portrayed, instead playing the fallen angel who still wants to get back into heaven. "Why Super Is James Gunn's Best Comic Book Movie. All rights reserved. There are many incredible aspects of this film. Based on the short story by American writer Stephen Vincent Benet, this great film by German director William Dieterle, who acted in the next film on this list, is a classic American resetting of the Faust tale. Probably the least well known film on this list but undeservedly so, Angel on my Shoulder capped the end of veteran filmmaker Archie Mayo, director of classics like The Petrified Forest. The performances all around are fantastic and the camera work in many ways was ahead of its time, showing the chaotic descent of Jabez Stone. Unfortunately, due to its age the film does not survive today in its entirety and what is left is of low quality. The tale of Faust does not have an exact plot, with most interpretations tweaking elements to suit their purpose better, but, no matter who is telling it, it always has a similar an overarching theme. Mission accomplished. From French auteur Rene Clair comes this fresh satirical retelling of the Faust legend. The film contains several other clever homages to the source material and fun new twists of its own. While there have been plenty of bloody comic book movies over the years, including Super and Kick-Ass, Faust: Love Of The Damned turns the dial right to the top. Svankmajer’s imaginative telling of the story is certainly the most unique of the various on this list, perplexingly switching settings, periods and plots without much warning. If you want a zombie-outbreak movie that features Lupita Nyong’o as the world’s best kindergarten teacher who sings Taylor Swift songs in between bouts of … Taste of Cinema 2019. He discovers that his new good looks make him much more successful with women and they soon become the full focus of his time. Faust: Love of the Damned (2000) is a Spanish-English fantasy superhero horror movie that was filmed in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Privacy Policy (http://www.tasteofcinema.com/privacy-notice-and-cookies/) Theme by, Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists, 10 Great Faustian Movies That Are Worth Your Time, Taste of Cinema – Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists, The 15 Best Performances in The Movies of Woody Allen. Faust, played by Johannes Zeiler, is a man in search of the ideals of the Enlightenment but he becomes obsessed with the lovely Magarethe ... Best Horror Movies. As with all films by Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer, his rendition of Faust is packed with enigmatic symbolism and bizarre, occasionally disturbing, twists. The film begins with the devil Mephistopheles, played by the great Emil Jannings, who makes a bet with an angel that if he can corrupt a good man, he will win Earth. Although the film was not a hit upon its release, its reputation has continued to grow over time, now being regarded as one of the great early fantasy films of Hollywood. When all seems lost, he is approached by Scapinelli, a mysterious old man, who promises to make Balduin wealthy in exchange for his soul. This list may not reflect recent changes . In 1971 there was no rock 'n roll that went as far out as this - Faust built on the foundation of Zappa, Beefheart, Red Krayola and others but took their sound into even more radical dimensions. Set in the 19th century, it is a free interpretation of the Faust legend and its literary adaptations by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Thomas Mann. Murnau (1888-1931) made two of the greatest films of the supernatural, "Nosferatu" (1922) and "Faust" (1926), both voted among the best horror films of all time on the Internet Movie Database: "Faust" surprisingly in fourth place, just ahead of "The Shining," "Jaws" and "Alien." The Best Movies Directed by Chad Faust Rank This Chart. The production was immense for German film industry of the time, only surpassed in magnitude by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, and today the film is regarded as a landmark film in the German Expressionist movement. Jihlanni Faust is an actor, known for American Soul (2019) and Coming 2 America (2020). The Top 10 Movies danfaust Hasn't Seen; The Top 20 Movies danfaust Hasn't Seen; The Top 50 Movies danfaust Hasn't Seen; The Best Horror Movies Of the 1980s; The Best Science Fiction Movies of 1977; The Best Comedy Movies Of the 2000s; The Most Recently Released Movies; The Most Recently Added Movies While Faust is initially set on continuing his studies, to uncover the secrets of nature, he soon becomes sidetracked. Directed by F.W. George Abbott, who also wrote the play and directed the stage version, leads this fun fantasy movie about America’s favorite past time. Borrowing freely from both Marlowe and Goethe and … This fun, fantastical retelling of Faust sets the tale in an gangster environment. Unfortunately, the Senators are an awful team at the moment and the losses take their toll on Joe and his wife Meg. 'Girl' Review: Bella Thorne's raw acting and a menacing Mickey Rourke make revenge thriller a treat to watch. Ralph Macchio stars as Eugene, a Juliard trained guitarist who becomes obsessed with the blues history of America, especially with Robert Johnson. He tracks down a former bandmate of Johnson, Willie Brown, played by Joe Seneca, in a jail for the elderly. Then the devil plot to ruin his life, turning the town against him, and tricking his lover into killing their child. In the deal he gains fame and success as an actor but in exchange he trades his wife’s body. Chad Faust • Starring: Bella Thorne, Mickey Rourke, Chad Faust. Based partially on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe and heavily influenced by the Faust story it is one of the very first horror films of all time. All the while, Mephistopheles plots to trick Faust into an early termination. Crossroads was made at the beginning of the downturn of director Walter Hill’s career, still more focused than his recent endeavors, but far from the talent shown in his early films like The Warriors and The Driver. God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist. A man sells his soul to the devil in order to gain superpowers and avenge the brutal death of his girlfriend. Fittingly, the Faustian character of the story, Eddie Kagle, is played by one of the most famous gangster stars of the era, Paul Muni. He is confronted by a young Mephistopheles, who promises to give him youth and a fresh start in exchange for his soul. Aside from the fun pokes at the gangster genre and the clever ways in which the writers wove elements of the legend into present day, Angel on my Shoulder is still more than a simple retelling of the myth. Its use keeps the film’s tone dark but adds a bit of necessary whimsy; at times one might even call the film comedic. He offers to transform Joe into a younger, baseball pro and let him carry his team to win the pennant. All he requires in return is his soul. 3. The dialogue is in German. Beauty and the Devil (Rene Clair, 1950). For those, however, that are a fan of the surreal art-house and like a challenge, this is not an interpretation to miss. Taste of Cinema 2019. It completely embraces the American culture of the time while keeping the theme and messages of the tale. He is a gifted swordsman and is well liked but is not able to continue his lifestyle due to his low funds and lack of income. Again, almost two hundred years later, the next great incarnation of Faust came in the form of Goethe’s two part play, which probably has the most influence over modern understandings of the tale. Instead of emphasizing the sin of greed, it attaches to the transformation of the character, showing that there was a lot more to life than he previously thought. Some argue that the remakes of the film are better, and in many ways, such as technically, this is undeniable. After Faust loses faith in God, Mephistopheles slowly gains his trust until he gets Faust to sign away his soul. Pages in category "Films based on Goethe's Faust" The following 13 pages are in this category, out of 13 total. It's almost impossible to count the number of beheadings and dismemberments, and the film revels in disturbing body horror and gross special effects. In many ways, the film is not all that original, and many of the plot points feel a bit hackneyed. 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