F.W. Murnau's FAUST

"COPIED FROM THE CINEMA ARTS CENTRE WEB PAGE"

ANYTHING BUT SILENT: Classic silent films with live music With a live music score composed and performed on Theremin and Piano by Pamelia Kurstin and Nicholas D. Kent

Fresh from the triumphant releases of Nosferatu and The Last Laugh, F. W. Murnau was given carte blanche to direct this epic fable of the supernatural about Faust, a learned alchemist who sells his soul to the Devil. Freed by the story's fantastic premise, Murnau summoned forth a tempest of cinematic brimstone so that every scene ripples with reckless ingenuity. Faust captures the intensity of a medieval universe steeped in religious fanaticism. The great Emil Jannings (The Blue Angel), who sets off the film's sound and fury with a diabolically engaging performance.

Pamelia Kurstin is considered one of the world's leading virtuosos of the theremin. She has performed and recorded with the likes of Tortoise, Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon, David Byrne, Air, Matthew Sweet, and many others.

Nicholas D, Kent has composed scores for numerous films, including Glenn Andreiev’s Every Move You Make. He has performed at numerous New York venues such as Share and Tonic.

(Germany, 1926, 116 min., b/w • Director: F.W. Murnau • Cast: Emil Jannings, Gösta Ekman, Camilla Horn, William Dieterle)