History Film / Nosferatu

* KillEmAll: Orlok kills everyone on the ship except for one crew member who sees Orlok rise out of his coffin and is so terrified that he jumps overboard.

Another remake is currently being planned, and is scheduled to be helmed by Robert Eggers (''Film/TheWitch'' and ''Film/TheLighthouse'').

''Only Lucy knew the truth''
->''And at her window --''
->''Nosferatu."''
-->-- '''Music/BlueOysterCult'''

->''Nosferatu"''

* CaptainOblivious: It takes Hutter entirely too long to figure out that [[ObviouslyEvil the ghoulish figure with sharp talons and giant fangs who wants to suck the blood out of his finger]] might not be exactly the safest guy to be around.

* BreakingAndBloodsucking: Ellen's plan to destroy Orlok is to wait for him to attack her in her bed and allow him to slowly feed to distract him from the lethal sunrise.

* HeroicSacrifice: Ellen reads in the book that Hutter brought back from Transylvania that a vampire can be killed when "a sinless maiden makes the Vampire forget the first crow of the cock - if she was to give him her blood willingly." Thus, she deliberately lets Orlok feed on her to distract him until [[WeakenedByTheLight sunrise]], and she dies soon after.

* SupportingProtagonist: Hutter. His wife Ellen's presence protects him from Orlok while he's in Transylvania, and it is only through her [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice]] that Orlok is killed.

* WeakenedByTheLight: Sunlight makes Orlok catch fire and disappear. (As noted above, this film is the TropeMaker.)
* WeatherSavesTheDay: Despite being a thinly veiled stealth-adaptation of ''{{Literature/Dracula}}'', the film's Van Helsing equivalent, Bulwer, has a greatly diminished role. Count Orlok is instead anticlimactically killed by an unexpected sunrise rather than being slain by Hutter and a Quincey Morris equivalent.

* AnimalMotifs: Orlok has a very subtle (yet obvious in hindsight) connection with rats and, through them, the plague. His fangs are rat-like incisors rather than the elongated canines usually used for vampires, his pointed nose and thin face gives him a rodent-like quality to his facial features, and even his taloned hands call to minds the grasping paws of a giant rat.

* CaptainErsatz: Since the film was an unauthorized adaptation of Creator/BramStoker's ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', Stoker's heirs sued over the adaptation, and a court ruling ordered that all copies of the film were to be destroyed. A small number of prints survived, and narrowly avoided being wiped out of existence.

** The film's equivalents of Van Helsing, Holmwood and Seward, only appear in scenes that do not relate to the overall plot, and they never learn that Orlok is a vampire. But they're better off than Quincy and Lucy, who [[AdaptedOut don't have counterparts at all]]. Annie is often viewed as Lucy's counterpart though. One English copy of the film even calls her as such.
** It is also worth mentioning that Annie, just as Lucy, is implied to be visited by Orlok, and in a deleted scene she would be lured by vampire to the seaside and bitten. In the novel Dracula lures Lucy to a small seaside cemetery and bites her for the first time.

* {{Gonk}}: Orlok is a very grotesque rat-like looking vampire and the first sign that he's far from a human being.
* GhostShip: The one Orlok takes to Germany becomes one of these when it pulls into port because of him.

* KillEmAll: Orlok kills everyone on the ship, except for one crew member who is so terrifed after seeing Orlok rise out of his coffin that he jumps overboard.

* ObviouslyEvil: Orlok is a skeleton thin, hairless man with CreepyLongFingers who acts very shady, but Hutter suspects nothing.

* AdaptationalWimp: Dracula in the original book was merely weakened by sunlight, while Orlok [[spoiler:straight up died from it]].

* SettingUpdate: At least one restoration of the film gives it a time stamp of 1838, approximately 60 years before ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' was set and published. This does track with some of the visual details like Ellen's hair and dresses, as well as the less advanced science and technology in the narrative.

It didn't work. The film company that produced ''Nosferatu'' was forced to declare bankruptcy to avoid paying royalties to Bram Stoker's estate for copyright infringement. All copies of this film were supposed to [[DisproportionateRetribution be destroyed]] because of the infringement, but a KeepCirculatingTheTapes mentality among fans of the film kept it from being [[MissingEpisode lost.]] ([[DigitalPiracyIsOkay Pre-digital movie piracy?]] It's OlderThanYouThink.) We, too, can see the greatness of Murnau's vision.

This movie is in the public domain and may be viewed in its entirety at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC6jFoYm3xs YouTube.]] A re-scored version with ProgressiveRock music by Creator/IsaacBaranoff can be viewed online. In 2017, a version called ''[[http://nonsilentfilm.com/en/ Nosferatu: the Non Silent Film]]'' was created by Brazilian agency [=AlmapBBDO=] and Punch Audio, which not only re-scores the film but also layers on sound effects and voice clips from Getty Images' massive audio library (a trailer can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFUbKJ64BKo&t=25s here]]).

In 1979 Creator/WernerHerzog wrote and directed ''Film/NosferatuTheVampyre'' (German title: ''Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht''), a re-adaptation of ''Dracula'' heavily influenced by the Murnau film's iconic visuals and streamlined plot. Creator/KlausKinski played the title role (now back to the name "Dracula"), and Herzog's film is considered by many to be as good as if not better than the original. Kinski would return for the 1988 sort-of-sequel ''Nosferatu in Venice''.

There are a number of myths about the film, and particularly its star. Firstly, it ''was'' Max Schreck in the title role, not an unknown or [[Film/{{Metropolis}} Alfred Abel]] under a pseudonym. It was also ''not'' Max Schreck's only role; he appeared in over 20 films and hundreds of stage productions, all in Germany. For that matter, it wasn't even Schreck's only role for Murnau, as the two collaborated again on ''Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs'' two years later. E Elias Merhige used many of the myths to craft the 2000 film ''Film/ShadowOfTheVampire,'' which portrayed Schreck as an actual vampire. It also takes inspiration for the relationship of "Murnau" and "Schreck" not from the real Murnau and Schreck[[note]]Schreck was no method actor and according to production accounts, was totally normal and friendly off-camera - which somehow made it even stranger, since he had to remain in his Orlok makeup![[/note]] but from the famously insane and violent relationship between Creator/WernerHerzog and Creator/KlausKinski.

Another remake is currently being planned, and is scheduled to be helmed by Robert Eggers, director of ''Film/TheWitch''.

* AdaptationNameChange: Dracula becomes Orlok, Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter, Mina Harker becomes Ellen Hutter, Renfield becomes Knock, Van Helsing becomes Bulwer and Seward becomes Sievers. There is a print that reverts everyone's names, yet Mina becomes "Nina" and ''The Twelfth Hour" changed everyone's name once again with Orlok becoming Prince Wolkoff, Knock becoming Karsten, Hutter becoming Kundberg, Ellen becoming Margitta and Annie becoming Maria.

* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: The etymology of the word "nosferatu" is unclear. This movie isn't the first to use it (Stoker's novel referenced it first), but the usual origin (the UsefulNotes/{{Romania}}n word for "vampire") is false. The two most probable etymologies are a corruption of the Romanian "Necuratu," meaning "unclean spirit," or [[UsefulNotes/{{Greece}} Greek]] "Nosophoros," meaning "bringer of plague."

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * GermanExpressionism

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * StarCrossedLovers

In 1979 Creator/WernerHerzog wrote and directed ''Nosferatu the Vampyre'' (German title: ''Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht''), a re-adaptation of ''Dracula'' heavily influenced by the Murnau film's iconic visuals and streamlined plot. Creator/KlausKinski played the title role (now back to the name "Dracula"), and Herzog's film is considered by many to be as good as if not better than the original. Kinski would return for the 1988 sort-of-sequel ''Nosferatu in Venice''.

!!The original

!!The Herzog/Kinski remake

* AdaptationalWimp: Van Helsing is all but useless here, so Lucy has to take down Dracula herself.
* AdaptationNameChange: In this version, Orlok is actually called Dracula. Lucy and Mina trade names as well.
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: In the original, Orlok was a pure evil vampire who enjoyed his lifestyle and had no regrets of being one. Here, Dracula is portrayed more sympathetically as a TorturedMonster. Crosses over with AdaptationalNiceGuy.
* AffablyEvil: Dracula always speaks kindly and politely. In particular, he has a nice conversation with Harker when he welcomes him in the castle.
-->'''Dracula''': Please, help yourself. Please, I'm afraid you must dine alone. It's nearly midnight and I partake of nothing at this hour. Unfortunately, the servants are not at our disposal. So allow me to see to your comfort.
* BlatantLies: When Harker asks to go to Dracula's castle, the coachman tells that he has no coach and no horse, even if the coach and the horses are right next to him.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Lucy is dead, Van Helsing is arrested for killing Dracula and Harker is now a vampire who will presumably continue to spread death and disease. Lucy's sacrifice ultimately meant nothing]].
* {{Fainting}}: When Jonathan finally returns to Lucy, but doesn't recognize her, she faints.
* LaughingMad: Renfield is constantly seized by fits of insane laughter.
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Lucy (Creator/IsabelleAdjani).
* TorturedMonster: Dracula. His voice carries a perpetually depressed tone, and he just generally doesn't seem to enjoy his cursed existence.
* VillainousCrush: Dracula falls for Lucy when he sees her portrait in a medallion.
* WhileRomeBurns: After society has almost completely broken down due to the plague, Lucy sees some people dancing and feasting among the coffins and rats.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: A major theme. It's not so much that he's outliving his loved ones, it's that no one could ''ever'' love a monster like him. And living forever, eternally unloved, is almost unbearable. It's possibly the most tragic interpretation of the Dracula story ever.

* AdaptationalWimp: Dracula in the original book was merely weakened by sunlight, while Orlok [[spoiler: straight up died from it]].

* BaldOfEvil: Orlok. Not a single strand of hair on his scalp.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: While Ellen's plan to destroy Orlok via causing him to attack her in her bed works, due to his feeding on her he forgets about the rooster's crow as the sun rises while she ultimately dies]].

* CaptainErsatz: Since the film was an unauthorized adaptation of Creator/BramStoker's ''Literature/{{Dracula}}''. Stoker's heirs sued over the adaptation, and a court ruling ordered that all copies of the film were to be destroyed. A small number of prints survived, and narrowly avoided being wiped out of existence.

* CreepyLongFingers: Orlok, as part of his [[LooksLikeOrlok defining appearance]].
* CueTheSun

** The film's equivalents of Van Helsing, Holmwood and Seward only appear in scenes that do not relate to the overall plot, and they never learn that Orlok is a vampire. But they're better off than Quincy and Lucy, who [[AdaptedOut don't have counterparts at all.]] Annie is often viewed as Lucy's counterpart though. One English copy of the film even calls her as such.

* GhostlyGlide: How Orlok moves.
* HappilyMarried: Hutter and Ellen.

* HeroicSacrifice: Ellen deliberately lets Orlok feed on her to distract him until [[WeakenedByTheLight sunrise]], and she dies afterwards.
* HollywoodDarkness: All the exterior night scenes, with little more than a bluish tint to suggest darkness.

* KillEmAll: Orlok kills everyone on the ship, except for one crew member who jumps out the porthole when he sees Orlok to save himself from the monster.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Hutter tells his wife that he is heading to "the country of thieves and ghosts" - and he seems [[MoodDissonance awfully excited about it too]]!
* ObviouslyEvil: Orlok is a skeleton thin, hairless man with CreepyLongFingers who acts very shady. Yet Hutter suspects nothing.

* PickedFlowersAreDead: Ellen, in the opening scene.
* PivotalWakeup: The TropeMaker, and one of the creepiest moments in the movie.

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * RedRightHand: See LooksLikeOrlok.

* UncertainDoom: The crew member who jumps out the porthole to escape Orlok. We don't know if he drowned or stayed afloat long enough to reach land or be rescued by another ship, though the first option seems more likely.
* VampireBitesSuck: Orlok's needle-like incisors leave two small pinprick-holes in the victim's throat.

->''"[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants Nosferatu!]]"''

* ComicBookAdaptation: Two, the first being a straightforward adaptation from 1989, the second a modernized adaptation from 2011.

* AdaptationNameChange: Dracula becomes Orlok, Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter, Mina Harker becomes Ellen Hutter, Renfield becomes Knock, Van Helsing becomes Bulwer and Seward becomes Sievers. There is a print that reverts everyone's names, yet Mina becomes "Nina" and ''The Twelfth Hour" changed everyone's name once again with Orlok becoming Wolkoff, Knock becoming Karsten, Hutter becoming Kundberg and Ellen becoming Margitta.

* AdaptationNameChange: Dracula becomes Orlok, Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter, Mina Harker becomes Ellen Hutter, Renfield becomes Knock, Van Helsing becomes Bulwer and Seward becomes Sievers. There is a print that reverts everyone's names, yet Mina becomes "Nina" and ''The Twelfth Hour" changed everyone's name once again.

* AdaptationNameChange: Dracula becomes Orlok, Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter, Mina Harker becomes Ellen Hutter, Renfield becomes Knock, Van Helsing becomes Bulwer and Seward becomes Sievers.

There are a number of myths about the film - firstly, it ''was'' Max Schreck in the title role, not an unknown or [[Film/{{Metropolis}} Alfred Abel]] under a pseudonym. It was also ''not'' Max Schreck's only role; he appeared in over 20 films and hundreds of stage productions, all in Germany. For that matter, it wasn't even Schreck's only role for Murnau, as the two collaborated again on ''Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs'' two years later. E Elias Merhige used many of the myths to craft the 2000 film ''Film/ShadowOfTheVampire,'' which portrayed Schreck as an actual vampire. It also takes inspiration for the relationship of "Murnau" and "Schreck" not from the real Murnau and Schreck[[note]]Schreck was no method actor and according to production accounts, was totally normal and friendly off-camera - which somehow made it even stranger, since he had to remain in his Orlok makeup![[/note]] but from the famously insane and violent relationship between Creator/WernerHerzog and Creator/KlausKinski.


A remake is currently being planned, and is scheduled to be helmed by Robert Eggers, director of ''Film/TheWitch''.

* AdaptationNameChange: In this version, Orlok is actually called Dracula.

Contrary to myth, this was ''not'' Max Schreck's only role; he appeared in over 20 films and hundreds of stage productions, all in Germany. For that matter, it wasn't even Schreck's only role for Murnau, as the two collaborated again on ''Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs'' two years later. The idea was perpetuated by the 2000 film ''Film/ShadowOfTheVampire,'' which portrayed Schreck as an actual vampire.

* AdaptationalWimp: Dracula in the original book was merely weakened by sunlight, while Orlok [[spoiler: straight up died from it]].

This movie is in the public domain and may be viewed in its entirety at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC6jFoYm3xs YouTube.]] A re-scored version with ProgressiveRock music by Creator/IsaacBaranoff and Music/FunnyAminals can be viewed online. In 2017, a version called ''[[http://nonsilentfilm.com/en/ Nosferatu: the Non Silent Film]]'' was created by Brazilian agency [=AlmapBBDO=] and Punch Audio, which not only re-scores the film but also layers on sound effects and voice clips from Getty Images' massive audio library (a trailer can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFUbKJ64BKo&t=25s here]]).

* AdaptationalWimp: Dracula in the original book was weakened by sunlight, while Orlok straight up died from it.

->'''Dracula''': Please, help yourself. Please, I'm afraid you must dine alone. It's nearly midnight and I partake of nothing at this hour. Unfortunately, the servants are not at our disposal. So allow me to see to your comfort.

* AffablyEvil: Dracula always speaks kindly and politely. In particular, he has a nice conversation with Lucy just before [[spoiler:killing her]].