The Nosferatu Story

Director F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, made in 1921, right after the devastating Spanish Flu pandemic, has become the ultimate cult classic among horror film buffs around the world. For years there was much speculation about the production background, the filmmakers, and their star, the German actor Max Schreck. This greatly expanded new edition, based upon years of dedicated research, tells the complete story drawing on rare sources. The trail leads to a group of occultists with a plan to establish a leading film company that would produce a momentous series of horror movies. Along the way, the author touches upon other classic German fantasy silents, such as The Golem, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Metropolis. New to this edition are additional photographs, documents and interviews, including one with Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker.

Rolf Giesen, a former visiting professor of animation at the Communication University of China and president of an animation museum in Changchun, China, has compiled a special effects collection for Deutsche Kinemathek in Berlin and has co-written several animation features. He is an expert on early fantasy and science fiction films.

Rolf Giesen
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 65 photos, appendix, filmographies, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2023
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9222-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5048-7
Imprint: McFarland

Reviews of the first edition:

“A must-read book…Giesen’s The Nosferatu Story is a much-welcomed addition to the English language literature on this landmark horror movie. Fans of German Expressionism, vampire films, and the history of occult cinema will definitely want to check it out”—AIPT Comics