Shadow of the Vampire

2000
R
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

45K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:34

Showbiz Drama Vampire Horror Drama Horror

The filming of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) is hampered by the fact that its star Max Schreck is taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.The filming of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) is hampered by the fact that its star Max Schreck is taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.The filming of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) is hampered by the fact that its star Max Schreck is taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

45K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

508

1,316

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 16 wins & 30 nominations total

Henrik Galeen
(as John Aden Gillet)

Nicholas Elliott

Paul - Camera Assistant
(as Nicholas Elliot)

Ronan Vibert

Wolfgang Muller

Sophie Langevin

Elke - Makeup Assistant

Myriam Muller

Maria - Script Assistant

Milos Hlavac

Innkeeper
(as Milos Hlavak)

Marja-Leena Junker

Innkeeper's Wife

Derek Kueter

Reporter 1

Norman Golightly

Reporter 2

Patrick Hastert

Reporter 3

Sascha Ley

Drunken Woman
(as Sacha Ley)

Marie-Paule von Roesgen

Old Woman
(as Marie Paule Van Roesgen)

Director
- E. Elias Merhige
Writer
- Steven Katz
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Nosferatu the Vampyre

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7.8

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7.4

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7.4

5.3

5.1

7.1

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Suspect Zero

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Based in part upon a legend that Max Schreck was in reality a vampire which is why he played the role of Orlok/Dracula so well. Some variations of the legend suggest that Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) was the only film Schreck made, though in reality he was already a stage and screen veteran by the time Nosferatu was shot, and would appear in many non-vampiric roles before his death in 1936.

Goofs
It was utterly impossible to film at night in 1922, so all night-time scenes were actually filmed in broad daylight. Originally, these scenes were tinted blue in order to differentiate them from those that were supposed to take place by day.

Quotes
[Asked what he thought of the book, Dracula]
Max Schreck: It made me sad.
Albin: Why sad?
Max Schreck: Because Dracula had no servants.
Albin: I think you missed the point of the book, Count Orlock.
Max Schreck: Dracula hasn't had servants in 400 years and then a man comes to his ancestral home, and he must convince him that he... that he is like the man. He has to feed him, when he himself hasn't eaten food in centuries. Can he even remember how to buy bread? How to select cheese and wine? And then he remembers the rest of it. How to prepare a meal, how to make a bed. He remembers his first glory, his armies, his retainers, and what he is reduced to. The loneliest part of the book comes... when the man accidentally sees Dracula setting his table.

Crazy credits
Credits end with the sounds of the camera filming and of the phonograph which set the mood for the actors.

Connections
Edited from Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)

Soundtracks
The Flying Dutchman Overture
Written by Richard Wagner
Courtesy of KPM Music Limited

User reviews356

Review

Featured review

10/10

Willem Dafoe is Magnificent!

A fictionalized account of the making of the classic vampire film Nosferatu, directed by F. W. Murnau, 'Shadow of the Vampire' is an interesting yet creepy film, but above all, its Willem Dafoe's Magnificent Performance as Max Schreck, that makes this film unmissable!

'Shadow of the Vampire' Synopsis: The filming of Nosferatu is hampered by the fact that the star is taking his role far more seriously than what seems humanly possible.

'Shadow of the Vampire' is a fictionalized account, so you shouldn't take this one too seriously. This Horror film, is creepy, atmospheric & yet funny. The Entire Story, The Entire Execution, in fact, is very convincing, even though, it won't work for the faint-hearted.

Steven Katz's Screenplay is superb. It's scary, creepy, atmospheric, funny & VERY innovative. E. Elias Merhige's Direction is as Eerie as it gets! Cinematography by Lou Bogue is fabulous. Editing by Royinba Onijala is crisp. Music by Dan Jones is good. Make-Up is Marvelous.

Performance-Wise: Willem Dafoe is Truly Magnificent, in an Oscar-Nominated Performance! His performance as Max Schreck, who plays Count Orlok/Count Dracula, is an astonishing embodiment, that's an Actor-Study. This is a Performance that deserves to be seen by each & every actor! John Malkovich as Frederich Wilhelm Murnau, is competent. Udo Kier as Albin Grau, is first-rate. Udo Kier as Albin Grau, is impressive. Catherine McCormack as Greta Schroeder, is worth a mention.

On the whole, 'Shadow of the Vampire' is an interesting film, but Willem Dafoe's Performance is its greatest merit.