January 1926's "Tartuffe" is a quirky interpretation of Moliere's 1664 play. F. W. Murnau pared down the French playwright's classic story of a seemingly-religious fanatic who persuades a rich nobleman to give up all his wealth and become a mendicant devoted to a prayerful life. Considered a minor work in Murnau's canon, "Tartuffe" is seen by many as a brilliant pice of filmmaking. The director's steady collaborator, writer Carl Mayer, submitted a screenplay using the Moliere play as the framework to illustrate how unscrupulous connivers can convince innocent people to commit acts that are unthinkable, even though the hypocrisy is over the top.
Emil Jannings plays Tartuffe, who lassos Herr Orgon (Werner Krauss) into surrendering everything, including his wife, Elmire (Lil Dagover) to him. Elmire sees through Tartuffe's charlatanism and plots to wake her husband to the scam. What makes Murnau's "Tartuffe" unique is the Jannings' plot is actually a movie projected by the Grandson (Andre Mattoni) to show his wealthy Grandfather after he discovers his grandfather's housekeeper (Rosa Valetti) is slowly poisoning him to capture his inheritance. The housekeeper has persuaded the old man his Grandson is irresponsible because he has chosen acting to be his profession and she should receive all his money instead. The grandson happens to witness the Housekeeper's antics and decides to show his grandfather the Tartuffe film as an example how evilness can rob people blind.
As simple a story "Tartuffe" is to modern audiences, the visual impact brought on by Murnau's direction unfolds a cautionary tale his grandfather should learn from. Murnau's unusual framing, his effective close-ups and the stylistic Expressionistic lighting all highlight his talents during the peak period of his most creative powers.
Emil Jannings plays Tartuffe, who lassos Herr Orgon (Werner Krauss) into surrendering everything, including his wife, Elmire (Lil Dagover) to him. Elmire sees through Tartuffe's charlatanism and plots to wake her husband to the scam. What makes Murnau's "Tartuffe" unique is the Jannings' plot is actually a movie projected by the Grandson (Andre Mattoni) to show his wealthy Grandfather after he discovers his grandfather's housekeeper (Rosa Valetti) is slowly poisoning him to capture his inheritance. The housekeeper has persuaded the old man his Grandson is irresponsible because he has chosen acting to be his profession and she should receive all his money instead. The grandson happens to witness the Housekeeper's antics and decides to show his grandfather the Tartuffe film as an example how evilness can rob people blind.
As simple a story "Tartuffe" is to modern audiences, the visual impact brought on by Murnau's direction unfolds a cautionary tale his grandfather should learn from. Murnau's unusual framing, his effective close-ups and the stylistic Expressionistic lighting all highlight his talents during the peak period of his most creative powers.