''Nosferatu'' (1922)

By Crusader1307

The 1922 fright fest ''Nosferatu'' served as a starting point for the many to follow Vampire Films of the Horror genre. A Silent film (often dubbed with various piano and classic music pieces much later), featured German Actor Max Schreck as Count Orlok and was directed by Horror Film Expressionist FW Murnau. The film is famous for having been ''sued'' by the Heirs of Bram Stoker (Writer of The Novel ''Dracula'') for infringement. Winning their Case, Courts ordered all copies destroyed. Thankfully, several survived to give Our generation a glimpse into the first successful screen version of the classic ''Vampire Tale''. Orlok (a centuries old vampire), ensnares a foreign Real Estate Solicitor with an aim to ''moving'' to a ''Modern City'' for a new wave of ''hunting''. A shipwreck later, Orlok winds up at His new home and of course takes an eye for the local ''Hottie''. His identity soon learned by a ''Van Helsing-type'' Hero Orlok's victim sacrifices Herself to cause Orlok to ''feed'' too long on Her, thus exposing Himself to Morning Daylight. Orlok ''bursts'' into smoke as a result. Noted for it's fine ''mood setting'' cinematography (in Black, White and Gray tones), some early versions (when shown) required the use of ''colored lens screens'' placed on the lens at various times, to enhance the scenes. Various re-makes were done thru the years, but none can equal this true ''frightmare'' for sheer film making quality.