Der letzte Mann (1924)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writer:

Carl Mayer (writer)

Release Date:

5 January 1925 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An aging doorman, after being fired from his prestigious job at a luxurious Hotel is forced to face the scorn of his friends, neighbours and society.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Uniform | Rain | Neighbor | Shadow

Cast

Emil Jannings	...	Hotelportier [hotel porter]
Maly Delschaft	...	Seine Nichte
Max Hiller	...	Ihr Bräutigam
Emilie Kurz	...	Tante des Bräutigams
Hans Unterkircher	...	Geschäftsführer [hotel manager]
Olaf Storm	...	Junger Gast
Hermann Vallentin	...	Spitzbäuchiger Gast
Georg John	...	Nachtwächter [night watchman]
Emmy Wyda	...	Dünne Nachbarin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
O.E. Hasse

Also Known As:

The Last Laugh (USA)

Runtime:

77 min | Germany:101 min | Spain:90 min (DVD edition) | USA:90 min

Country:

Germany

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | Finland:S (1967) | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Universum Film (UFA)

Trivia:

The first "dolly" (a device that allows a camera to move during a shot) was created for this film. According to Edgar Ulmer the idea to make the first dolly came from the desire to focus on Jannings face during the first shot of the movie, as he moved through the hotel. They obviously didn't know how to make a dolly technically, so they created the first one out of a baby's carriage.They then pulled the carriage on a sort of railway that was built on the studio.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A hand-cranked camera is reflected in a glass door.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Das Leben geht weiter (2002) (TV)

On Timothy Brock's new original score

I loved this movie. It was such a simple story, shot so brilliantly and true so true to human nature. Composer Timothy Brock has composed and recorded a new score to this film and it is great. Cello is the doorman's instrument, it brings his character to life. And hearing how the solo cello is weaved in and out through the score is quite a pleasurable experience.