The Haunted Castle (1921 film)

The Haunted Castle (Schloss Vogelöd)
Title card
Directed by	F. W. Murnau
Written by	Carl Mayer Berthold Viertel  [de] (novel)
Produced by	Erich Pommer
Starring	Arnold Korff Paul Hartmann Paul H. Bildt Olga Tschechowa
Cinematography	László Schäffer Fritz Arno Wagner
Production company	Uco-Film
Distributed by	Decla-Bioscop
Release date	21 April 1921 (1921-04-21)
Running time	81 minutes[1]
Country	Germany
Languages	Silent German intertitles

The Haunted Castle (1921), also known as Schloß Vogelöd: Die Enthullung eines Geheimnisses^[1] and Castle Vogeloed, is a silent chamber-drama directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau. The film is a moody psychodrama, "blending multiple flashbacks and dream sequences with a gloomy atmosphere.... It is one of the earliest surviving works of (F. W. Murnau)."^[1]

It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by the art director Hermann Warm.

Plot summary[]

A company of men meet for a hunt lasting several days at Castle Vogelöd, being hosted by Lord von Vogelschrey. Because of the rain they spend their time inside. An uninvited guest shows up: Count Johann Oetsch. He's suspected of having shot his brother Peter a few years ago. This rumour gets nourished by a retired Judge of the District Court. The widow of the murder victim also arrives, along with her new husband, Baron Safferstätt. Another guest is announced: Father Faramund, a friend of the deceased husband.

In the following days, Count Oetsch and the Baroness accuse one another of the murder. Flashbacks show that the Baroness' marriage wasn't harmonious. Her first husband became obsessed by spiritualism. She wished for something evil to happen to him, and their guest Baron Safferstätt shot him. She married the Baron, but they felt empty.

Father Faramund takes his false beard and his wig off, revealing himself as Count Oetsch, who now can justify his innocence. Baron Safferstätt shoots himself. The true comes to the castle.

Cast[]

• Arnold Korff – Lord von Vogelschrey, Schloßherr of Vogelöd
• – Centa von Vogelschrey, his wife
• – Count Johann Oetsch
• Paul Hartmann – Count Peter Oetsch
• Paul Bildt – Baron Safferstätt
• Olga Tschechowa – Baroness Safferstätt
• – Father Faramund
• Hermann Vallentin – Judge of the District Court, retired
• Julius Falkenstein – Anxious gentleman
• Robert Leffler – Master of the household
• – Servant

Uncredited[]

• Loni Nest – Little girl
• – Apprentice cook

References[]

External links[]

• The Haunted Castle at IMDb
• The Haunted Castle at AllMovie