Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Directed by F.W. Murnau
Written by Carl Mayer from a theme by Hermann Sundermann
1927/US
Fox Film Corporation
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Title Card: This song of the Man and his Wife is of no place and every place; you might hear it anywhere, at any time. For wherever the sun rises and sets, in the city’s turmoil or under the open sky on the farm, life is much the same; sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet.

Murnau’s first American film makes a poem out of a simple romance plot.

None of the characters is named.  A Man (George O’Brien) and his sweet demure Wife (Janet Gaynor) live on a farm near a large lake with their adorable blond toddler.  The lake is also a tourist destination in summer and the Man falls under the spell of a chain-smoking evil Woman from the City (Margaret Livingston).  They meet on the sly.  The Woman gets tired of this and urges the Man to sell his farm and move to the City.  She suggests that he gets rid of his wife by making a drowning look like a boating accident.

Now the Man has already caused his Wife many bitter tears due to his unexplained absences.  She is surprised when he suggests that the two treat themselves to a few days in the City.  But the minute she gets in the rowboat with him, she knows something is very wrong. He makes one lunge at her but cannot go through with it.  When the boat hits shore, she runs away from him in terror.  He catches up with her at the last minute when she boards a streetcar.

She doesn’t warm up to him quickly.  But gradually their love is renewed and they celebrate by doing a lot of new and fun things on their day out.  The day isn’t over until they can return home, though, and Fate has some surprises for them.

I’ve always loved this movie.  The city sets and innovative camerawork are superb.  Gaynor is perfect in her role.  I thought O’Brien’s lumbering menace during the dramatic scenes was pretty old fashioned even for 1927 but he won me over during the romantic comic bits. Truly a must-see and most highly recommended.

Sunrise won the first and only Oscar for Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production and Oscars for Best Actress (Gaynor’s trifecta included this, Seventh Heaven, and Street Angel), and Best Cinematography.  It was nominated for its art direction.