"Phantom" is a German 2-hour film from almost 95 years ago directed by European silent film legend Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau/Plumpe. It is one of his longer films in terms of runtime, but not one of his most famous really. Admittedly, it is still somewhat known and also not one of his least famous works. But it's very mediocre for the most part. The actors include a couple solid names, but big stars are not included in the cast here and the story is not too convincing either. The genre is certainly something else compared to Murnau's films usually being about horror or mystery, so this is maybe the only reason that makes this film worth a watch. Sadly, the material is far from sufficient for a film that runs for 120 minutes.
Apart from that, it is the usual: black-and-white, silent and could have needed a lot more intertitles. It is based on a novel by Gerhart Hauptmann and the one who adapted it is Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang's longtime collaborator. Sadly, all these big names did not result in a great or even good film. Actually, the outcome is very much forgettable from start to finish and that is why I give it a thumbs-down. Only worth checking out for the most hardcore silent film fans.
Apart from that, it is the usual: black-and-white, silent and could have needed a lot more intertitles. It is based on a novel by Gerhart Hauptmann and the one who adapted it is Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang's longtime collaborator. Sadly, all these big names did not result in a great or even good film. Actually, the outcome is very much forgettable from start to finish and that is why I give it a thumbs-down. Only worth checking out for the most hardcore silent film fans.