Ramon Novarro in The Prisoner of Zenda: Stealing scenes as the villainous Rupert of Hentzau.
Best Films of 1922: The movies were still young, but F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu the Vampire among cinema’s great works of art
So Max Schreck (literally, “Max Fright”) was not romantic leading man material, but no matter: His central character in F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu the Vampire is one of the great portrayals in cinema history. Indeed, Schreck’s 1922 Nosferatu remains the creepiest movie vampire of them all.
Besides, Nosferatu the Vampire also serves as a reminder that Murnau, the (co-)creator of movie poetry in titles like Sunrise and Tabu, was equally adept at creating movie horror. His Nosferatu, in fact, may well be the eeriest vampire tale ever filmed. Max Schreck’s ratman-like presence, of course, is essential to the film’s success.
A trio of other notable 1922 titles are Rex Ingram’s opulent The Prisoner of Zenda, which launched the career of superstar-in-the-making Ramon Novarro; Frank Borzage’s romantic melodrama Back Pay, featuring a sensitive central performance by Seena Owen,* and Emmett J. Flynn’s enjoyable adventure yarn Monte Cristo, starring a charismatic John Gilbert as the titular character.
* These days (if at all) remembered for her portrayal of the mad Queen Regina V in the doomed Erich von Stroheim – Gloria Swanson collaboration Queen Kelly (1928/1929).
Best Film
Back Pay – Dir.: Frank Borzage; Scr.: Frances Marion
Monte Cristo – Dir.: Emmett J. Flynn; Scr.: Bernard McConville
Nosferatu the Vampire / Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens – Dir.: F.W. Murnau; Scr.: Henrik Galeen
The Prisoner of Zenda – Dir.: Rex Ingram; Scr.: Mary O’Hara
Best Actor
John Gilbert – Monte Cristo
Max Schreck – Nosferatu the Vampire
Best Actress
Seena Owen – Back Pay
Alice Terry – The Prisoner of Zenda
Best Supporting Actor
Alexander Granach – Nosferatu the Vampire
Ramon Novarro – The Prisoner of Zenda
Best Cinematography
Back Pay – Chester Lyons
Down to the Sea in Ships – A.G. Penrod
Moran of the Lady Letty – William Marshall
Nosferatu the Vampire – Fritz Arno Wagner
The Prisoner of Zenda – John F. Seitz
“Best Films of 1922” notes
Ramon Novarro The Prisoner of Zenda image: Metro Pictures.