Reel Facts & Opinions: The Re-mixing of NOSFERATU

 

This week, the classic German expressionist film NOSFERATU, often regarded as an influential masterpiece of cinema, will finally see its debut in the glorious blu-ray format. The silent film from 1922, which was loosely based on Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, has been remixed with its original score in modern-day 5.1 surround sound.

 

Movie fans can easily be offended when their favorite films get a home release which has been altered from the version they fell in love with on the big-screen; just ask fans of STAR WARS, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, SNOW WHITE, or even BLADE RUNNER. While there are reasons for making changes from the theatrical run to the home release, such as artistic license, directors cuts, and technical reasons, purists would be quick to point out that in the case of NOSFERATU, a film that was made in 1922 has no business being mixed in the modern-day 5.1 surround sound format. It does seem silly that a silent film would receive such an upgrade, but by looking back at NOSFERATU’s rich history, it’s easy to understand the Why behind this move.

The glorious format of 5.1 is the most commonly used layout in theatres and home systems. It employs five full bandwidth channels and one low-frequency channel. The most common misconception about the format is that its sole purpose in life is to make everything as loud as possible. Not true. Surround sound is not about volume, it’s about presence. Surround sound seeks to replicate any given environment as close to reality as possible. Think about where you hear sounds from in a crowded room or busy city street…you hear it in all directions. That is what surround sound replicates and filmmakers today edit their films with that in mind.

It’s worth pointing out that many films which were made prior to the 5.1 era have been released on blu-ray in their native-sound format. The blu-ray release of KING KONG (1933) presents its sound in the front speakers only, just as it would have sounded in 1933. But the history of NOSFERATU points towards surround sound since its debut. As a silent film, it was intended to have a live orchestra performing the score live during the projection. A good orchestra, a really good  orchestra, should be able to wrap up the listener in a four-walled room of sound; literally enveloping a person in its music. With the glorious blu-ray format presenting NOSFERATU’s visuals in its originally intended pristine glory, it seems only right that its orchestration be given proper treatment as well. Today’s tech has taken NOSFERATU back to its intention; a perfect marriage of sights and music. After all, the original, full name for the film, when translated to English, is NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR.

What say you?