"Shadow of the Vampire" (2000) Main Title Sequence

[@TheSirvladimr]

This scene 1:45 is very dramatic, it represents the count's face covering his face with his fingers symbolized by the projection of light filters. Simply brilliant.

[@MelancoliaI]

When I first watched the film I wondered how these images connected to the overall plot. My guess is they represent the Schreck character's memories over hundreds and hundreds of years living as a vampire. Eventually the memories would not disappear entirely, but sort of settle into a tableau of scenes, events, people, places, buildings, faces etc. It just all kind of melds together. To me it's a glimpse inside Schreck's mind.

[@johnscull7873]

Very well said. I couldn’t agree more.

[@derekorford1964]

This sequence, totally compelling. Am I alone in wanting a fuller feature developed from this haunted imagery? The composition is stunning. I love the film, but I have seen the credit sequence many times more. Curiously, it always seems to offer up something new within it's kaleidoscopic, mythical message, every time I watch it. Best experienced late, alone, room darkened. I'll never forget this journey into mystery.

[@yaffayafo82]

Amazing sequence, but I also thought when Max Schreck found F.W. Murnau's camera/projector and played the b/w film - that music...wow!

[@derekorford1964]

@@yaffayafo82 Yeah! The film really lives up to the opening credits, for poetic moments like the one you mention here - a really memorable scene. It's a diamond this film, and twice the value if you love vintage film making.

[@williamfowlkes2101]

I agree! You’re not alone! Beautiful opening sequence. Seems like it’s some fantastic mural I’d love to have on a long wall in my home

[@deployedkitty]

Amazingly few people have seen this brilliant masterpiece of a movie. Possibly Willem Dafoe's greatest role as well.

[@sandansaiyan5675]

deployedkitty and his Goblin's role came after that movie😎

[@ritawing1064]

Hear, hear!

[@yaffayafo82]

Great film and sublime music. I once owned the film, but, alas....

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

It's a brilliant premise too. A film about a film about vampires in the spirit of re-imagining a mythology, except this time the subject was never a myth.

[@Vejur9000]

It is a masterpiece great music and film.

[@johnscull7873]

Dan Jones contribution to this film was significant to say the least

[@whiterunguard7271]

So underrated I hope it is rediscovered some day.

[@briananoriega]

I'll never forget the first time I saw this title sequence in the theatre. I simply wasn't prepared. I was trying to take in all the imagery and symbolism, not wanting to miss a single piece of footage.

[@cyranojohnson8771]

The beauty of this is not just the chilling imagery or its evocation about Count Orlock's possible past: but that it encapsulates different eras looking at each other. It's all art deco imagery, probably how *Murnau* imagines his subject's past, perhaps even based on something he might have found in Orlock's home and embellished in his own imagination. It's a sterling example of an opening that illustrates a multifaceted and multiple-era subject in a single go. Simply incredible.

[@Vejur9000]

Landmark, mesmerizing opening credits. Just a stunning opening to a film, and that music…

[@yueyishanguei]

a most amazing sequence, mermerizing and hypnotic, just as I remembered it 10+ yrs ago !!

[@yaffayafo82]

Add laudanum, Bram Stoker's novel, and Transylvania, the land on the other side of the forest....

[@ericberner]

This sums up the Dracula story in a very unique way. The rise to power of a line of cruel and misshapen aristocrats, the betrayal of their vassals who refused to be the subjects of a freak. Unable to destroy him, they humiliate and banish him, thus creating the classic monster.

[@tooberetta]

I totally agree. At the end is the face of the jester, the fool, as if he is stuck in time, but only the viewer decides if in happiness or sadness, the transformative face. I read some trivia somewhere (sorry no link) that Murnau had seen this mural in person when he was younger, the impression lasted. Also a little further into the film there is a quote when he says that "we are scientists, creating memories". Profound thought.

[@teslababbage]

My favourite title sequence and soundtrack. Utterly chilling and captivating.

[@Vejur9000]

The opening credits are stunning. One of the best I’ve ever seen.

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

This is part of my Halloween soundtrack tonight!

[@ForrestPrimeval]

I've seen the movie once but I've seen this title sequence many time. The imagery and music and pacing is sublime.

[@vanillabatcave5677]

Best part of the movie if 'm honest.

[@keithconnell3]

what a beautiful title sequence

[@wiawaysb]

this is some mesmerizing shit

[@Vejur9000]

Brilliant opening sequence. And beautiful.

[@ismayosolo6316]

This was 20 years ago but now it'll be 21 years now

[@bobbygnosis]

Worthy of comparison to Saul Bass. What I mean is: this is one of the best title sequences I've ever seen.

[@yaffayafo82]

Thank-You. Me too.

[@GhostofFHBradley]

This film has wonderful music, especially 'The Light of the Sun', which accompanies Orlok's seeing the sun on film.

[@264aub]

The music is so beautiful

[@mordyval5657]

Haunting and beautiful.

[@bryanpartington3260]

Beautiful music beautiful movie.

[@andin.armenianjourneychron1208]

GOD DAMN HOLLYWOOD, this kind of cinema must prevail not tight costume bullshit, or stupid comedies or car chases. God I miss 90-s so much.

[@TheDarkPan]

Subtle hints... touching on the suspicion of Fading... waking at times the dormant whiffs from Foregone Earth... that's how you lay a founding for a semi-mythical backstory one actually trusts in, and even becomes enchanted by; as viewers themselves fill out the rest of the picture... and the possibilities push forth new shoots in their minds (especially the creative ones). People like Tolkien have been able to do that.

[@Facade953]

The scene reminds me of the opening credits of Nosferatu: The Vampyre.

[@adamlurch7021]

Great intro, great possessed movie

[@ElevenDollarCheese]

Saw this sequence when I was stoned, and could see all that art in its totality, and followed the whole story behind it. Looking at it sober, it just looks like a bunch of shapes and heads. Never could understand that paradox.

[@MelancoliaI]

Care to share the story as you saw it?

[@ElevenDollarCheese]

Just remember it was basically the medieval monster in the woods archetype. Noble knights band together to enter the vampire's lair and kill him after he picks off a few townspeople. Only part that I can still see now is the dullard about halfway through getting bitten, you can make out the eyes and claws behind him. Tell u what, I was so baked when I watched it, it felt like this sequence was the whole movie. When it ended I was like, wait, that was just the credits? Jesus. Bizarre how it just looks like incoherent eyes and half-faces normally. Maybe that artwork only works on the right hemisphere of the brain. Just a thought.

[@MelancoliaI]

@@ElevenDollarCheese Pretty interesting, and I think you're spot on. Thanks for sharing

[@TainoMantis]

Haunting. The lineage probably had some very odd recessive oncogenes. Through much inbreeding, those highly recessive oncogenes became dominant and caused a type of cancer WITH high contact inhibition. Cancer probably killed off many of them, but perhaps one or two were able to live very long (symbiotically), perhaps benefiting from the cells' longevity. Possibly, Orlok is the result of those weird and UNIQUE type of cancer cells taking over most of his body, but NOT killing him.

[@JunoneMaster3000]

That doesnt explain why the sun light kills him or why does he has super-strength despite being so skinny and old, or why he must sleep in a coffin with the dirt from were he was born. Or why he can take gun shots to the chest like nothing. He was just a vampire.

[@Facade953]

In the original, it is written that Orlok was spawn from the seed of the demon Belial and in this version, Max Shreck says that he was turned by a female vampire.

[@dmitriymiretskiy717]

Haunting piece. But is this supposed to be count orlock's origin?

[@devlinallistair5147]

Cary Elwes doing an impeccable German accent.

[@GhostofFHBradley]

Fritzy, ja!

[@billyrhea]

Brilliant, I'd love to find the music from this but it doesn't appear to be on the soundtrack.

[@latviandragon2718]

its called burned to the light

[@davidmouser596]

Great score, does anyone know if the start and end gramophone music is an existing score or was it written for the film.

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

I have the soundtrack and it's part of this specific piece, but I too wonder if it derives from an original source.

[@latviandragon2718]

I wonder who made the artwork for the intro

[@J.C.Tavares]

Nicolas Cage producer!!

[@alext9067]

Is this truly art deco? I see something else. From a particular artist. Has anyone any info?

[@bryaneddy5272]

it kind of straddles art deco and art nouveau (sp?) styles. You might be thinking Mucha? It's a very vague representation of the era from the turn of the century to the 1920s in style, depicting older history for thematic purpose. I think you're right though, someone's being emulated, but subtly.

[@alext9067]

Bryan Eddy Very interesting. I thought it did a masterful job of setting the tone for the movie. I've been to lazy to dig into this. Thank you for the info...a

[@yaffayafo82]

Teutonic tatoo

[@christygum3384]

Macbre fever induced pereholia dreams on a beautiful spring eve. A sickening sweet smell permeating a cover of the stench of a perverse and evil rotting death. That which lies beyond the facade of paper cut palaces.

[@edfelstein3891]

Five minutes of brilliant artwork and even more brilliant music. Unfortunately, the rest of the film -- aside from Willem Dafoe's performance -- fell far short.

[@sandansaiyan5675]

Ed Felstein not agree.Malcovich,directing,screnplay were brilliant.And of course make up was unbelievable

[@macmann1956]

I never pass up a movie with Udo Kier.

[@Nosferatu2020]

Starting watching and got bored