City Girl

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Oliver P There are some obvious flaws - some careless editing mainly- but if you can forgive the defects, this movie has some sort of essential and timeless quality. Nosferatu probably has more flaws as a movie, but these tend to be forgiven because of the striking images. Taken purely visually City Girl is one of the most beautiful movies you will ever watch. The attention to lighting and camera creativity saw Murnau years ahead of his time. Despite the sometimes over theatrical acting, the movie is firmly grounded in the kind of detailed realism that formed Murnau's later style , which in turn makes the movie more accessible to a modern audience that has become more sophisticated. There's a common theme running through Murnau's movies - the downtrodden/underdog triumphing against adversity through pure strength of character. I think that in City Girl Murnau almost manages to hit that spot perfectly and if you like romance (I do) then this is unquestionably one of the most romantic movies ever made. Its simple on the surface, and deeply human underneath. In short- look past the faults and it's fantastic. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/24/23 Full Review Audience Member The last great silent movie. Very touching romance film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review bill t Despite a very weak ending, this is a very good film featuring what happens when a farm boy meets a city girl, they get married, and he takes her back to his farm. It could have entered into Crocodile Dundee humor, but it's interesting when the girl, probably from being brought up in the city, takes bullshit from noone. Very crisply acted (It does help that Charles Turrell is easy on the eyes) and expertly lit.. Check out those night shots! This is an interesting film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Ignore the naysayers, whatever the hell they know about movies. This is magnificent movie making. I rarely use the word 'literally', but this film is literally breathtaking. I loved it from the start with perfect casting and moment-capturing. Great cinematic storytelling. A silent movie to begin anyone's journey into silent movies. Can't rate it highly enough. I laughed. I gasped. I hung on every moment, and, being a silent in the last days before the advent of the dull talkies, there were many of them. Terrific joy in a pure wonder where even the smallest characters have presence. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member There is true beauty to behold in Murnau's pictorial view of Minnesotan farmland - amber waves of grain and all that. But I think some of the scenes in the Windy City, especially when Kate looks out of her apartment window and the passing El train creates flashes of light on her face, are equally stunning. You can see how this may have influenced Malick's Days of Heaven. However, the plot, elemental though it is, feels too rickety to support all these perfect images. Apparently, a producer tampered with the end product after Murnau walked away. So, we have Country Boy meets City Girl, marries her and brings her back to Minnesota where his Old Man does not approve. Their relationship is strained until the Old Man finally relents (after some lascivious farmhands show him his stupidity). No match for Sunrise (to which the plot, but not the images, bears some similarity) -if you are new to Murnau, start there (or Faust or The Last Laugh). Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member A waitress in a big city diner falls in love with a country guy visiting the city. They quickly get married and move to the country where she faces his stern father. As I was watching, I thought this is kind of lightweight for a Murnau film. I mean, the director of "Nosferatu" and "Sunrise"? But then as it progressed, I saw that it has gotten more complex and darker. It pretty much turned into somewhat of a companion piece of "Sunrise". It's not quite as great as that film. He uses some of the same notes but it's still a wonderful film worth checking out since hey, it's a Murnau film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

City Girl

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