Sunrise

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Sunrise

Released Sep 23, 1927

1h 50m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby and the dull routine of farm life, a farmer (George O'Brien) falls under the spell of a flirtatious city girl (Margaret Livingston) who convinces him to drown his wife so they can escape together. When his wife becomes suspicious of his plan and runs away to the city, the farmer pursues her, slowly regaining her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

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Critics Consensus

Boasting masterful cinematography to match its well-acted, wonderfully romantic storyline, Sunrise is perhaps the final -- and arguably definitive -- statement of the silent era.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

The story is told in a flowing, lyrical German manner that is extraordinarily sensual, yet is perhaps too self-conscious, too fable-like for American audiences.

Jul 28, 2022

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Wilella Waldorf

New York Post

Any one who prefers an intelligent and stimulating film to the usual trash is urged to go and see it for himself.

Sep 4, 2020

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

From two points of view, Sunrise is among the most remarkable films that have ever been flashed on the screen. One is the rich, sensitive beauty of the photography; the other the tragic tenseness of the story.

Feb 6, 2020

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Zita Short

InSession Film

Murnau really was a visionary and I do see what made him such a talent...

Feb 9, 2023

Full Review

Francisco J. Ariza

Cine-Mundial

Innovative through technology and development which will, without a doubt, be echoed in films yet to come. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 1, 2022

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

The visual poetry it expended on an admittedly simple, cornball story (country bumpkin seduced by city vamp, pursued and redeemed by his pure-hearted wife) remains fairly dazzling.

Jan 8, 2022

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Micah H

The stark contrast between purity and adultery and the effects of the two. Adulterous love leads to guilt and moral deterioration. But a pure, innocent love strengthens courage and selfless. This is a movie about a man who overcomes to find the joys of purity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

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Jonathan G

One of the most innovative pieces of cinema EVER. Absolutely love the emotion that’s conveyed in this; it’s genuine, it’s real, it’s beautiful, and it makes this one of the greatest silent films of all time. F. W. Murnau struck cinematic gold with Nosferatu (1922) and Faust (1926), but this is a completely different beast and is captivating in every way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

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freya n

A mix of German expressionism and realism, the influences from the era it was made created a beautiful film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/24

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Steve S

A near perfect film. Proof that silent films can be both emotional and exciting. It is also a technical wonder for its time. The performances from Janet Gaynor and especially George O'Brien are flawless. So much can be said with almost no words. Remarkable. One of the greatest film experiences of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

Full Review

Christian K

Honestly, you can say the first half of this is a masterpiece. It is filmed in such a different way and with more care and consideration than any movie from the era. There is a little lull after where it dips into some misplaced silent film slapstick, the ending sequence is a little weird story wise but beautifully filmed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

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Matthew B

One of the earliest silent film movies of its time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/13/24

Full Review

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F.W. Murnau

Director

George O'Brien

The Man (Anses)

Janet Gaynor

The Wife (Indre)

Margaret Livingston

The Woman from the City

Bodil Rosing

The Maid

J. Farrell MacDonald

The Photographer

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Synopsis

Bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby and the dull routine of farm life, a farmer (George O'Brien) falls under the spell of a flirtatious city girl (Margaret Livingston) who convinces him to drown his wife so they can escape together. When his wife becomes suspicious of his plan and runs away to the city, the farmer pursues her, slowly regaining her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

Director: F.W. Murnau
Producer: William Fox
Screenwriter: Hermann Sudermann, Carl Mayer, Katherine Hilliker, H.H. Caldwell
Distributor: Fox, Critics' Choice Video
Production Co: Fox Film Corporation
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 1927, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2015
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Mono

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