With the release of Robert Eggers’ long-awaited Nosferatu remake just around the corner, there’s no better time to revisit the 1922 classic. This silent masterpiece not only redefined horror movies, but also survived legal battles and near obliteration to claim its legendary status. Its story is as dramatic as the film itself, highlighting its place in film history.
To truly understand its lasting impact, we’ve put the entire movie up for you to watch! Director Eggers, best known for The Witch and the Lighthouse, has often spoken about how the original work influenced him as both a creative touchstone and a pivotal reimagining of the vampire myth.
Take a glimpse into the fascinating story behind this pioneering film.
A bold vision with big questions
The idea for Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror came from Alvin Grau, a producer with deep interests in the occult. He co-founded the German company Prana Film and envisioned vampire films filled with mysticism and horror. To make his dream a reality, Grau teamed up with director F.W. Murnau and screenwriter Henrik Galen, and the trio turned to Bram Stoker’s Dracula for inspiration. problem? They did not secure rights.
They made some surface level changes. Dracula became the grotesque Count Orlok, Jonathan Harker became Thomas Hitter, and the action moved to the fictional town of Wisborg. But the story was still unmistakably Dracula. He might have hoped that no one would notice, but it didn’t take long for someone to get in touch with someone who cared a lot about such things: Florence Stoker.
Florence Stoker appears
Blum’s widow, Florence Stoker, was a fierce protector of her late husband’s work. By the early 1920s, Dracula was more than just a novel. It was Florence’s main source of income. Although the book was not a huge hit during Blum’s lifetime, it did become popular, especially on stage. For Florence, the appearance of Nosferatu as an unauthorized adaptation was not only unpleasant, but also a direct threat to her financial security.
She learned of the film through an anonymous letter containing the program for its Berlin premiere and a tip that Nosferatu was openly declared to be “freely adapted” from Bram Stoker’s work. I learned about the movie. Furious, she launched a legal battle in Germany with the help of the British Authors’ Association.
the battle begins
The lawsuit was successful. Florence’s lawyers argued that Nosferatu was a blatant imitation of Dracula, and German courts agreed. Prana Films was already in financial trouble and declared bankruptcy before further litigation could proceed. Florence was not satisfied with the result. She turned her attention to distributors and exhibition companies and decided to scrap the film altogether.
In 1925, Florence won an important legal victory. A German court ordered all existing copies of Nosferatu to be confiscated and destroyed. This was a landmark ruling in copyright law and a victory for Florence. But that wasn’t the end.
hide and seek game
Despite court orders, Nosferatu quietly refused to appear in court. Some prints had already been shipped abroad, escaping German authorities. These pirated copies began circulating in France, Hungary, and even the United States. Florence spent years tracking down these pirated prints and filing additional lawsuits wherever the film appeared. She even managed to cancel screenings in London and New York.
However, every time she destroyed a copy, another one appeared. Distributors used aliases and changed titles to disguise the film. In one case, he was marketed as Dracula in the United States, much to Florence’s displeasure. The more she fought, the more elusive the film became.
unintended consequences
Florence’s campaign to destroy Nosferatu had the unintended side effect of increasing the film’s notoriety. The legal battle became a story in itself, and movie buffs began searching for the forbidden film. By the late 1920s, Nosferatu had developed a cult following. What should have been a forgotten relic became a legend.
By the 1930s, Nosferatu was being rediscovered and celebrated as a masterpiece of early cinema. It was subsequently restored and re-released, expanding the film’s influence.
Ironically, the battle between Florence and Nosferatu ensured that it would not be ignored. Her legal battle brought the film into the spotlight, and it became a touchstone for early horror films. She may have failed to erase it, but she may have helped bring it to the world’s attention.
the movie that refused to die
Legal issues aside, the main aspect of the film’s enduring appeal lies in its artistry. Murnau used natural environments and shadowy lighting to create an unforgettable atmosphere that is both realistic and dreamlike. Played by Max Schreck, Count Orlok, with his claw-like hands and rodent-like teeth, brought an almost primal terror to the screen. Orlok was not the vampire-like gentle seducer he was in later films. He is death itself, coming closer and closer.
A century later, Nosferatu stands as a testament to the resilience of art and the unpredictability of history. Not even legal battles, financial ruin, or orders for destruction could stop Count Orlok. As Eggers prepares to reimagine this story for a new audience, the legacy of the original story reminds us of one simple truth. That is, some stories and some shadows are impossible to erase.
