Production/Rental information here
There are some silent films that you will never forget. One of the most stunningly beautiful movies ever made, City Girl is quite simply breathtaking in every way.
The depiction of the romance between a waitress who fantasizes about a new life in the countryside away from the drudgery of the city, and a young and naive wheat farmer, is set against the backdrop of the great depression in rural Oregon. It is anything but typical Hollywood. Both the girl and the farmer are in love with a dream which the young man’s abusive father does his utmost to destroy, and the cold reality of the younger man’s inability to stand up to the old man hits the girl almost as soon as she arrives in her new home. The exquisitely beautiful camerwork and lighting effects coupled with the stunning Oregon scenery, contrast with the rough, raw and violent action.
The movie was never released in Europe, which makes it a rarity in European theaters even now. Like all of Murnau’s films, it’s the brilliantly drawn psychology of the characters that draws you in. Not a moment is wasted in the movie, which is filled with Murnau’s typical attention to subtle details. It’s a movie that can be watched time and time again, and indeed, Terence Malick was so impressed with City Girl that it became the inspiration for his film ‘Days of Heaven.’
The James Whale Orchestra soundtrack is a blend of cool American minimalism, and bluegrass music.
Original soloists:
Ernst Paul Fuchs – Piano
Oliver Parr (composer) – Cello/Banjo
Panyiotis Ioannou – Samples/Music Production
Martin de Ruiter – Organ (EYE Amsterdam only)