Journey into the Night (1921): Cast & Plot
Journey into the Night is a 1921 drama directed by F. W. Murnau, starring Olaf Fønss as Dr. Eigil Börne, Conrad Veidt and Erna Morena. It runs 1 hour 21 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 21m (81 min)
- Director
- F. W. Murnau
- Genre
- Drama
- Studio
- Goron Film
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Journey into the Night About?
The premise of Journey into the Night without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Dr. Egil Börne, a respected physician, becomes enthralled by a manipulative cabaret dancer and abandons his fiancée. The story echoes themes common in Weimar‑era cinema, recalling Sternberg’s *The Blue Angel*. Conrad Veidt appears as a menacing blind painter, a role that foreshadows his later work in Murnau’s *Nosferatu*. *Der Gang in die Nacht* is the earliest surviving film by F. W. Murnau and, paradoxically, the only one for which the original camera negative still exists.
Journey into the Night Themes & Keywords
· 3 tags- girl
- love
- based on play
Journey into the Night Cast & Characters
Olaf Fønss leads the cast as Dr. Eigil Börne, with Conrad Veidt as Der Maler and Erna Morena as Helene. Directed by F. W. Murnau; 5 actors are credited in all.
- Director F. W. Murnau
- Olaf Fønss as Dr. Eigil Börne
- Conrad Veidt as Der Maler
- Erna Morena as Helene
- Gudrun Bruun Stephensen as Lily
Also Starring in Journey into the Night
· 1 moreJourney into the Night Plot Summary
What happens in Journey into the Night from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
An upright, straight-laced physician, Dr. Börne Olaf Fønss, has long been engaged to Hélène Erna Morena. To celebrate Hélène’s birthday, the couple goes to a cabaret. A dancer, Lily Gudrun Bruun-Stephensen is fascinated by the doctor and pretends to sprain her ankle. Börne attends her, and she seduces him. Börne becomes infatuated, breaks his engagement to Hélène, and marries Lily.
The Börnes move to the country, where they meet a blind painter Conrad Veidt. Dr. Börne restores his sight. Dr. Börne learns that Hélène’s health is failing, as she is heartbroken over her broken engagement. He tries to see her, but is turned away. When he returns home, Dr. Börne discovers Lily is having an affair with the painter and abandons her.
Full summary
The whole story of Journey into the Night, scene by scene
Journey into the Night Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “The Dark Road” and “L'Entrée dans la nuit”.
- Also known as
-
- The Dark Road
- L'Entrée dans la nuit
- Il cammino nella notte
- 夜中行
Seen Journey into the Night?
Movies Like Journey into the Night
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Night, The Devil’s Wedding Night and The Blue Angel.
Journey into the Night FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Journey into the Night, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Journey into the Night?
Journey into the Night runs 1 hour 21 minutes (81 minutes).
When was Journey into the Night released?
Journey into the Night was released on January 21, 1921.
Who directed Journey into the Night?
Journey into the Night was directed by F. W. Murnau.
More films by F. W. Murnau Who is in the cast of Journey into the Night?
Journey into the Night stars Olaf Fønss as Dr. Eigil Börne, Conrad Veidt as Der Maler and Erna Morena as Helene, among 5 credited actors.
Does Journey into the Night have a post-credit scene?
No. Journey into the Night has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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