This film has many great and famous scenes. So what's your favorite?
My favorite scene is the tracking shot when he goes to meat the woman from the city in the beginning of the film. Amazing shot.
- This comment is most likely authentic and fairly close to what I intended to say -
The scene on the lake when he wants to kill her : so slow, with so much suspense. Even Hitchcock could noy have done it.
- Who is God ?
- When you close your eyes and make a wish, God is the one who doesn't care about.
[deleted]
I like the scene where he thinks about drowning his wife first of all. It was great of his thoughts were visualised... and then the scene where they have their picture taken. Really charming.
Those came to mind, however it was an unforgettable movie with a lot of fantastic scenes. I can agree with everybody on this thread.
However I think the scene in the church might be my favorite. The two of them are somewhat reconciled by this point,(she finally can look him in the face)but something is missing - he doesn't yet realize the enormity of what he was going to do. It is in the church that it fully comes to him and he is truly penitent - without which there can be no redemption. (I don't think that it is any accident that this redemption takes place in church - no more than it is an accident that it is the bells that break his "killing scence"). The look on O'Brien's face and the seemingly genuine tears as he completely breaks down and sobs to be forgiven in her lap, Gaynor's tender face as she accepts his apology and cradles him in her lap - (such a different lap than he had been cradled in only a day before) - it just gets me every time.
That would be mine too.
I have to say the transformaton from the country to city on that tram. Nothing like having a tram in your backyard that goes right dead in the middle of a city. I always wanted to know where the film was shot. The other scene is toward the end of the movie after the storm while they are looking for her in that row boat. and his face is terrified when he ss calling out and here comes some twigs in the water shaped like legs. Very odd.
share[deleted]
Yes back in the early part of the last century, trolly's were owned by tourist attrations and park and they went into the country areas to bring the people into these parks I forgot what they called them. My grandmoter just past away a few years ago was 102 and she use to tell me about taking trolly's from Jersey to Norfolk.
In the movie it was facinating because you do not see that anymore. Now you will see rural, suburb, city. In the movie it was rural, city and no suburbs. It was a textnbook example about how life was then. You either lived in the city or the farm.
I can go to a city and still see the trolly tracks in the streets. Too bad because we need more public transportation. But with the comming of the big auto companies public transportion was no longer a big priority. To me the scene is facinating because it shows how we atually went backwards in some ascpects in our lives. I sure would love to take a tram to the Berkshire today. But now you have to have a car. A tragedy. That is why I made the comment nothing like having a tram in your backyard. You sure don't see that anymore in this country. I can see the y were not really in the city scenes, But you are saying that indoor ammusment park was just made for the movie? It looked very European to me. Interesting.
[deleted]
I would have to say the Church scene, which, for me, is the emotional climax of the film. It's absolutely astonishing- so wonderfully acted, so brilliantly shot, so deep in emotion.
"I want you to live with me and die with me and everything with me!"
Me too. I love the symbolism of the marriage to protect your wife from harm and he just tried to kill her. The husband felt so guilty after it though. This film is amazing. Just saw it today! Fantastic!
shareI love it when the farmer is searching for his wife after she has been thrown overboard; the boats moving slowly through the darkness, the lanterns sweeping back and forth, and the husband, eyes wide and frantic, leaning far over the bow of the boat, calling his wife's name incessantly.
shareMy favourite scene was the suspenseful build up to the 'murder'... the slow rowing out of the boat. The dog swimming towards the boat, the look on the husband's face, the slow realisation of the wife that something was terribly wrong. It was so ominious that I really felt that the wife was doomed.
They call me MISTER Jinx
The whole movie is classic but I like the scene in the photographer's studio. The humour is good and they are so happy and carefree. When they leave the studio I love their reaction when they see the photo of themselves kissing.
shareI loved the visual when he climbs into bed on the night he decides he's going to drown his wife. He looks over at her and his surroundings "melt" into the sea. His image lingers in the water for a few seconds before melting away. Stunning.
I also loved the church scene. Fantastic acting - very emotional scene.
....I loved the raft of party people drifting past the returning couple. Somehow reminded me of Goya.
..altho my faves I guess would be the Marsh scene in the moonlight,the scene where the Man and the Woman are in the Boat when hes going to kill her,the business with the Dog..the look on the Womans face,part smiling part wondering whats on her husbands mind..Excellent..the trip into town on the Trolly,The scene in the Cafe is the scene that makes me break down the most,the woman just looks so pitiful...
shareMy favorite has to be the close up of The Mans face in the church. In between "Keep and protect her from all harm" and "Wilt thou love her?". I bought the DVD and watched it on my big screen t.v. I noticed that at the beginning of the scene, the tears were just around his eyes. By the end of it, the tears had gone down his face and dripped onto the floor. Clearly, George did an excellent job of actually crying. Not just looking teary eyed.
That's not an easy thing to do. I wonder what must have been going through his mind. What must he have been thinking of to make himself cry? What really makes this scene my favorite is just the image I get of George O'Brien while watching it. Such a big rugged strong and handsome man at such a vulnerable state. Moving!
My second favorite scene is when he falls to the floor in the church. During the whole "Forgive me!" scene. Again, on a big screen (as opposed to the laptop screen or you tube), you can really see that his face is wet with tears all the way until they exit the church. More of the whole good acting and vulnerability part.
Does anyone else agree with me here that there is nothing like watching Sunrise the first time around? I mean, I've seen bits and pieces of it, if not the whole thing, every day for almost the last two weeks. Still, no matter how I feel after watching it now, it doesn't compare to how moved I was after the first time I saw it.
Magical!
Oh yes - that scene:
http://members.tripod.com/mcrae_tony/images/sunrise-church1.JPG
And you are right - that is real crying. Sometimes you see a scene where actors get a little teary, maybe wipe away a drop or two. But this is sobbing, where you don't care what others think, where you lose control. The man finally genuinely realizes what he had done and what he was contemplating doing. The utter horror of his sin really comes upon him and he is truly penitent.
First of all,this is one of my favourite silent movies,I have ever seen.A story,of values,morals,faithfulness,temptation,redemption,loyalty and love.My favourite scene is the last scene where he kisses his beloved.My tears matched the actors.I was very moved.I also enjoyed the city scenes.Although they were filmed in a studio,to me it had the feel of a european city.The buildings around the midway looked like a world's fair,very futuristic, especially the costumes the attendants were wearing,and the very art deco lamps on each table.The clothes were also fab,very dressy.Loved all that hoisery,even the sharply suited man with his nylon socks,alot attention to detail there.
shareI agree with ZoolZool and others that the church scene with the Man's many feelings of guilt, shame, love, sadness, fear and devotion all hit him at once in front of his beloved wife and God. It's very touching scene indeed. I just wish more men could be so open with their feelings. I think that moment is so emotionally moving because the Man's character until that point has been the big, strong strapping farmer and cold calculating (near) murderer. It is such a refreshing surprise to see he has a full range of emotions including the most vulnerable ones! This is not only my favorite silent film but I think it's my favorite film of all time.
shareIt became my favorite movie right off the bat. I saw it for the first time on YouTube. Actually saw it three times in one night. Before that, I didn't really have a favorite movie. I would sometimes say Forrest Gump, then sometimes Clue. I've only seen Clue once, but I thought it was kinda funny and silly. Now I'll probably go on for the rest of my life with Sunrise as my favorite.
shareOK I have a second favorite scene and it's the peasant dance scene. Yes the music and seeing George and Janet dance is splendid but the part that cracks me up is the interchange between them right when the band starts playing. He gets it that she wants him to dance and he doesn't so he gives her the eyes and head nod toward the exit, puts his hands in his pockets and starts walking. Then she tries to pull him back and he tries to leave again, until she and another man from the audience convince him to stay and put on a little show. I loved this scene because it reminds me of my husband and me. I love to dance and he hates it (typical guy) and I have to the same thing to get him to do a swing number or something. Then he finally gets out there and has fun and gets applauded and loves it. I don't know, that scene just made me chuckle. 80+ years ago and things are still the same!
shareIn addition to those great scenes already listed, there's a couple that stay with me.
I loved the part where the Wife was patiently waiting in the boat while the Husband tied the dog back up. Her expression of being mildly amused, to concerned, to being self-reassured, back to being concerned enough to almost get up out of the boat as he was returning was an amazing piece of acting by Ms. Gaynor.
The second scene I loved is when right after the Husband leaves for his tryst, the Wife goes into the baby's room and leans over the pillow to cry. The little baby was so adorable...looking up at her a little annoyed at being awakened, then plopping down next to her head and stroking her hair. It's strange to think that such a cute little baby is as old as my grandparents, if he is even still alive.
-Cindy
Be sure to look up at the post above - Baby? Jerry Craycroft apparently played the baby. He died in 2000.
You are quite right that it is a very touching scene - especially the hair stroking - little children do not always know why we are upset, but they want to help.
"...little children do not always know why we are upset, but they want to help."
So true, and very well said.
-Cindy