He studied at the Heidelberg University, where he trained in art history, philosophy and music and later studied theater and cinematography with Max reinhardt.
He was an airplane pilot during the First World War, where he suffered a serious accident in Switzerland.
During the 1920s, he was part of the expressionist movement within German cinema, but unfortunately much of his work has been lost. His most famous tape was “Nosferatu”(1922), based on the novel“Dracula” of Bram stocker, and thanks to which he was denounced by his widow, since he did not pay the corresponding fees. Eventually, the director lost his judgment, so he had to destroy all the copies, although a few were preserved, and are currently available.
It is worth mentioning at this point that in 1979 Werner Herzog made a version of this movie.
Other of his well-known titles include “Splendor“(1926) or”The last”, From 1924, sometimes considered the second best film of all time by international critics, and noted for being the first to introduce the subjective point of view camera, that is, that”go“like the eyes of the protagonist, in addition to containing visual effects to represent the alteration of the psychological state of a character.
In 1926, Murnau moved to Hollywood, where he was employed by the 20th Century Fox, for which he made “Sunrise”(1927), which made him the creditor of his first Oscar, and this was followed “City girl” Y “Four devils“, Which were a failure for the director (it was also at this time that the end of silent films came), which made Murnau momentarily abandon his career, and dedicate himself to traveling through the south of the Pacific, a trip that was reflected in his last work, “Taboo”, Which he carried out together with Robert Flaherty, although due to differences that arose between the two, the latter finally gave up co-authorship.
Shortly after finishing the filming of “Taboo”, Murnau He died in a car accident that occurred on March 11, 1931 in Santa Monica.
The car was driven by its driver, Garcia Stevenson, a 14-year-old Filipino who was also his lover, and like him, died in the accident.