Title translates actually as 'The Last Man'. Karl Freund scored particular recognition for his highly mobile camera, and for impressionistic tricks that emulate fear, hangovers etc. It was for this reason I'd always wanted to see it - and in the knowledge that it's told entirely without title cards.
(Unfortunately some of the plot is relayed via letter and my copy had no subtitles.)
Emil Jannings is the pompous doorman at a posh hotel who is deemed too old and reduced in rank. He lies to his family to cover the shame at his daughter's wedding. When the neighbours find out there evolves a clear case of Schadenfreude which is not fair as you can tell he's a nice guy from his behaviour to kids. The unsubtitled bit I missed reads ' "Here our story should really end, for in actual life, the forlorn old man would have little to look forward to but death. The author took pity on him, however, and provided quite an improbable epilogue."
Murnau died too early in a car accident in 1931, having made one of the greatest silent films Sunrise, his first in the US, in 1927. Jannings mainly stayed in Germany despite odd American movies like von Sternberg's fabulous The Last Command.
Great production design from future B movie king Edgar G Ulmer!
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