A farmer (George O'Brien) has an affair with a seductress (Margaret Livingston) who, after fleecing him of his money, convinces him to drown his wife (Janet Gaynor). Released at the birth of the talking era, F.W.Murnau's breathtakingly expressive Sunrise is a swan song to silent film. Changing gears from soapy to soppy to somber and tragic, it always feels genuine while boasting wondrous sets, expert cinematography, and emotive portrayals from its players.
