This lavish studio production of the frequently told story in which an elderly scholar makes a pact to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for eternal youth, was the last film Murnau made in Germany before he went to work in Hollywood. Faust, even more than Nosferatu, demonstrates Murnau's maturity in every aspect of his immense talent. For 1926 this was cinema at its purest. The production achieves the most extraordinary atmosphere, visual effects and imagery as a result of the combination of Carl Hoffmann's inspired camerawork, the sets of Robert Herlth and Walter Röhrig and Murnau's exceptional technical and creative ability, and expertise in translating text into visual beauty. It has been said that not even Fritz Lang could orchestrate such dynamic supernatural imagery and diabolical energy in a studio. The film begins with the Devil (Emil Jannings), boasting to the Archangel St. Michael that he can cause anyone on Earth to become completely corrupt. He decides that an alchemist named Faust should be his quarry. A bargain is struck: the agreement being that if this elderly man can be so thoroughly influenced that he will only commit evil - then Satan shall be given dominion over Earth. The Devil causes plague to descend upon Faust's village. Faust tries to discover a cure and invokes the Devil with whom he signs, in blood, a short term fiery pact that will help him eradicate the disease but the inhabitants refuse the Devil's medicine and Faust attempts to take his own life. Mephisto offers him eternal youth plus the love of Gretchen, a beautiful young girl, in exchange for his soul. Gretchen's brother Valentine is killed by Faust in a duel and, following Faust's flight from the district, the girl is left to be accused of murder and to burn at the stake. As she calls for help, Faust does renounce his youth, and his life to save her and demands that the Devil takes him directly to the place where Gretchen is to be executed. Both Gretchen and Faust are burned at the stake and subsequently ascend into Heaven - proving that Evil can be overcome by Love.