 Director F.W. Murnau (qv) wanted Lillian Gish (qv) to play  Gretchen, but she insisted that the film be shot by her favourite  cinematographer Charles Rosher (qv). Murnau instead cast newcomer  Camilla Horn (qv), whom he had met on the set of  _Herr Tartüff (1926)_ (qv) where she was a double for  Lil Dagover (qv).