Metropolis (1927)
Parental Guidance Recommended for Persons Under 15 Years
| Director: | Fritz Lang |
| Actors: | Theodore Loos, Brigitte Helm, Erwin Biswanger, Fritz Rasp, Hans Leo Reich, Rudolph Klein-Rogge, Gustav Frohlich, Heinrich George, Olaf Storm, Alfred Abel |
Set at around the year 2,000 (then a lifetime away in the future), a mammoth city is ruled by the super-efficient industrialist John Fredersen (Alfred Abel) and, on the surface, apperas to be a utopian dream with wealthy inhabitants living in palatial apartments set in colossal glass and concrete spires. But underground it's a different story; armies of slaves work gruelling shifts to maintain the luxurious lifestyles of their masters. The workers, a sub-human species of sluggish creatures, are led by the 'saintly' Maria (Brigitte Helm), who urges them not to rebel but to wait patiently for the arrival of a 'Mediator'. Frederson has kidnapped Maria and orders mad scientist, Rothwang (Rudolph Klein-Rogge), to create a robot replica to take her place. His plan is doomed when the evil mechanical Maria incites the massed workers to revolt and destroy everything in sight. Taking sixteen months to film, with a cast of 37,383, and costing over $2 million at 1920s' prices, everything about this epic German science-fiction film, which was inspired by the towering Manhattan skyline, is gigantic. Although director Fritz Lang hated the ending of his film, it was an instant hit with Adolf Hitler and Goebbels, who first saw it in a small German town. When they came to power in 1933, they asked Lang to make prestige pictures for the Nazi party. He packed his bags and left for Hollywood the same day. On its first releases it was a box-office flop and nearly bankrupted its financiers UFA, Germany's largest film production company. 'Metropolis' is now a monument to Fritz Lang's artistic vision and film craftsmanship; this version is the closest yet to the director's original vision.
| Status: | Normal |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 139mins |
| Origin: | GERMANY |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.33:1 |
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Member Reviews (23)
23 Member
Reviews
gerd
says
Only of historic interest. The DVD cover label gives the genre as sci-fi and foreign. Apart from a touch of sci-fi, the film mixes all sorts of genres, including religious, political, fantasy, ballet, horror and romance. And all very far-fetched and stylistic. The dialogue cards and linking title cards are all in English, so apart from its German look and one scene with the 7 vices labelled in German, it's not like a usual foreign film with subtitles.
Kylie
says
Watch this for the social studies lesson and for the fantastic artistic qualities. Whether you enjoy it or not, you need to see this film just so you can say you've seen it! Fortunately, I love it!
joffa
says
brilliant..... amazing foresight and if thought about, not that far of reality. Not so much in tangible content but society 'standards' and attitudes toward each other. Moreso the foresight of how the individual and 'mob' would react put in that set of circumstances given the opportunity. By the end i could actually see why as a people, ' mankind', we are as we are today. i am no critic, that's just how i saw it
Laurie
says
I really expected to enjoy this, but didn't, really. The idea was good, and the execution, for its time, was excellent - but it was only watchable for its historic significance.
Nigel W.
says
As much as I like the visuals of Metropolis I find the story incredibly thin. Yet this inadequacy is largely compensated by the imaginative realisation of a future world where you are either a slave or a master. 3.5 stars
Judy F.
says
A simply remarkable film.
Maria J.
says
This movie is well done by 1920s standard, but I did not enjoy it. I watched it on fast forward. Watch it for nostalgic purposes.
Joahla
says
This 2hr B&W silent era movie with visionary scene artwork started well but bored me in the 2nd half as it was too long. The restored film was flawless and had an orchestra sound track. But I much preferred the 1984 version of this movie (which isn't on BigPond Movies) with the modern rock music sound track composed by Giorgio Moroder. It was shorter too and the film less restored at that time.
Ben P.
says
Incredible, captivating, silent film.
N S.
says
Really excellent.
Sarah A.
says
A real classic, very much ahead of its time in some ways and very dated in others. Shame there is no complete copy of this amazing film still available.
Ironside L.
says
Intriguing - ahead of it's time.
Kendi P.
says
for film lovers this is a must. It's a shock that it doesn't exist whole somewhere, being such a huge film now and then. Even with bits missing it's themes are timeless, you can see this movie in many movies that followed. Still gripping even with gaps
Naomi M.
says
Very interesting look at a very early b&W sci fi silent movie. It was worht watching for the semi dance moves portraying 'gruelling work'
Peter B.
says
Suffers badly as the original vs Georgiou Moroder's later (BRILLIANT) adaptation.
Barbara S.
says
John O.
says
A marvel of its time and still marvellous today, with plenty to tell us about our own world. Sure it's sooooo dated (the lead actor's performance) but it's also sooooo timeless and thrilling.
Adrian R.
says
The politics are a bit simple-minded but the graphic cinematic impact makes it a completely worthwhile experience. Kept the attention of pre-teen 21st century boys right to the end!
C. L.
says
Patricia Farrar
says
Wonderful! This should be compulsory viewing for anyone who doubts the evils of capitalism and its exploitation of workers. The accompanying DVD, a doco of German silent cinema, is excellent in its own right.
The Khangster
says
For a viewer of the present era, this film may not be as entertaining as it should be.
Robert Wall
says
ok so its not excellent by todays standard - BUT you have to look at it in a historical context (watch CD2)
Ros
says
This silent movie is a classic in the science-fiction genre (not my usual choice).
Set in a futuristic city (as envisaged in 1926!), the action includes workers in an underground factory, who are suspected of plotting revolution; a brilliant but mad scientist whose robot woman is intended to distract the workers; the rich factory owner, and his son who falls in love with a saintly woman and takes up the cause of the workers.
The plot is close to melodrama - 'good' battling with 'evil' - with a predictable happy resolution to the conflict. However, the central message - that the heart must act as mediator between the head and the hands - is clearly conveyed.