Metropolis 1927

I haven't seen Avatar and have very little desire to do so, but I did get to see the best science fiction film of 2010, as it was in 1927- Metropolis.

I recently had a chance to see the fully restored version and am so impressed I couldn't wait to jot down a few of my thoughts.

I don't remember much of my first viewing of Metropolis. I was much younger and hadn't yet come to appreciate silent films. I didn't care for it much. Looking back, there was much to dislike. The film was disjointed, at times illogical and difficult to follow. This isn't surprising since well over 30 minutes of the film had been cut from what had premiered in Berlin back in 1927. Fritz Lang's vision had been butchered and the missing footage had been thought lost forever.

Freder and Maria (The wonderful Brigitte Helm who would play both the good girl as well as the robotic bad girl)

Numerous attempts had been made to restore the film starting in the 1980s. My admiration for Metropolis began with a 1984 restoration by Giorgio Moroder. Moroder was able to restore some of the missing scenes and interspersed stills and art to fill in for some of the missing footage. Most of all he introduced a soundtrack made up of pop/ rock music from contemporary artists like Queen and Pat Benatar. The music added a whole new life to the film and helped move the story along in spite of the missing footage.

In 2001 the film was digitally restored with the original orchestral score by the Murnau Foundation. Its running time of 124 minutes was the most complete version of the film to date. It was a beautful restoration. The art direction, special effects and Karl Freund's groundbreaking camerawork could be appreciated more fully.

(The vast underground machines run by the downtrodden workers of Metropolis)

In 2008 a copy of the film was discovered in Argentina. This copy though in very rough shape, contained nearly every minute of lost footage. It was sent to the Murnau Foundation and the additional footage was spliced back into the 2001 edition and for the first time since 1927 Metropolis was presented as originally intended by Fritz Lang.

Just over a week ago this restored version was presented on Turner Classic Movies and I now have an even greater admiration for not only what is one of the greatest science fiction films of all time but what may be one of the greatest films period. Even now this film comes across as groundbreaking.

(Rotwang and the machine-man prior to giving it the image of Maria)

The added footage is essential for this story. The film is much more fluid. It transitions appropriately but best of all so much more is revealed. New subplots are revealed. New characters are introduced. Characters are more complex. The character of Rotwang, for example, is merely a mad scientist in the previous versions, but in this restored version his motivations, and how they effect his relationship with Joh Fredersen, the manager of Metropolis, are revealed. I will refrain from telling more details and plot points here as I wouldn't want to spoil any piece of this incredible movie.

(Who is this mysterious figure not seen since the film was orginally presented)

If you desire to read more about the plot and other aspects of the film, the Wikipedia entry is well put together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(film)

For more on the film and the new restoration go to

http://www.kino.com/metropolis/main.html

Next week a return to 1923