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Metropolis (Director's Cut - New Score) [DVD]

Brigitte Helm (Actor), Alfred Abel (Actor), Fritz Lang (Director) | Rated: Parental Guidance | Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Fritz Rasp
  • Directors: Fritz Lang
  • Writers: Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou
  • Producers: Erich Pommer
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Eureka
  • DVD Release Date: 28 Jun 1999
  • Run Time: 139 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CZ1R
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 35,791 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Fritz Lang's Expressionistic masterwork continues to exert its influence today, from Chaplin's Modern Times (1936) to Dr Strangelove (1963), and into the late 1990s with Dark City (1998). In the stratified society of the future (Y2K no less), the son of a capitalist discovers the atrocious conditions of the factory slaves, falling in love with the charismatic Maria in the bargain, who preaches nonviolence to the workers. But even the benevolent leadership of Maria is a challenge to the privileged class, so they have the mad-scientist Rotwang concoct a robot double to take her place and incite the workers to riot. The story is melodrama, but it's the powerful imagery that is so memorable. One of the most arresting images has legions of cowed workers filing listlessly into the great maw of the all-consuming machine-god Moloch. Unfortunately, the print used for this DVD is unfocused, scratchy, and five minutes short, altogether unworthy of a visionary masterpiece. It may be too much to hope for the complete film to be restored (only two hours of the original three-hour film are extant), but a clean transfer from a fine-grain negative ought to be possible. And why, when there are other possible future Metropolises to be had, should we downtrodden masses accept this junk? --Jim Gay

Product Description

Yet another revamped version of Fritz Lang's 1926 silent classic. In the year 2000, industrialist John Frederson rules over a giant city where the workers exist only as an underclass. They call for rebellion, but their leader Maria urges them to wait for a mediator. When Frederson kidnaps Maria and replaces her with a robot replica, the workers are incited to revolt. Giorgio Moroder produced a shorter, colourised version of the film in 1984, complete with rock soundtrack. This version contains a newly recorded and digitally mastered score.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The mother of all sci-fi films - Fantastic 18 April 2000
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
An interesting and fascinating look at German silent cinema, and in particular, how sci-fi got started. This 1926 film is set in the year 2000, and takes the form of the fictional city of "Metropolis". Though often considered a pro-fascist film (a claim which Fritz Lang always vehemently denied), there is little to suggest that there is any intended Fascist agenda. The film once again draws on female contrast. For example, the contrast between the "pure woman" (Maria), and the "impure woman" (the robot Maria), further exemplifying the dichotomy between good and evil. Metropolis paints a negative image of mechanisation, with the machines running the city, yet mankind is worse off. The social critique is also there, with a 3 tier social structure, reflected in the habitats of the classes. The geometric mise-en-scène is seen as a representation of the rigidly ordered and structured society also. Scripted by Thea Von Harbou (Lang's wife), this film can truly be regarded as a landmark, and the first sci-film. Quoted as inspiration by many modern directors, and similarities can be seen in many areas (ie C3P0 was modelled on the Metropolis robot). My advice is to see this movie - its simply fantastic.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars a completely new viewing experience, significantly better 28 Aug 2011
By rob crawford TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
I saw this film more than 30 years ago, and it did not make much sense to me. Beyond the spectacular visual effects, the motivations of the head man and the crazy inventor simply didn't add up in a fundamental way. With the new footage - a full 25% of the new version - it comes together to a much more coherent conclusion, so that the viewer can participate in a fantastic and complex historical document that also works as a story today.

In terms of the immediate film experience (i.e. not the historical interest), this film is a wonderful examination of the future of the industrial city. On one side, you find the managers and elite, who control the city with a tayloresque precision in statistics, processes, and space. The elite (or brain or head) reserves for itself the best spaces and activities. There is a wonderful, re-added sequence of a race between highly trained athletes, whose beautiful bodies are compared to huge statues in a stadium. Indulging himself in unprecedented riches, the son of the leader (or dictator or CEO) of the city plays sensual games all day in an artificial garden. On the other hand, you have the proletariat, who work the massive underground machines and live in the bowels of the city, exhausted and downtrodden but cared for in a certain way. They are the "hand".

The elite boy has a life-altering encounter with a young visionary from the underground, who is preaching an overtly christian message of brotherhood. He goes in search of her, discovering the underside of his father's empire and deems himself to be the mediator (or "heart") that the beautiful young visionary foresees as the salvation and who will change the balance of the Metropolis.... Read more ›
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27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly restored classic from the visionary director 19 May 2003
By P Farquharson
Format:DVD
Hard to imagine that Fritz Lang’s extraordinary silent epic was a box-office flop when first released – and almost bankrupted its financiers, UFA (Germany’s largest film production company).

Set around the year 2000 (though still remaining visionary), the sci-fi film employed a staggering cast of 37,383 and used creative, cutting-edge effects to tell the story of the city of Metropolis (originally inspired by the Manhattan skyline). Here, Utopia (filled with ‘thinkers’) is supported by the underground (filled with ‘workers’). All is running smoothly until the workers – spurred on by an evil robot replica of their leader Maria – decide to revolt...

Approximately two hours long, the film is set to its original score (composed by Gottfried Huppertz), and this DVD edition has been painstakingly restored and digitally remastered to make it the closest version yet to the director’s original cut. Bonus features include a nine-minute piece The Restoration on how various copies of the original film were gathered from around the world and restored to create this edition. It also includes The Metropolis Case, a fascinating 44-minute documentary on its making, that also puts it into a historical context.

Included is how Lang’s overtly anti-Nazi film The Testament of Dr Mabuse (1933) had been banned by Joseph Goebbels yet he was later asked to direct propaganda films for Adolf Hitler. Lang explains in an interview how, when he was approached, left Germany the same day...

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars First-rate restoration, but I miss Moroder's coloured tints. 17 Nov 2003
By A Customer
Format:DVD
The picture quality alone is worth the purchase... I've seen a great many versions of this masterpiece (most claiming some level of restoration), but the superior image quality and added scenes in this two disc special edition greatly enhance the film.

It's a wonderful DVD. All the same, I still admire how Sergio Moroder's mid-80s "restoration" added blue or gold tint to scenes. This new special edition is only in black & white. However, there is a way around this... provided you plan to watch Metropolis on a PC... Here's how: you can watch the film with a lovely golden tint if you poke through your monitor controls to change the Colour Temperature. Lowering that temperature number to 6500 or lower makes the film look even better. ... Just a suggestion.

Either way, this is a great film made better through this priceless restoration.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Chilling view of the future
This version makes more sense with the gaps filled. The music although dated in places is at times a great support to the scenes.
Published 2 months ago by book lover
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for a Lang's fans
Weather you are a strict old fashion movies fan or not, this film, with this cut and soundtrack, it's a must have in your collection.
Published 15 months ago by NoCloudsAtAll
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie
Excellent movie! Considering what happened in Germany a few years later this movie is almost profetic in the description of the description of a society of sub-humans and... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2010 by Thomas Sorensen
1.0 out of 5 stars Overrated
I brought this movie on DVD after reading the overhype for years.
Was this a good movie when i came out? Maybe, i don't know. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2010 by Shard
5.0 out of 5 stars Metropolis ( 1927 )
Metropolis ( 1927 )
You have to apluad Fritz Lang
of how he see's the future
on this film.
Don't think was far wrong ?
( 1927 ) Amazing ! Read more
Published on 20 April 2009 by Gange@
5.0 out of 5 stars A picture of Hel
In the back ground we see a picture of the Metropolis in 2026 that is watched over by Johhan 'Joh' Fredersen (Alfred Abel). He stole the heart of Hel from C.A. Read more
Published on 27 April 2006 by bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars The most atmospheric film of all time!
I had to do a presentation on this film and I have to say that as soon as it started I was totally entranced by it. The music is so atmospheric and enhances the entire film 100%. Read more
Published on 29 May 2005 by sarahk
5.0 out of 5 stars Metropolis
In my opinion, the most beautiful film I have ever seen...probably the most beautiful film of all time. Unsurpassed.
Published on 6 Feb 2005 by Mr J Carroll
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb marriage of convenience
Given the sad truth that Fritz Lang's epic was hacked to death almost as soon as it was out of the camera, Giorgio Moroder's rebuild has put back more, possibly, than was taken... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2005 by Sejanus
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
This is the first slient film I have seen and I thought it was womderful. This a film that everyone should see. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2004 by Jenny
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