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Product Description
With its dizzying depiction of a futuristic cityscape and alluring female robot, Metropolis is among the most famous of all German films and the mother of sci-fi cinema (an influence on Blade Runner and Star Wars, among countless other films). Directed by the legendary Fritz Lang (M, Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse,The Big Heat, etc.), its jaw-dropping production values, iconic imagery, and modernist grandeur it was described by Luis Buñuel as 'a captivating symphony of movement' remain as powerful as ever.
Drawing on and defining classic sci-fi themes, Metropolis depicts a dystopian future in which society is thoroughly divided in two: while anonymous workers conduct their endless drudgery below ground their rulers enjoy a decadent life of leisure and luxury. When Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) ventures into the depths in search of the beautiful Maria (Brigitte Helm in her debut role), plans of rebellion are revealed and a Maria-replica robot is programmed by mad inventor Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) and master of Metropolis Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel) to incite the workers into a self-destructive riot.
A'Holy Grail' among film finds, Metropolis is presented here in a newly reconstructed and restored version, as lavish and spectacular as ever thanks to the painstaking archival work of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung and the discovery of 25 minutes of footage previously thought lost to the world. Lang's enduring epic can finally be seen for the first time in 83 years as the director originally intended, and as seen by German cinema-goers in 1927.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
150-minute reconstructed and restored 2010 version (including 25 minutes of footage previously thought lost to the world)
- Wraparound embossed sleeve
- Pristine new HD transfer (1080p on Blu-ray)
- New 2010 symphony orchestra studio recording of the original 1927 Gottfried Huppertz score in 5.1
- Newly translated optional English subtitles as well as the original German intertitles
- Full-length audio commentary by David Kalat and Jonathan Rosenbaum
- Die Reise nach Metropolis (2010, 53 minutes), a documentary about the film
- 2010 re-release trailer
- 56-page booklet featuring archival interviews with Fritz Lang, a 1927 review by Luis Buñuel, articles by Jonathan Rosenbaum and Karen Naundorf, and restoration notes by Martin Koerber.
and more!
Drawing on and defining classic sci-fi themes, Metropolis depicts a dystopian future in which society is thoroughly divided in two: while anonymous workers conduct their endless drudgery below ground their rulers enjoy a decadent life of leisure and luxury. When Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) ventures into the depths in search of the beautiful Maria (Brigitte Helm in her debut role), plans of rebellion are revealed and a Maria-replica robot is programmed by mad inventor Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) and master of Metropolis Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel) to incite the workers into a self-destructive riot.
A'Holy Grail' among film finds, Metropolis is presented here in a newly reconstructed and restored version, as lavish and spectacular as ever thanks to the painstaking archival work of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung and the discovery of 25 minutes of footage previously thought lost to the world. Lang's enduring epic can finally be seen for the first time in 83 years as the director originally intended, and as seen by German cinema-goers in 1927.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
150-minute reconstructed and restored 2010 version (including 25 minutes of footage previously thought lost to the world)
- Wraparound embossed sleeve
- Pristine new HD transfer (1080p on Blu-ray)
- New 2010 symphony orchestra studio recording of the original 1927 Gottfried Huppertz score in 5.1
- Newly translated optional English subtitles as well as the original German intertitles
- Full-length audio commentary by David Kalat and Jonathan Rosenbaum
- Die Reise nach Metropolis (2010, 53 minutes), a documentary about the film
- 2010 re-release trailer
- 56-page booklet featuring archival interviews with Fritz Lang, a 1927 review by Luis Buñuel, articles by Jonathan Rosenbaum and Karen Naundorf, and restoration notes by Martin Koerber.
and more!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
87 of 88 people found the following review helpful
By M
Format:Blu-ray
I recently saw this newly restored version of Metropolis at Chichester Film Festival (in a Blue Ray presentation) and cannot recommend it highly enough - whether you know this film or not it should be seen. The inclusion of the previously missing 25 minutes (easily noticed due to the poor state of the source material) makes an enormous difference to the film, significantly changing the story line and the overall feel of the film. The poor quality of the inserted film does not diminish its importance and effect (ranging from a few seconds here and there, to whole scenes) but combines to effectively make a new film - or more accurately the resurrection of a lost one (the original 1927 premiered cut). Of course this version does not affect the obvious faults of the film but certainly makes for a more satisfying experience - it completes (apart from about 4 minutes apparently) and confirms the place this film has in the history of cinema. Whether you are interested in silent movies (then I'd highly recommend PiccadillyPiccadilly [1929] [DVD]), the development of cinema (then you should also see Fritz Lang's MM [Masters of Cinema] [Blu-ray] [1931]), special effects (and what incredible effects!) or the history of science fiction on film, this version must be seen.
236 of 246 people found the following review helpful
By John Roberts
Format:Blu-ray
How do you get a balanced review of a new release when Amazon bundle old reviews of the DVD version (as old as 2001 !!!) with the new ones. CHUMPS. Get your act together Amazon this is a frequent fault.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Brady Orme
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Blu-ray
Don't take the title literally, of course cinematic Sci-Fi existed before Fritz Lang filmed METROPOLIS... However, for most people the Sci-Fi we enjoy today have this film as their Primer so basically yes, this is where it all began. Having been a fan of the film for years I was lucky enough to receive my limited-edition Steelbook early from Eureka! themselves, so I can report exactly how this film looks in 1080p, and the extras it contains.
Firstly, it's a print that is comprised of many different sources so don't expect a pristine experience from start to finish... the original METROPOLIS that premiered in Germany was 40 minutes longer than the version most commonly seen (I'm going to forget Giorgio Moroder's synth-pop mutation ever existed, thanks), which was butchered and truncated after bombing at the box-office. Thanks to a recent discovery of an almost-complete print in Buenos Aires F.W. Murnau-Stiftung in Munich was able to take the extra footage from this print, splice it in to the familiar version and presto... Cinema History back where it belongs. It must be remembered however, that the Buenos Aires print was in exceptionally poor condition and it shows when these frames are shown, and a scene detailing Maria's escape from Rotwang is still absent and is simply narrated via text... But so what? The film is 83 years old and it's a privilege to see it again, especially if we remember that we may have never gotten the chance to see it.
Extras-wise, I found the extras on the Blu-Ray slightly lacking from MOCs usual banquet, comprising of a commentary, trailer and German documentary on history of the film and it's restoration. This could be due to the size of the high-definition movie file however.... Read more ›
Firstly, it's a print that is comprised of many different sources so don't expect a pristine experience from start to finish... the original METROPOLIS that premiered in Germany was 40 minutes longer than the version most commonly seen (I'm going to forget Giorgio Moroder's synth-pop mutation ever existed, thanks), which was butchered and truncated after bombing at the box-office. Thanks to a recent discovery of an almost-complete print in Buenos Aires F.W. Murnau-Stiftung in Munich was able to take the extra footage from this print, splice it in to the familiar version and presto... Cinema History back where it belongs. It must be remembered however, that the Buenos Aires print was in exceptionally poor condition and it shows when these frames are shown, and a scene detailing Maria's escape from Rotwang is still absent and is simply narrated via text... But so what? The film is 83 years old and it's a privilege to see it again, especially if we remember that we may have never gotten the chance to see it.
Extras-wise, I found the extras on the Blu-Ray slightly lacking from MOCs usual banquet, comprising of a commentary, trailer and German documentary on history of the film and it's restoration. This could be due to the size of the high-definition movie file however.... Read more ›
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Specifications -
Case Type: Slimmer U.S style plastic blu-ray case with outer card slip case.
Disc: MPEG-4 AVC encode, Region B locked.
Video: 1.37:1 aspect ratio in a 16:9 frame (black space appears on the left and right of the picture), 1080p/24fps. Black and White.
Audio: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, and DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 surround.
Subtitles: Optional English subtitles on the feature film and supplements. The intertitles and credits are in the original German language.
Supplements:
Audio Commentary with critics David Kalat and Jonathan Rosenbaum.
2010 Re-release Trailer (2mins, HD).
"Voyage To Metropolis" documentary (55mins, HD).
56 page booklet.
Censorship?: This is a restored and reconstructed version (149 mins) of the film that attempts to replicate the initial German release. For the films international release in 1927 Paramount pictures cut the film down to 90 mins and since then numerous versions have been released (including the "Moroder" version in the 1980's featuring popular music of the time), this version however is the definitive one. Passed without cuts by the BBFC - PG (mild violence and nudity).
I recently saw this film at my local arthouse cinema. It was the first time i saw a silent film projected in the theatre and i have to say the restoration is stunning. The newly found footage (from an archive in Argentina) is from a duped 16mm print (the original was 35mm) and is in bad shape but is the only surviving footage available and is to be expected. This blu-ray edition captures the theatrical screening perfectly. The transfer is superb with noticable grain and sharp picture (although some footage is a bit blurry, but it is a very old film).... Read more ›
Case Type: Slimmer U.S style plastic blu-ray case with outer card slip case.
Disc: MPEG-4 AVC encode, Region B locked.
Video: 1.37:1 aspect ratio in a 16:9 frame (black space appears on the left and right of the picture), 1080p/24fps. Black and White.
Audio: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, and DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 surround.
Subtitles: Optional English subtitles on the feature film and supplements. The intertitles and credits are in the original German language.
Supplements:
Audio Commentary with critics David Kalat and Jonathan Rosenbaum.
2010 Re-release Trailer (2mins, HD).
"Voyage To Metropolis" documentary (55mins, HD).
56 page booklet.
Censorship?: This is a restored and reconstructed version (149 mins) of the film that attempts to replicate the initial German release. For the films international release in 1927 Paramount pictures cut the film down to 90 mins and since then numerous versions have been released (including the "Moroder" version in the 1980's featuring popular music of the time), this version however is the definitive one. Passed without cuts by the BBFC - PG (mild violence and nudity).
I recently saw this film at my local arthouse cinema. It was the first time i saw a silent film projected in the theatre and i have to say the restoration is stunning. The newly found footage (from an archive in Argentina) is from a duped 16mm print (the original was 35mm) and is in bad shape but is the only surviving footage available and is to be expected. This blu-ray edition captures the theatrical screening perfectly. The transfer is superb with noticable grain and sharp picture (although some footage is a bit blurry, but it is a very old film).... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Some films have a cultural impact evident by their influence on cinema for generations after their release. This is most obvious in the Science Fiction genre, and you immediately think of 1950s classics such as 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' and '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea' (without which there'd be no Godzilla!). But this silent film from the 1920s had a vision which seemed beyond the boundaries of cinema at the time, and yet it managed to capture an epic sci-fi dystopia with a quality of special effects which films even 60 or 70 years later failed to reproduce.
The film opens to a grim scene of workers walking in depressing unison to begin their shift deep underground. Expressionless, fatigued, and with no display of individuality, the drones look more like prisoners than citizens - and perhaps they are. The slow music captures the sense of their despair but the tempo quickly changes when we see the upper levels of the city. There, fit young men laugh as they play sports in the Eternal Gardens while the ladies dance in their finest wears and volunteer to 'entertain' Master Freder, the son of the city founder.
Fountainside frolics are briefly interrupted when an undergrounder flings open the doors to show the less privileged children their more affluent 'brothers'. It's a scene which manages to portray the unfairness of the two-tiered society and highlights the growing disquiet which exists among those less fortunate. The gate-crashing Maria makes an impression on the young Master Freder, whether it's her spirit or understated beauty, he finds her occupying his thoughts and he goes in search of her.... Read more ›
The film opens to a grim scene of workers walking in depressing unison to begin their shift deep underground. Expressionless, fatigued, and with no display of individuality, the drones look more like prisoners than citizens - and perhaps they are. The slow music captures the sense of their despair but the tempo quickly changes when we see the upper levels of the city. There, fit young men laugh as they play sports in the Eternal Gardens while the ladies dance in their finest wears and volunteer to 'entertain' Master Freder, the son of the city founder.
Fountainside frolics are briefly interrupted when an undergrounder flings open the doors to show the less privileged children their more affluent 'brothers'. It's a scene which manages to portray the unfairness of the two-tiered society and highlights the growing disquiet which exists among those less fortunate. The gate-crashing Maria makes an impression on the young Master Freder, whether it's her spirit or understated beauty, he finds her occupying his thoughts and he goes in search of her.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really, quite wonderful.
For anyone in doubt over which release of this film to purchase, I can tell you that at current, this must be the only version now for true first time viewing consideration. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Mattoman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of 'Metropolis', by Fritz Lang
I needed this film for my OU module, and this is the most complete version of 'Metropolis' available. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L P Wingfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film great package
The only version of this film worth having.... Finally complete after all these years. The extra documentary is fascinating as well
Published 1 month ago by mr richard e starzecki
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film. Rip Off Blu-Ray!!
There has been zero effort put into this English friendly release when you compare it to the 3 DISC German release. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Troy
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Magic
Been meaning to buy this for a while now. these Masters of Cinema DVDs are the real deal - lovingly restored, copious comments, top notch fullest versions available. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rufus Yells
5.0 out of 5 stars
yup
Great new DVD that arrived within two days even though I only paid £1.50 postage. If you're buying Metropolis, buy this version.
Published 4 months ago by Russell Andrew Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well done
This DVD offers all you could ever hope to expect! The reconstructed film is a masterpiece of cinematic art from the times when making a good film was not yet a question of using... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Peter Henneberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning film
where Star Wars, Blade Runner, Star Trek, Alien, etc all cam from - the fact it's silent has no effect - this film has not dated at all
Published 4 months ago by David Braid composer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Sci-Fi movie
A classic movie to watch and original, inspired a lot of movies today like Blade-runner and Tim Burton's Batman highly recommended
Published 5 months ago by paul twomey
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Definitive Cut
I first saw Metropolis when I was 14 years old, and was bought this version -... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Becca
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