Background
METROPOLIS
is both a novel/screenplay originally written by Bavarian born Thea Von Harbou
(1888-1954) and a movie that was produced by Austrian born Fritz Lang
(1890-1976), who was married to Thea Von Harbou at the time. The silent movie
was filmed by state-operated UFG (Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft) at Neu
Babelsberg studios near Berlin between May 1925 and October 1926 at a cost of 5
million Marks. The scope of the film is Monumental in both scale of production
and the themes it addresses.
The film was released in the United States in March 13, 1927, however 7 (3301 ft.) of the 17 reels were removed because the film was "to long". Those reels have never been recovered and are probably lost forever
Adolf Hitler was so impressed with the work of the duo that after 1933 he asked them to work on state's propaganda. Lang refused and left Germany, Harbou stayed became an official screenwriter for the Nazis. The couple divorced in 1934.
The skyline of New York is the inspiration behind the monolithic views of the city of Metropolis. Lang first saw the skyline on a trip to the United States in 1924. Because of the visual impact Metropolis made on some producers, imagery from the film can be seen in another cyberpunk classic… Blade-runner.
The film was re released in 1984 by Georgio Moroder who restored what film was available at the time, added tint, and composed a modern (musical) soundtrack. It is because of his work that METROPOLIS has stayed in the public eye.
Film Details:
Directed by: Fritz Lang
Written by: Fritz Lang, based on the novel by Thea von Harbou
Produced by: Erich Pommer and Universum Film A.G. (UFA)
Cinematography: Karl Freund, Günther Rittau
Art Direction: Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, Karl Vollbrecht
Set Design: Edgar G. Ulmer
Costume Design: Aenne Willkomm
Special Effects: Eugen SchüfftanCast:
Alfred Abel: Joh Fredersen
Gustav Fröhlich: Freder
Brigitte Helm: Maria/The Robot (a.k.a. Futura)
Rudolf Klein-Rogge: Rotwang
Theodor Loos: Josaphat
Heinrich George: Grot
Fritz Rasp: Slim
Gotho: Master of Ceremony / Majordomo
Erwin Biswanger: Georgie (No. 11811)