Metropolis by Laurie Schultz, Public Service Librarian Film and Book Classic available on Kanopy and Hoopla One of the best classic films ever made is Fritz Lang’s German expressionist drama Metropolis based on the science fiction novel and screenplay by the filmmaker's wife, Thea von Harbou. The couple conceived of the project together and it was one of the most expensive films of its day with a marketing campaign that included von Harbou’s novel. This silent film creates a futuristic, industrial world where the divide between the uber rich and the workers is crossed when the son of the city’s master meets and falls in love with an inspiring labor leader named Maria. Maria’s message to the workers is that, someday, a mediator will come who will bring the workers together with their rich masters. Thus, young Freder believes that he can fulfill this role with a new strength discovered through his love of Maria. "The Mediator Between the Head and the Hands Must Be the Heart" is the theme of the story. In a plot to disband the disgruntled workers by degrading Maria’s saintly reputation, city master Fredersen and inventor Rotwang (who have the memory of their own love triangle to sort out) fashion his new robot to appear as Maria. As faux Maria, the robot, who has her own ideas, uses her control over the workers to insight a violent riot that threatens to destroy the city and it is up to Maria and Freder to save the frenzied workers and their abandoned families and unite them with his father and the other wealthy industrialists. The elaborate sets, inspired by Lang’s awe of New York City skyscrapers and masterful art direction by Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut and Karl Vollbrecht, draw on Bauhaus, Cubist and Futurist influences. These modern structures meld beautifully with the Gothic architecture used in the catacombs and cathedral sets. The film also utilizes ground-breaking special effects later used in other films and contained epic scenes involving exhausting days spent wading through freezing water and real flames which burned the lead actress’ clothing. Reflecting the political situation in post-World War I industrial Europe, and embracing philosophical themes that speak for workers and people in poverty, this film reflected the world situation and influenced popular styles. But, later, Lang would express dissatisfaction with the film and its naïve theme and disliked the Nazi fascination with his film. He divorced von Harbeau after she became a Nazi. The 1927 version of the film shown in Germany was thought too long and the truncated version was all that was available for many years. Various restorations sought to revive as many cut scenes as possible, but the discovery and subsequent restoration by the Murnau Foundation of a reduction negative of the original cut discovered in the Museo del Cine in Argentina includes the deleted scenes. It is the most complete version of the film using the original orchestral score by Gottfried Huppertz. Other versions of the film also have excellent scores, most notably the 1984 restoration by Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder. This was the first version of the film I saw and the modern soundtrack was amazing featuring Freddie Mercury (Love Kills), Pat Benetar (Here’s My Heart), Loverboy (Destruction), Billie Squiers (On Your Own), Adam Ant (What’s Going On) and the Grammy nominated Bonnie Tyler (Here She Comes) among other great songs and orchestral music by Moroder. I just listened to the soundtrack last night. I have a cassette, and later bought a CD, I liked it so much. It is available free to borrow in the library system or watch on YouTube, with commercials between songs. The film features the quintessential robot, The Maschinenmensch, created by sculptor Walter Schulze-Mittendorff. I have an action figure, mint in box, of the robot Hel. Yes, I truly love this film on so many levels (even the sci-fi geek fan level). But it is the healing theme that love can bridge any gap, even those made insurmountable by social class, that gives this film its enduring reputation as one of the finest films ever made. The Complete Metropolis, the longest film version with the original score, is available on both Kanopy and Hoopla: https://mtlebanon.kanopy.com/video/metropolis-0 https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11046763 Hoopla also has the Giorgio Moroder version with the rock score: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11046832 The book, various cuts of the film and the soundtrack are available in the library system and several translations are available on Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/artist/564874188?languageId=179283379&page=1 |
