Metropolis (1927)
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- Not Rated
- 2h 33min
- Drama, Sci-Fi
- 13 Mar 1927 (USA)
- Movie
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 6 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Alfred Abel | ... |
Johann (Joh) Fredersen
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| Gustav Fröhlich | ... |
Freder Fredersen - Joh Fredersens Sohn
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| Rudolf Klein-Rogge | ... |
Erfinder C.A. Rotwang / The Inventor
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| Fritz Rasp | ... |
Der Schmale / The Thin Man
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| Theodor Loos | ... |
Josaphat / Joseph
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Erwin Biswanger | ... |
11811 - Georgy
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| Heinrich George | ... |
Grot -Wärter der Herzmaschine / Guardian of the Heart Machine
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| Brigitte Helm | ... |
Maria / Maschinenmensch / The Machine Man
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Fritz Alberti | ... |
Schöpferischer Mensch / Creative Human (uncredited)
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| Grete Berger | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Olly Boeheim | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Max Dietze | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man (uncredited)
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Ellen Frey | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Beatrice Garga | ... |
Frau der ewigen Gärten / Woman of Eternal Gardens (uncredited)
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| Heinrich Gotho | ... |
Zermonienmeister / Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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| Dolly Grey | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Anny Hintze | ... |
Frau der ewigen Gärten / Woman of Eternal Gardens (uncredited)
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Gottfried Huppertz | ... |
Man Playing Violin (uncredited)
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| Georg John | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man Who Causes Explosion of M-Machine (uncredited)
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Walter Kuehle | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man (uncredited)
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Vera Kálmán | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| Margarete Lanner | ... |
Frau der ewigen Gärten / Dame im Auto / Woman of Eternal Gardens / Woman in Car (uncredited)
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| Rose Lichtenstein | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Hanns Leo Reich | ... |
Marinus (uncredited)
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Arthur Reinhardt | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man (uncredited)
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| Curt Siodmak | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man (uncredited)
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Henrietta Siodmak | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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| Olaf Storm | ... |
Jan (uncredited)
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Erwin Vater | ... |
Arbeiter / Working Man (uncredited)
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| Rolf von Goth | ... |
Sohn der ewigen Gärten / Son in Eternal Gardens (uncredited)
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Helen von Münchhofen | ... |
Frau der ewigen Gärten / Woman of Eternal Gardens (uncredited)
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Helene Weigel | ... |
Arbeiterin / Working Woman (uncredited)
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Hilde Woitscheff | ... |
Frau der ewigen Gärten / Woman of Eternal Gardens (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Fritz Lang | ||
Written by
| Thea von Harbou | ... | (screenplay) |
| Thea von Harbou | ... | (novel) |
| Fritz Lang | ... | (screenplay) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Erich Pommer | ... | producer |
Music by
| Maximianno Cobra | ... | (Metropolis Symphony) |
| James Duhamel | ... | (1999) (as Wetfish) |
| Sandro Forte | ... | (1999) (as Wetfish) |
| Gottfried Huppertz | ||
| Abel Korzeniowski | ... | (2004) |
| Giorgio Moroder | ... | (1984) |
| Peter Osborne | ... | (1998) |
| Bernd Schultheis | ... | (2001) |
| Benjamin Speed | ... | (2005/2011) |
Cinematography by
| Karl Freund | ||
| Günther Rittau | ||
| Walter Ruttmann | ||
Editorial Department
| Maximianno Cobra | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Blake Jones | ... | colorist |
Art Direction by
| Otto Hunte | ||
| Erich Kettelhut | ||
| Karl Vollbrecht | ||
Costume Design by
| Aenne Willkomm | ||
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Slatan Dudow | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Otto Hunte | ... | set designer |
| Erich Kettelhut | ... | set designer |
| Walter Schulze-Mittendorff | ... | sculptor (as Walter Schultze-Mittendorf) |
| Karl Vollbrecht | ... | set designer |
| Moje Åslund | ... | poster artist: Sweden |
| Edgar G. Ulmer | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| James A. Corbett | ... | layback mixer |
Special Effects by
| Ernst Kunstmann | ... | special effects |
| Konstantin Irmen-Tschet | ... | special photographic effects sequences (uncredited) |
| Erich Kettelhut | ... | trick photography (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Jeff Matakovich | ... | color and opticals (1984 restoration) |
| Eugen Schüfftan | ... | special visual effects |
| Erich Kettelhut | ... | painting effects (uncredited) |
| Ernst Kunstmann | ... | assistant compositing effects artist (uncredited) |
| Willy Muller | ... | model maker (uncredited) |
| Hugo O. Schulze | ... | assistant trick photography (uncredited) |
| Edmund Zeihfuss | ... | model maker (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Karl Freund | ... | camera operator |
| Günther Rittau | ... | camera operator (as Gunther Rittau) |
| Robert Baberske | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Horst von Harbou | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Hermann J. Kaufmann | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Maximianno Cobra | ... | conductor / music producer |
| Europa Philharmonia | ... | orchestra |
| Brian Reeves | ... | mixing engineer |
| Frank Strobel | ... | music editor |
| Otto Harzner | ... | conductor: original score (uncredited) |
| Frank Strobel | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maximianno Cobra | ... | script adaptation |
Additional Crew
| Rudi George | ... | key production assistant (uncredited) |
| Erich Holder | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Erich Kettelhut | ... | technical consultant (uncredited) |
| Gustav Püttjer | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Hans Taussig | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Bob Badami | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Eileen Bowser | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| John Branca | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Mark Damon | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Michael Dilbeck | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Jere Huggins | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Dieter Kosslick | ... | special thanks (2010 restoration) |
| Rusty Lemorande | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Tom Luddy | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Mike Lynskey | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Alan Marshall | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Michael Maslansky | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) (as Mike Maslansky) |
| Alan Parker | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Paul Schrader | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Gary Stiffelman | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
| Walter Yetnikoff | ... | special thanks (1984 restoration) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universum Film (UFA) (1927) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Alliance Cinématographique Européenne (ACE) (1927) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1927) (United States) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Ufa-Metro-Verleihbetriebe GmbH (Parufamet) (1927) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Svenska Filmkompaniet (1927) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Ufa-Balkan (1927) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
- Ufanamet (1927) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (UFA) (1927) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Wardour Films (1927) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Shochikuza (1929) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Towa Shoji Bunka Eiga-bu (1929) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Metropol-Filmverleih (1984) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release) (Moroder short version)
- Roadshow Films (1984) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Vestron Video International (1985) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- IVC (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- Vestron Video International (1985) (West Germany) (VHS) (Moroder short version)
- Vestron Video (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Vestron Video (1985) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (video)
- Divisa Ediciones (1995) (Spain) (VHS)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Kino International (2003) (United States) (DVD) (digitally restored version)
- Kino Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD) (DeLuxe Edition)
- Kino Video (2004) (United States) (DVD) (on "Fritz Lang Epic Collection")
- MK2 Éditions (2004) (France) (DVD)
- Reel Media International (2004) (United States) (VHS)
- Reel Media International (2005) (United States) (tv)
- SBP (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
- SBP (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
- Living Colour Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)
- Reel Media International (2007) (United States)
- Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Kino Video (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2010) (Spain) (DVD)
- Kino International (2010) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Kino International (2010) (United States) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2010) (United States)
- Living Colour Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (restored version) (two-disc special edition)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2010) (Finland) (tv)
- New Star (2011) (Greece) (theatrical) (restored version)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2011) (United States) (Blu-ray) (as Kino Classics)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2011) (United States) (DVD) (as Kino Classics)
- Kino Lorber (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- A-Film Home Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray) (Quality Film Collection)
- A-Film Home Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Quality Film Collection)
- Atlantic Film (2013) (Finland) (Blu-ray)
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics (2017) (United States) (Blu-ray) (as Kino Classics) (on 'Fritz Lang: The Silent Films')
- Third Bell Management (2018) (United States) (theatrical)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2018) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (Die Fritz Lang Box)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2018) (Germany) (DVD) (Die Fritz Lang Box)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (DVD) (digital)
- Quintessence Studios (2022) (World-wide)
- YouTube (2023) (World-wide) (video) (internet)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Alpha-Omega Digital (digital restoration)
- August Scherl Verlag (original book publisher)
- Aurélien Plancher (post-production facilities) (DCP Dolby Atmos from restoration)
- Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv Koblenz (film processing: restoration)
- Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv Koblenz (restoration carried out by)
- Centrimage (digital restoration)
- Cinémathèque Française (restoration contributor)
- Deutsches Filminstitut (DIF) (restoration carried out together with) (member of the Association of Cinematheques)
- Deutsches Filmmuseum Frankfurt (restoration carried out together with) (member of the Association of Cinematheques)
- Filmmuseum Berlin (restoration carried out together with) (member of the Association of Cinematheques)
- Filmmuseum Düsseldorf (restoration carried out together with) (member of the Association of Cinematheques)
- Filmmuseum Munich (restoration carried out together with)
- Fondazione Cineteca Italiana (restoration contributor)
- Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung (restoration carried out by)
- George Eastman House (restoration contributor)
- Gosfilmofond (restoration contributor)
- Herold Studios (sound post-production (Dolby Atmos mix))
- Imaginary International (post-production) (Version 2022)
- Kinograph Inc. (English translation: restoration)
- LISTO MediaServices Cine + TV Postproduction (digital restoration: grading, film recording and digital cinema mastering) (2010) (digitally restored version)
- Modegeschaft Knitze (costume fitting)
- Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (acknowledgement)
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (restoration contributor)
- National Film and Television Archive (restoration contributor)
- Ray Mercer & Company (color and opticals) (1984 restoration)
- Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken (original score performed by: restoration)
- Schuhgeschäft Breitspecher (men's shoes)
- Schuhgeschäft Reiss (women's shoes)
- Screensound Australia (restoration contributor)
- Studio Babelsberg (sound stages)
- Tempus Collection (music) (Version 2022)
- Theaterkunst (costume)
- Transit Film (world sales: restoration)
- TrickWilk, Berlin (intertitles: restoration)
- Werkstätten der UFA (costumes)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sometime in the future, the city of Metropolis is home to a Utopian society where its wealthy residents live a carefree life. One of those is Freder Fredersen. One day, he spots a beautiful woman with a group of children, she and the children quickly disappear. Trying to follow her, he is horrified to find an underground world of workers who apparently run the machinery that keeps the Utopian world above ground functioning. One of the few people above ground who knows about the world below is Freder's father, John Fredersen, who is the founder and master of Metropolis. Freder learns that the woman is called Maria, who espouses the need to join the "hands" - the workers - to the "head" - those in power above - by a mediator who will act as the "heart". Freder wants to help the plight of the workers in their struggle for a better life. But when John learns of what Maria is advocating and that Freder has joined their cause, with the assistance of an old colleague. an inventor called Rotwang, who turns out to be But their nemesis goes to works towards quashing a proposed uprising, with Maria at the centre of their plan. John, unaware that Rotwang has his own agenda., makes plans that include shutting down the machines, with the prospect of unleashing total anarchy both above and below ground. Written by Huggo |
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| Taglines | Fritz Lang's 1927 Masterpiece Now With 25 Minutes of Lost Footage (2010 re-release) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | DEM6,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Much to Fritz Lang's dismay, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels were big fans of the film. Goebbels met with Lang and told him that he could be made an honorary Aryan despite his Jewish background. Goebbels told him "Mr. Lang, we decide who is Jewish and who is not." Lang left for Paris that very night. See more » |
| Goofs | When Freder and Josaphat are climbing down into the miner's city, Freder is barefoot. When they are taking the children up the stairs, he has shoes again. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Il volo (1975). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Restoration based on the version in the Filmmuseum Munich and material preserved in the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv See more » |
| Quotes |
Maria:
HEAD and HANDS need a mediator. THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN HEAD AND HANDS MUST BE THE HEART! Worker #1: But where is our mediator, Maria - ? Maria: Wait for him! He will surely come! Worker #2: We will wait, Maria...! But not much longer - - ! See more » |