The Fedora Chronicles - The Golden Age Of Hollywood: Metropolis

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Metropolis
Release date 10th January 1927
Country : Germany
Running time : 123 mins
Genre : Sci-Fi
Starring Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel
Screenplay by Thea von Harbou and Fritz Lang
Directed by Fritz Lang

It is the future and humans are divided into two groups: the thinkers, who make plans and the workers. The son of the head of the thinkers visits the underground and is shocked by what he sees, he also meets Maria. A mad scientist Rotwang replaces Maria with a robot which leads to the destruction of the city and any divisions between the two groups fall away.

The sets for this movie have always been its most impressive feature particularly now its been restored and they can be seen in all their glory. The sequence where the robot Maria is born is extraordinary. The movie is less great in its human characters though at least now we have a better idea about the motivations of Rotwang since the latest restoration has got a lot closer to presenting the film the way it was meant to be seen. A great film more for its design and influence than its story or acting though repeated viewing gets you more involved and the whole scale of the enterprise never ceases to amaze.

Trivia - The Golden Age of Hollywood

The film cost nearly 5 million marks and almost bankrupted UFA, the main German cinema organisation.

DVDInformation - The Golden Era Of Hollywood

DVD available from Kino Home Video :

DVD Reviews - The Golden Age Of Hollywood

Silent Era
DVD Times (Masters of Cinema Edition)
DVD Beaver
(comparison of Kino and Masters of Cinema Edition)

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