Metropolis isn't only the oldest film on this blog, it isn't just the first silent film I've ever seen, it is also the grandaddy of all futuristic Sci-Fi. It's visual style can be seen in some form or another in classics such as Frankenstein, Blade Runner, The Fifth Element and Star Wars, it's political undertones of the conflict between upper and working class became startlingly close to home throughout the Great Depression, and it's uncanny visual style has become the epitome of what we consider to be science fiction in movies. And it was nearly lost to us (in it's original form anyway) forever.
After it's original screening in Berlin in 1927, it was spliced up, shortened, re-worked (butchered) and generally cut to ribbons for various distributors in different countries, and it's original 153 minute cut fell into obscurity. Various attempts were made throughout the decades since, but it wasn't until the discovery of a complete (but damaged) version in Argentina could it be restored to it's former glory. Though not in great condition the missing 30 mins of footage were added to the film for the 2010 re-release. Writer/Director Fritz Lang (with his co-writer wife Thea von Harbou) Delivered to us the very first Sci-Fi epic, the genre had been attempted onscreen before, but not this scale, at 5 Million Reichsmark it was and still is the most expensive silent film ever made.
The film follows young Feder, son of the creator of the titular city, as he first comes to understand the detriment to which his fellow man have to work in order to keep this utopia afloat. As he uncovers more the plight of the working classes living in "The Workers City", his father and a crazy scientist plot to undermine the cause by doppleganging the only light in the workmans eyes, a virginal, almost angelic charcter named Maria who tells of a "Mediator", the heart that will unite the Brains of the city with the Hands, providing us with a cute, yet hanously un-subtle metaphore for the upper and working class.
Before the conclusion (the run time is a tad boorish) we see several shots of this amazingly designed cityscape, a dance number, and some trippy as hell sciency stuff (including the activation of a robot...1927!). It's actors hamming their way through every scene (as was commonplcae in cinema at the time) served the premis surprisingly well, the visual effects were also very impressive, the stop motion and minatures were used to great effect. we can see where all that Reichsmark went.
Conclusion: Though the mataphore was given to us in a naive (if not childish) way, there is something sweet in it, someone or something unifying the upper tiers of industry with it's lowliest workers. That is until you realise it tilts more toward pro-union propaganda, but even so it's extremely enjoyable to watch as well as seeing true cinematic history come to life, viewing footage that remained hidden for more than 80 years. The whole things is like a snapshot of 1920's germany. So what if Director Lang later publicaly admitted detesting the film, or if his co-writer/wife Thea von Harbou later became a member of the Nazi party (In Lang's defence, he divorced her pretty sharpish) none of that changes how important this film was, not necessarily it's message, but it's style and scope. Genuine definition of a classic. 8/10.
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