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Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent sci-fi classic, Metropolis, is a film preservation miracle. It was printed on old nitrate film, which has been known to spontaneously combust. It was also produced in Germany—by a half-Jewish director—shortly before the Nazis took control of the German film industry. With such enormous obstacles in its path, Metropolis could have ceased to exist long ago.
Through the years, however, a number of people have searched the world for any remaining prints and worked to preserve as much of it as possible—to present it to generation after generation of new movie lovers. In recent years, more prints have been discovered, bringing the film back to a massive, nearly-complete 145-minute runtime. But, in 1984, Oscar-winning composer Giorgio Moroder presented a significantly shorter restoration, blending the film’s original style with an ‘80s score to create a version that’s less intimidating for casual movie buffs.
Metropolis takes place in the year 2026, in a city that’s controlled by the privileged few, who live lives of luxury and leisure, and maintained by the oppressed many, who work long hours and live underground. Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) is one of the few—the son of Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel), the Master of Metropolis. But after Freder catches just a glimpse of Maria (Brigitte Helm), one of the workers, he goes in search of the underground city.
While searching for Maria, Freder witnesses the horrible conditions in the workers’ underground city, and he vows to do something about it. He embraces the message that Maria proclaims about finding a mediator who can join the workers and the rulers. But Joh has no intention of giving up control, so he plots to silence Maria and use her influence against the workers.
If you watch just a few minutes of Metropolis, you’ll understand why it’s influenced so many filmmakers in the more than 80 years since its release. This artistic and remarkably ambitious film—the most expensive silent film ever made—is nothing short of brilliant, with stunning futuristic settings and haunting imagery of the workers’ lives. The story, meanwhile, is every bit as captivating, combining politics, religion, science-fiction, and romance to tell a timeless story about greed and the balance of power.
Of course, since it’s more than an hour shorter than the original, Moroder’s version is clearly missing parts of the story. At times, you’ll feel its limitations—and some of the characters and plotlines feel somewhat under-developed. Still, despite the limitations presented by an old and incomplete print, Moroder managed to take the classic material and turn it into something that will appeal to a different kind of audience. After all, most casual moviegoers probably wouldn’t race out to see a black and white silent film that clocks in at a massive two and a half hours in length. That’s intimidating enough for dedicated film buffs. But Moroder’s version is a little more accessible, with the occasional subtle touches of color, subtitles instead of the original title cards, and (most noticeably) a well-chosen modern score.
For some, the very idea of artists like Adam Ant, Pat Benatar, and Freddie Mercury contributing to the soundtrack of a classic film may be blasphemous—but it works remarkably well. The electronic score fits perfectly with the film’s eerie, sci-fi tone—and the songs (though now a bit dated) feel oddly appropriate.
It may not be a pure version of Fritz Lang’s original, but Giorgio Moroder’s Metropolis definitely makes the classic film more accessible. Metropolis is definitely a must-see for any film lover—and if you’re hesitant to sit through a lengthy silent film, this version is the perfect place to start.
Blu-ray Review:
Giorgio Moroder’s 1984 restoration of Metropolis doesn’t exactly look like new. It looks like an ‘80s restoration of a very old movie. For that reason, you’re sure to notice a few scratches and other flaws. Still, considering what Moroder went through to produce the film, the Blu-ray release looks pretty impressive.
If you’re interested in learning more about the restoration, you’ll also want to watch The Fading Image, a short documentary on Moroder’s restoration. The narration is rather dry, but the film itself is quite interesting, offering a brief look at the film’s history and Moroder’s involvement.
