Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”, restored, expanded version released

Restored, expanded version of film classic ‘Metropolis’ rereleased

NEW YORK (CNS) — More than eight decades after its premiere, “Metropolis” — the German silent film that set the standard for science fiction on the silver screen — has returned to theaters (and, come November, will be available on DVD) following an extensive restoration. This new version, including lost scenes and the original score by Gottfried Huppertz, approximates the original vision of its legendary director and co-writer Fritz Lang (1890-1976), showing off a unique visual style extraordinary in its detail and scope. (Lang’s scripting partner was his then-wife Thea von Harbou.) Such a renewal of this masterpiece once seemed an impossible cinematic dream. Shortly after “Metropolis” premiered in Berlin in 1927, the 153-minute film was deemed too long for commercial release and cut significantly. This actually hindered the film’s popularity over the years, as the rhythm was disrupted and the story line confused. It was thought that the lost footage was gone forever until 2008, when a near-complete print of the original was found in a museum in Argentina. All but five minutes of the film has now been restored, allowing holes in the plot to be filled, adding flesh to a number of characters, and enabling the complete score to be played.

(Check Amazon for this new version; as of today, May 21, 2010, it is not yet listed.)

Here is the trailer from the 2010 release:

Screen Memories by A. O. Scott (or ten most influential films of the last decade)

llustrations by Cristiana Couceiro; clockwise from top left: “The Best of Youth,” Miramax Films/Photofest. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Universal Pictures/Photofest. “Million Dollar Baby,” Warner Brothers/Photofest. “Wall-E,” Disney/Photofest (2).

 

Take a look at this interesting article by New York Times film critic A.O. Scott. I found his Top Ten most influential films of interest as well, though he left out The Matrix which to me remains the most defining film of the last decade. Still, the article is worth the read : Screen Memories by A. O. Scott