METROPOLIS

* * * ½

STARRING: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Fritz Rasp

1926, 120 Minutes, Directed by: Fritz Lang

Description: Metropolis takes place in 2026, when the populace is divided between workers who must live in the dark underground and the rich who enjoy a futuristic city of splendor. The tense balance of these two societies is realized through images that are among the most famous of the 20th century, many of which presage such sic-fi landmarks as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner. Lavish and spectacular, with elaborate sets and modern science fiction style, Metropolis stands today as the crowning achievement of the German silent cinema. — Amazon.com

Most audiences will know this film from the 1984 re-release running at 87 minutes with a soundtrack by disco king Giorgio (Midnight Express, Flashdance) Morroder.

The music's cack, but Morroder should be thanked for giving modern audiences a chance to view this hugely influential sci-fi classic and see where George Lucas got the idea for C3P0 and where Ridley Scott got some of his ideas for the futuristic Los Angeles in Blade Runner.

They, of course, aren't the only fans of this film. Apparently Adolf Hitler was so impressed by the film - despite its very obviously socialist leanings! - that he got his propaganda minister Goebbels to offer its director (Fritz Lang) some kind of high post at his ministry.

The legendary German expressionist director (who detested the Nazis) calmly listened to the proposal, said he would consider it and was on a plane to permanent exile in America by that evening! Sadly Lang's wife (who was more enamoured of the Nazis) declined to join him and the role envisaged for him was probably fulfilled later on by Leni Riefenstahl who gave Hitler (and the world) propagandistic "classics" such as Triumph of the Will.

After World War II Riefenstahl would claim that she never knew what the Nazis were on about. Maybe she didn't - but Fritz Lang as sure as hell did!
 

• See also: Film Threat.

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