Metropolis
(DVD)

This newly restored version of the film is the closest yet to the version Fritz Lang debuted to theatrical audiences in 1927 Berlin. In 2008, a duplicate negative created from an original 1927 Argentinian theatrical print was discovered in Buenos Aires' Museo del Cine. Extensive preservation work on that and other footage, in addition to a newly acquired copy of Gottfried Huppertz' original performance score, and intertitles translated into English from German censorship records, has led to a newly edited story line, with rearranged shots and scenes.

Originally produced as a motion picture in 1927.

Based on the novel by Thea von Harbou.

Camera, Karl Freund, Günther Rittau ; original score by Gottfried Huppertz, performed by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, an ensemble of the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH ; conductor, Frank Strobel ; instrumentation of missing portions, Marco Jovic ; restoration, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung, Wiesbaden, jointly with Deutsche-Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen, Berlin, in association with Museo del Cine Pablo C. Ducros Hicken, Buenos Aires ; edition, Martin Koerber, Frank Strobel, Anke Wilkening.

Alfred Abel, Brigette Helm, Gustav Fröhlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge.

"The future. Metropolis is a wonderful city, high above the ground its towers stand. The people prosper, the economy is flourishing, the suspended streets are busy. But Metropolis also has a great secret, so hidden that not even Freder Fredersen, son of founder Joh Fredersen knows about it. He is spending his free time in the Eternal Gardens, when suddenly a woman shows up, with what looks like a class of children. They're from the City of Workers, in the depth, Freder learns. "These are your brothers," she tells the children, before she is forced to leave. Freder is so intrigued he follows them into the depth and doesn't like what he sees. The workers are exploited, they must do labor like robots. Freder tries to convince his father to change, while the woman tries to keep workers' morale high by predicting a man will stand up that will mediate. Someone that will use both hands and head, someone that will be the heart." -- www.imdb.com

MPAA rting: Not rated.

DVD ; NTSC ; Dolby digital 5.1 or stereo.

Silent film with English intertitles and music score.