Metropolis (1927)

Fritz Lang's 1926 masterpiece is a film whose impact and significance are so massive as to be difficult to objectively assess. Lang's vision of the future, and the aesthetics of effects artist Eugen Schüfftan and sculptor Walter Schultze-Mittendorf, have influenced countless works, both inside the cineplex and out. That, along with the loss of a quarter of the original footage, is worth considering when viewing what may seem like an archaic and somewhat jittery remnant of the silent film era. Even to jaded modern eyes, Metropolis is visually stunning -- the result of a budget that would equal roughly $200 million in modern money -- and Lang's storytelling touch is deft enough to render the film compelling as either a pro-capitalist or pro-communist political allegory. See the most recent restored edition as soon as possible.

A visually awe-inspiring science fiction classic from the silent era.

METROPOLIS, a visionary and elaborate spectacle by director Fritz Lang is an epic projection of a futuristic city divided into a working and an elite class. Its exhilarating climax brings the city to its...

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