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Metropolis (1927)

153 min  -  Drama | Sci-Fi   -  13 March 1927 (USA)
8.4
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Ratings: 8.4/10 from 53,159 users   Metascore: 98/100 
Reviews: 345 user | 192 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com

In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Thea von Harbou (screenplay), Thea von Harbou (novel), and 1 more credit »
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Cast

Credited cast:
Alfred Abel Alfred Abel ...
Gustav Fröhlich ...
Rudolf Klein-Rogge Rudolf Klein-Rogge ...
Fritz Rasp Fritz Rasp ...
Theodor Loos Theodor Loos ...
Erwin Biswanger Erwin Biswanger ...
11811 - Georgy
Heinrich George Heinrich George ...
Brigitte Helm ...
The Creative Man / The Machine Man / Death / The Seven Deadly Sins / Maria
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gisele Eve Schittenhelm Gisele Eve Schittenhelm
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Storyline

Sometime in the future, the city of Metropolis is home to a Utopian society where its wealthy residents live a carefree life. One of those is Freder Fredersen. One day, he spots a beautiful woman with a group of children, she and the children who quickly disappear. Trying to follow her, he, oblivious to such, is horrified to find an underground world of workers, apparently who run the machinery which keeps the above ground Utopian world functioning. One of the few people above ground who knows about the world below is Freder's father, Joh Fredersen, who is the founder and master of Metropolis. Freder learns that the woman is Maria, who espouses the need to join the "hands" - the workers - to the "head" - those in power above - by a mediator or the "heart". Freder wants to help the plight of the workers in the want for a better life. But when Joh learns of what Maria is espousing and that Freder is joining their cause... Written by Huggo  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Worker | Children | Future | Savior | Time  | See more »

Taglines:

There can be no understanding between the hands and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German (intertitles)

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Complete Metropolis See more »

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DRM 1,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$19,386 (USA) (14 July 2002)

Gross:

$650,422 (USA) (10 August 2003)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universum Film (UFA) See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | Germany: (premiere cut)  | Germany: (re-release version)  | USA: (25 fps) (1927 cut version)  | USA: (2002 Murnau Foundation 75th aniversary restored version)  | (DVD edition) (2002 Murnau Foundation 75th aniversary restored version)  | (Giorgio Moroder version)  | (2010 restored version)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (1995 restored version) | Silent (original release)

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Was so influential on Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster that they named their character's city after it. See more »

Goofs

Revealing mistakes: Maria is preparing to leave the catacombs and Rotwang has sneaked in to kidnap her. He diverts her attention by throwing a loose brick to the ground a short distance from himself. The candle Maria is holding is probably a prop that is actually a gas burner. A hose or cord (possibly a gas supply hose) is visible on the ground behind her on her left. She turns to her right and walks. The hose is pulled by her right heel. See more »

Quotes

Maria: "We shall build a tower that will reach to the stars!" Having conceived Babel, yet unable to build it themselves, they had thousands to build it for them. But those who toiled knew nothing of the dreams of those who planned. And the minds that planned the Tower of Babel cared nothing for the workers who built it...
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Crazy Credits

Restoration based on the version in the Filmmuseum Munich and material preserved in the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv See more »

Connections

Featured in CinéMagique (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Cage of Freedom"
Written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte
Performed by Jon Anderson
Courtesy of Columbia Records
(from the 1984 re-release) See more »