Metropolis.

[icebluenothing]

"It was their hands that built this city of ours, Father. But where do the hands belong in your scheme?"

"In their proper place, the depths . . . . "

I've always adored Fritz Lang's 1926 silent film, "Metropolis." I first encountered the Moroder restoration of the film in 1984, and immediately fell in love with it; the sweeping operatic grandeur of the story, the beautiful and imaginative visual effects, the vision of a sprawling city of the future that influenced the look of science fiction movies forever.

Now, for the film's 75th anniversary, it's been digitally reconstructed by the Munich Film Archive, and they've released a 35mm print in stereo of the most complete version of the film ever, as close to the original release as possible, with the original Gottfried Huppertz score performed by a 60-piece orchestra.

It's playing at the Varsity Theatre. I'm going to be seeing it with friends tomorrow night, Tuesday the 29th, at the 9:40 showing. I'd like to encourage everyone reading this to come join us if you can.

Comments

[darkphoenixrisn.livejournal.com]

I look forward to the DVD release. The only current DVD versions both look like they were taken from a 100th generation print ran through a transfer machine from the 1950s.

[m-cobweb.livejournal.com]

Argh. Sean and I want to do this. Unfortunately, the spirit is willing, but the wallet is weak. Although I'm not ruling out miracles of the paycheck-shows-up-early variety. Barring such miracles, any idea how long it's going to be at the Varsity?

[icebluenothing.livejournal.com]

I heard, and I can't find any verification for this, that it's only going to be playing this week. Mug an old lady.