Few films have distinguished themselves as singularly as the German film ‘Metropolis’. A science fiction classic from the silent era, it was directed and co-scripted by Austrian-born film-maker Fritz Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou. ‘Metropolis’ is the futuristic tale of a deeply fractured society set in 2026 and stars Gustav Frohlich, Alfred Abel, Rudolf Klein-Rogge and Brigitte Helm.
The film premiered to a divided audience. Upon its release, it was dismissed by some notable personalities as being simplistic and unconvincing. It featured some of the most shocking and awe-inspiring imagery that had ever been seen till then. Filmmakers have since borrowed inspiration from its themes in myriad ways.
Nazi leader Goebbels is said to have been very impressed with its central premise of a futuristic urban dystopia and wanted Lang to direct Nazi propaganda films for Hitler.
Lang is supposed to have developed distaste for his film after this and quit Germany soon after his interview with Goebbels.
Today ‘Metropolis’ is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, ranking 35th in Sight & Sound’s 2012 critics’ poll. In 2001, the film was inscribed on UNESCO’s ‘Memory of the World Register’, the first film to receive such a unique honour.
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