Talk:Metropolis (1927 movie)
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".. society has been divided into two rigid castes: one of planners, who live above the earth in wealth, and another of workers who live underground in poverty. One of the workers ventures below ground and is astonished by what she sees" -- Shouldn't this read either "One of the workers ventures above ground" or "One of the planners ventures below ground"?
Also suggest we change "planners" to "managers".
Why is called 1927 movie when the premiere was in 1926? --zeno 07:19 Jan 14, 2003 (UTC)
- Because the premiere was in 1927, not 1926. --Brion 07:42 Jan 14, 2003 (UTC)
Interesting note -- I saw Metropolis last year in Los Angeles at the Silent Movie Theater. They brought in the original organist that played at the film's US premiere in the 1920s. I wish I could remember the guy's name, so we could put it here. Anyone have any idea? Chadloder 06:38 Jan 24, 2003 (UTC)
- No idea, but you could probably call the theater up and ask. I bet they got records. (Incidentally, they have the most text-unfriendly website (http://www.silentmovietheatre.com/) I have had the mispleasure of encountering on a ssslllooowww modem connection. On the other hand, they do put on a nice picture show!) --Brion 06:55 Jan 24, 2003 (UTC)
On the UNESCO site it is stated that the reconstructed version by the Murnau Foundation was shown at the Berlin Film Festival in Feb. 2001. --zeno 06:40 Jan 29, 2003 (UTC)
I wonder if the Wells reference should be kept. The idea of the division of of society in two classes has nothing that is very original. For anyone who know something about Germany in 1927 iut's obvious that the film is influenced by some socialist/marxist ideology. Wells is also considered as supporter of socialism. What else ? Is the aristocracy cannibal in Metropolis ? Of course I'm quite certain that Fritz Lang has read "The Time machine" but if this worth 2 para., the influence of Karlm Marx or Rosa Luxemburg needs at least ten para. Ericd 20:46, 5 Aug 2003 (UTC)
- I've cut the 2 para. about "The Time Machine" for 2 reasons :
- - They were exposing the plot of "The Time Machine" that is IMO out of subject;
- - After some research it seems H.G. Wells himself was one of the most active propangandist about his influence on the movie (that "contains no new idea at all").
- BTW who has seen "Things to come ?"
- Ericd 15:33, 12 Aug 2003 (UTC)
--- The most stupid quote about Metropolis (in French) :
Cine Magazine numero 14, 8 avril 1927: "Les masses de figurants composent des foules dociles, comme seuls pouvaient l'être des allemands " Ericd 14:19, 13 Aug 2003 (UTC)
Most expensive silent film ever
I was under the impression that Ben Hur from 1926 was the most expensive silent film ever made. Iam 02:17, Dec 22, 2004 (UTC)
- The official site for the most recent restoration [2] (http://www.kino.com/metropolis/) says that the film cost 5.3 million marks (also in 1926). How does that compare? - EurekaLott 04:24, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- Sadly, I'm separated from my textbooks right now, but I'm sure D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation and Intolerance ranked up there, as did some of the Italian historical spectaculars.
- Anville 15:50, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)
A few points :
1) I have doubts that NY gave Lang the idea for the film. Metropolis was announced in June 1924, he didn't travel to New York until October 1924, where he declares to the NY Telegraph "I'm here to see the new cameras and study American cities for my next film project." I suspect that Lang simply embelished his story when Kracauer interviewed him for Caligari to Hitler, I've caught him telling little fibs and stories on several occasions. (Metropolis, un film de Fritz Lang, La Cinématheque Francaise, p139 ISBN 2-86754-024-0)
2) The original plot was far more complex than what has been written here. The background story is that both Fredersen and Rotwang were in love with a woman called Hel. She married Fredersen and bore him a son, Freder, the hero of the story, but she died in the process. Rotwang never accepted to have lost Hel to Fredersen and created the robot to be her simulacrum. There is a lost scene in the film where Fredersen sees a massive memorial in Rotwang's house and Rotwang confronts him. Saying that he only made one mistake in his life and that was to forget Hel was a woman and Fredersen was a man.
Plurals
In reverting "Marks" back to "mark", Themanwithoutapast said:
- as a german native speaker I assure you it is 'mark' same as 'dollar' in plural
But I don't understand this remark combined with the reversion.
In American English we might write "$7 million" or "DM 7 million" or we might say or write "seven million dollars"; when the unit follows, we pluralize the unit so I expect we'd also say "seven million Marks". So why would you change "7 million Marks" to "7 million Mark"?
Atlant 18:18, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)
- You are right - it is a controversial issue whether to use "mark" or "marks" in English, although the German plural word is Mark [3] (http://www.currencysystem.com/kb/3-144.html). So I leave it to your discretion if you want to change it back to Marks. Themanwithoutapast 22:58, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)
- although the German plural word is Mark
- I suspected this might be the case. I'd lean towards "marks" but let's see what others think first (assuming anyone cares to express an opinion).
- Atlant 12:25, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)