A new version of “Metropolis”

83 years after its initial release, “Metropolis” is being reissued starting today.

The most influential of all silent films — and a blueprint for future classics like Blade Runner and The Matrix — Fritz Lang’s visionary Metropolis can finally be seen as intended, with 25 minutes of newly — discovered footage and Gottfried Huppertz’s magnificent original score. The addition of this astounding new material (1,257 shots, including entire new sequences), carefully restored and edited into the 2002 restoration, results in the closest rendition ever seen since the film’s 1927 Berlin premiere.

Here is the movie’s official website.

Go here for theater playdates. If you’re in L.A., the movie screens today as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood:

The TCM Classic Film Festival will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances and screenings of classic films:

The Festival will cover a wide range of programming themes, including the story of Hollywood. All screenings — more than 50 — will include special introductions and guest appearances to provide context about each film. Specific details about this unique fan experience will be announced in the weeks and months ahead, including guest appearances by actors, actresses, directors, producers and other key figures.

Here is an excerpt of the original movie:

The movie is always publicized as “Fritz Lang’s masterpiece Metropolis,” and yes, the director certainly deserves credit. But what about the movie’s screenwriter? That happens to be Thea von Harbou, who also wrote the novel upon which the movie is based and was married to Lang. They split up in the 30s when she joined the Nazi party and Lang, who did not, immigrated to the United States. 

Who has seen Metropolis? And how excited are you to see this version with newly discovered footage?

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