I never thought I would ever see this day
Jul. 4th, 2008 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valis2Original cut of Fritz Lang's Metropolis found in Argentina
Metropolis is one of my favorite films of all time. It was released in 1927 by Fritz Lang, but when it was taken to the States, an American film editor chopped it down, thinking that the 210 minute masterpiece was too complicated, and that audiences would laugh at a character named Hel.
Since that time, the original prints have been thought lost forever.
I originally fell in love with the Giorgio Moroder version, which was done in the eighties, with a few color effects, new translation, and a soundtrack featuring Loverboy, Pat Benatar, Adam Ant, etc.
The Kino version just came out a few years ago, and I was absolutely thrilled to find out that someone had located the original title cards, and was able to reconstruct dialogue and scenes long missing from the film. The result was a terrific reconstruction, but a quarter of the film was still lost, and no one held out hope that it would ever be located.
I am absolutely giddy right now. I am very much hoping that the Kino team will reconstruct this new footage. Apparently it is scratched, and I'm certain there is some disintegration, but it doesn't sound like it's insurmountable. My fangirling of this film is so strong that I even wrote a twenty-page paper about it during college.
I will be walking on clouds all week. I wonder how soon before we can purchase this version?
ETA:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ellid has discovered an article at Ain't It Cool with new stills!! eee!
EETA: YouTube video of some of the footage Just as I thought, more of the Thin Man, and more views of decadence from the Sons of the City...and more about Yoshiwara's...eee!!
Metropolis is one of my favorite films of all time. It was released in 1927 by Fritz Lang, but when it was taken to the States, an American film editor chopped it down, thinking that the 210 minute masterpiece was too complicated, and that audiences would laugh at a character named Hel.
Since that time, the original prints have been thought lost forever.
I originally fell in love with the Giorgio Moroder version, which was done in the eighties, with a few color effects, new translation, and a soundtrack featuring Loverboy, Pat Benatar, Adam Ant, etc.
The Kino version just came out a few years ago, and I was absolutely thrilled to find out that someone had located the original title cards, and was able to reconstruct dialogue and scenes long missing from the film. The result was a terrific reconstruction, but a quarter of the film was still lost, and no one held out hope that it would ever be located.
I am absolutely giddy right now. I am very much hoping that the Kino team will reconstruct this new footage. Apparently it is scratched, and I'm certain there is some disintegration, but it doesn't sound like it's insurmountable. My fangirling of this film is so strong that I even wrote a twenty-page paper about it during college.
I will be walking on clouds all week. I wonder how soon before we can purchase this version?
ETA:
ellid has discovered an article at Ain't It Cool with new stills!! eee!EETA: YouTube video of some of the footage Just as I thought, more of the Thin Man, and more views of decadence from the Sons of the City...and more about Yoshiwara's...eee!!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 03:58 pm (UTC)Also, one of my prize collectibles is a limited edition model of the female robot. It was produced in Japan in the 1980s and stand 18 inches tall and has a lighted art deco base. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:05 pm (UTC)I have a public domain version on VHS and DVD, which I've seen many many times, but I've never been able to get the Moroder version, other than renting it on VHS. It's never been available on DVD because of the music rights. The Moroder version only added a few color effects here and there--most notably during the transfer of Maria's soul to the robot--and added some plot points that I hadn't seen in the public domain version.
Oooh, that model sounds awesome. I have a reproduction of the original film poster somewhere around here--it's such a beautiful piece.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 05:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:50 pm (UTC)I can't wait--I know that there is more footage of the Tall Man, who is the security guy, and more footage of Joseph, Freder's friend/accomplice, just based on what I've read years ago. eee! I can't wait!!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-05 04:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 04:52 pm (UTC)As far as cutting the film--they probably felt like they were doing Ufa a favor, since by making the film more accessible to American audiences, it might actually sell some tickets. And since Ufa was pretty much bankrupted by this film, it was a good gamble at the time. It's just too bad that in the process the originals were lost.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 05:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:31 pm (UTC)I've edited to update the entry--this is awesome! The YouTube video is fab. THANKS!!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 06:27 pm (UTC)http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37332
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Date: 2008-07-04 06:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-10 08:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-10 01:59 pm (UTC)