Sunday, January 11, 2026

Metropolis is One of the Greatest Pictures

Late last night I was reminded that the German (post-expressionist) science fiction feature film Metropolis was first screened for the public on January 10, 1927, in Berlin. To me, it is a prime example of the possibilities of the motion picture form. All production departments are front and centre, including Gottfried Huppertz's magnificent original score.

This fan of UFA, the classic flick's producing studio, and of director Fritz Lang, should not have missed that special birthday: 99 years ago... vor neunundneunzig Jahren.

A plaqued mini-poster of Metropolis hangs proudly on my wall....




... it replaced a plaqued mini-poster of Klimt's "The Kiss". With that move did I unwittingly pull some symbolism? I must find a certain kiss and give it its well-deserved place on my wall: re-place it.


Postscript: I labelled Metropolis as being "post-expressionist", which is what it was. Too often it's slotted into "German Expressionist Cinema". The picture certainly has many touches fitting comfortably within that film form, but overall it was "post".

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