Published on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 8:15pm
METROPOLIS Rebuilt!! Fritz Lang's Long-Missing, Full-Length Edit Has Finally Been Located!!
When Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS was released in 1927, the original iteration of the film played only in Germany...and for a relatively brief time...before being whittled down for release in other markets. Some estimates suggest that nearly a quarter of Lang's film was lost in this streamlining process; the excised material was never seen again.
...and the 2002 Kino project (website HERE ), brought considerable enhancements to previously existing cuts of the movie. The Kino undertaking re-incorporated an amount of footage that had been located in archives, museums, etc. - but a great deal of material was still missing. In some instances, absent narrative was accounted for by title cards describing unavailable footage and what not.
Now comes word that the original, full-length edit of METROPOLIS has been located in Buenos Aires!
“No matter how bad the condition of the material may be, the original intention of the film, including all of its minor characters and subplots, is now once again tangible for the normal viewer. The rhythm of the film has been restored.”
...says THIS ARTICLE at Zeit Online, which goes on to outline the recovery of said footage in considerable detail.
To put this in perspective, reports place METROPOLIS' original running time at 210 minutes. Since the film's German release, the longest running time we've seen is 118 minutes. The reintegration of so much material could profoundly impact the film's tempo, cohesion, and occasionally even meaning.
I can't wait to see this...I really can't. I always figured a day like this might come around, but after a lifetime of waiting...it's easy to second guess one's self.
Apparently, this Zeit Online posting preceeds an article to be published tomorrow in ZEITmagazin. If anyone out there knows this magazine, has a scanner, and wouldn't mind... [CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL ME ]!!
More news on this remarkable discovery, and on the new restoration's inevitable issuance to theaters and/or DVD/Blu-Ray, as more comes in.
Reader Talkback
Best news ever? Jul 2nd, 2008 now we just need the lost
footage of Game of Death Jul 2nd, 2008 A.I. was a better movie. Jul 2nd, 2008 Nazis in hiding! Jul 2nd, 2008 man, I hope so Jul 2nd, 2008 Remake Jul 2nd, 2008 Cool! Jul 2nd, 2008 finally Jul 2nd, 2008 Holy shit! Jul 2nd, 2008 No Respectable Gentleman (re:
remake) Jul 2nd, 2008 All we need now... Jul 2nd, 2008 That's pretty damn cool news Jul 2nd, 2008 Awesome. Now go find the lost
Doctor Who eps. Jul 2nd, 2008 Roger Ebert just came all over
himself Jul 2nd, 2008 This would have been a better
Indiana Jones plot Jul 2nd, 2008 Aaaaaah Jerry Lewis... Jul 2nd, 2008 Now that's cool news! Jul 2nd, 2008 PHENOMENAL news!!! One thing,
though... Jul 2nd, 2008 Amazing! Jul 2nd, 2008 That fuckin' Tom Cruise banner
is back... Jul 2nd, 2008 Tales to Astonish Jul 2nd, 2008 Yes, A.I. was a Better movie
but this NEEDS to be seen Jul 2nd, 2008 Magnificent Ambersons...You're
Next! Jul 2nd, 2008 wow they just gave it away to
Germany Jul 2nd, 2008 deathbird, ha! Jul 2nd, 2008 Are they finally going to put
some CGI in it? Jul 2nd, 2008 Uncle Forry will be thrilled. Jul 2nd, 2008 Fantastic COOL news! Jul 2nd, 2008 pigphart 5000 is a
sausage-sperm gobbler! Jul 2nd, 2008 This is great news Jul 2nd, 2008 METROPOLIS - Great
artifact...bad movie? Jul 2nd, 2008 german film in beunos aires? Jul 2nd, 2008 here she comes, here she comes Jul 2nd, 2008 Well I'll be monkey spanked Jul 2nd, 2008 They should digitally
replace... Jul 2nd, 2008 Now, someone bring a copy of
'London After Midnight' to
light. Jul 2nd, 2008 fritz lang moved to the US
didnt he? Jul 2nd, 2008 This is damn cool. Jul 2nd, 2008 Amazing... Jul 2nd, 2008 Never watched the damn flick,
been waiting for this day for
20 y Jul 2nd, 2008 Great minds think alike,
Godric^^ Jul 2nd, 2008 OMG! It is Embarassing How
Excited I am by This! Jul 2nd, 2008 Can someone find a copy of
"Homunculus"? Jul 2nd, 2008 Wow the only thing to top this
is finding the Ark of the
Covenan Jul 2nd, 2008 What a seriously cool find... Jul 2nd, 2008 But... does it impact the CG
remake by Rob Cohen? Jul 2nd, 2008 also not to undercut this
film, or the significance Jul 2nd, 2008 Holy Fucking Shitmiracles! Jul 2nd, 2008 Holy Crap! Jul 2nd, 2008 Best film news of the
Millenium Jul 2nd, 2008 Now THAT'S what I'm talking
about! Jul 2nd, 2008 Can't wait to see the extended
scene of the Hel statue Jul 2nd, 2008 What would Dolemite do? Jul 2nd, 2008 Patience... Jul 2nd, 2008 I can wait, Killjoy Jul 2nd, 2008 Damn! I have to buy this
movie...AGAIN???!! Jul 2nd, 2008 Conflicted about what Lang's
best is... Jul 2nd, 2008 Second clip's usage in Radio
Ga-Ga video Jul 2nd, 2008 Better than finding a classic
Dr. Who episode Jul 2nd, 2008 The Children Of Fritz Lang's
Metropolis cont... Jul 2nd, 2008 This is the greatest day
mankind has ever known. Jul 2nd, 2008 the version i saw didn't even
have superman in it!! Jul 2nd, 2008 Praise teh gods!! Jul 2nd, 2008 I wish they would find the
lost Stroker Ace footage :( Jul 3rd, 2008 WOW! Jul 3rd, 2008 metropolis haters?????? Jul 3rd, 2008 Brilliant news!!! Now lets
find those 108 missing Dr Who
Episod Jul 3rd, 2008 Doc Brown Back to the Future =
Stolen from Metropolis Jul 3rd, 2008 Since you really can't wait... Jul 3rd, 2008 Wow! This is amazing news! Jul 3rd, 2008 BREAKING NEWS... LONDON AFTER
MIDNIGHT ALSO FOUND. Jul 3rd, 2008 Octogon- Marcus Nispel in your
top 20??? Jul 3rd, 2008 Also... Jul 3rd, 2008 This is awesome Jul 3rd, 2008 This just doesn't happen Jul 3rd, 2008 Remake with Shia Lebarouf Jul 3rd, 2008 I live in Germany, know the
Magazine and got a scanner Jul 3rd, 2008 Now we want the spider pit
sequence of kong Jul 3rd, 2008 AWESOME! but really lets find
those missing Who episodes... Jul 3rd, 2008 Fantastic news! Jul 3rd, 2008 Talking of Nispel Jul 3rd, 2008 I'm one of the few A.I.
defenders Jul 3rd, 2008 Now this IS cool news. Jul 3rd, 2008 I've not made it more than 20
mins into Metropolis Jul 3rd, 2008 First clips of Metropolis... Jul 3rd, 2008 Oh and ScoobySnack... Jul 3rd, 2008 Uridium Jul 3rd, 2008 I always knew this day would
come Jul 3rd, 2008 Cinema’s Holy Grail! Jul 3rd, 2008 One of the greatest movies
ever made. Jul 3rd, 2008 Christ! Jul 3rd, 2008 As God is my Witness... Jul 3rd, 2008 Christ! Jul 3rd, 2008 We may insult Quint, saying
he's never seen it. Jul 3rd, 2008 Indiana Jones and the Lost
footage of Metroplis. Jul 3rd, 2008 is this for real Jul 3rd, 2008 Nazis Jul 3rd, 2008 Yes Jul 3rd, 2008 Frankenstein Jul 3rd, 2008 DocPazuzu & ScoobySnack Jul 3rd, 2008 Uridium Jul 3rd, 2008 Wonder Jul 3rd, 2008 Just be careful that Udo Kier
hasn't been hiding Jul 3rd, 2008 Very stoked, I am Jul 3rd, 2008 Well, damn! Jul 3rd, 2008 Explaination of the Nazi
angle. Jul 3rd, 2008 This is one of the Holy
Grail's of cinema! Jul 3rd, 2008 Wow! Now that is news! Jul 3rd, 2008 Nazi nonsense Jul 3rd, 2008 Nazi bullshit Jul 3rd, 2008 Holy Geeze! Jul 3rd, 2008 Nazis Jul 3rd, 2008 But will it have 80's music? Jul 3rd, 2008 itaintfuckingcool Jul 3rd, 2008 Images from the lost scene !!! Jul 3rd, 2008 SigmaChi04: Jul 3rd, 2008 I want an ALL Pat Benatar
score to this one... Jul 3rd, 2008 Kentucky Colonel Jul 3rd, 2008 geodesigns Jul 3rd, 2008 Jul 3rd, 2008 This is incredible. Jul 3rd, 2008 Sith Witch Jul 3rd, 2008 For those interested... Jul 3rd, 2008 itaintfuckingcool Jul 3rd, 2008 I immeditaly assumed it was a
Nazi that had it Jul 3rd, 2008 Sorry Capytalium Jul 3rd, 2008 The Brain Machine Jul 3rd, 2008 CherryValance Jul 3rd, 2008 In a NAZI museum! Jul 3rd, 2008 Question for you.... Jul 3rd, 2008 Um...what? Jul 3rd, 2008 ByTor Jul 3rd, 2008 Thanks for posting those links
brain machine Jul 3rd, 2008 “More than a quarter of the
film is believed to be lost
forever. Jul 3rd, 2008 And while we are mentioning
A.I. Jul 3rd, 2008 And while we are mentioning
Dark City Jul 3rd, 2008 Restoration Idea Jul 3rd, 2008 Uh, but CherryValance Jul 3rd, 2008 Greggers Jul 3rd, 2008 Kabong Jul 3rd, 2008 and Ireland too Jul 3rd, 2008 Daytripper69 Jul 3rd, 2008 This Will Make an Amazing
Bluray Release Jul 3rd, 2008 I've read the ZEITmagazin
article: short summary Jul 3rd, 2008 Daytripper69 Jul 3rd, 2008 Lorquaine Jul 3rd, 2008 @TheBrainMachine Jul 3rd, 2008 octagonproplex... why? Jul 3rd, 2008 Remake info… Boll? Nuts. Jul 3rd, 2008 Lorquaine Jul 3rd, 2008 I was joking about Boll... Jul 3rd, 2008 BrainMachine Jul 3rd, 2008 It could be awesome Jul 3rd, 2008 oooh... Jul 3rd, 2008 Doctor Who episodes aren't
missing... Jul 3rd, 2008 Lorquaine: THANK YOU Jul 3rd, 2008 great. now remake it!! Jul 3rd, 2008 Bones: well, yes, but... Jul 3rd, 2008 ByTor Jul 3rd, 2008 Lorquaine Jul 3rd, 2008 so it inspired stuff... Jul 3rd, 2008 Lemming....guess you think
chaplin blows too Jul 3rd, 2008 another "child of Metropolis" Jul 3rd, 2008 Lemming Jul 3rd, 2008 Was Eisenstein's Mexico movie
lost? Jul 3rd, 2008 to Argentino Jul 3rd, 2008 bacci40...nope Jul 3rd, 2008 Additional.. Jul 3rd, 2008 "when no one had even
conceived of a computer yet"
... Jul 4th, 2008 DAY THE CLOWN CRIED is
finished, alright Jul 4th, 2008 This Just in.... Jul 6th, 2008
