Comments on: Silent Reflections – Metropolis (1927) http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/ movie reviews, news and discussion Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:07:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-353 Miriam Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:31:24 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-353 The longer restored version certainly has a more comprehensible story than the original US release. Something about this movie also makes it particularly adaptable to various musical accompaniment. I've seen it several times, each with quite different styles of music, and thought they each worked very well. The worst print was accompanied live by the Alloy Orchestra with an all percussion score, Fantastic! The print was (I think) a 70's vintage with a rock score that was also enjoyable. That version was notable for converting the intertitle dialogue cards into subtitles. I thought it worked extremely well and would be interested to see it tried on some other silents. Just imagine a Griffith film with only the dialogue subtitled and all the hideous intertitle commentary stripped off - tempting even to a purist, I think! The longer restored version certainly has a more comprehensible story than the original US release. Something about this movie also makes it particularly adaptable to various musical accompaniment. I’ve seen it several times, each with quite different styles of music, and thought they each worked very well. The worst print was accompanied live by the Alloy Orchestra with an all percussion score, Fantastic! The print was (I think) a 70′s vintage with a rock score that was also enjoyable. That version was notable for converting the intertitle dialogue cards into subtitles. I thought it worked extremely well and would be interested to see it tried on some other silents. Just imagine a Griffith film with only the dialogue subtitled and all the hideous intertitle commentary stripped off – tempting even to a purist, I think!

]]> By: jason http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-352 jason Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:46:29 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-352 Other films heavily influenced are both Tim Burton's Batman to the Crow, with the look of the city and the ending where the good guy fights the bad guy on the top of a church. I believe Metropolis was the first to do this. The novelization of Metropolis is also worth checking out, written by Thea von Harbou, co-writer of the screenplay and also helped write the scripts for M and other of Lang's movies. Other Metropolis to check out is Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, both the Movie and the comic are both avaiable in america. The comic was only inspired by the poster of the movie, Tezuka never saw the movie, The anime movie is influenced by Langs though. Other films heavily influenced are both Tim Burton’s Batman to the Crow, with the look of the city and the ending where the good guy fights the bad guy on the top of a church. I believe Metropolis was the first to do this. The novelization of Metropolis is also worth checking out, written by Thea von Harbou, co-writer of the screenplay and also helped write the scripts for M and other of Lang’s movies.

Other Metropolis to check out is Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis, both the Movie and the comic are both avaiable in america. The comic was only inspired by the poster of the movie, Tezuka never saw the movie, The anime movie is influenced by Langs though.

]]> By: Liz http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-351 Liz Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:46:16 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/2008/01/13/overlooked-silent-films-metropolis-1927/#comment-351 My first thought when I saw this post was "wait, Metropolis isn't overlooked!" I first read about it in my Eyewitness book on film, when I was ten or so. Then again, I also learned about Nosferatu in that book, only to find out years later that my mom had NEVER HEARD OF IT. I guess one man's common knowledge is another man's overlooked film. In any case, you're right, Metropolis barely counts as overlooked. Great article anyway! My first thought when I saw this post was “wait, Metropolis isn’t overlooked!” I first read about it in my Eyewitness book on film, when I was ten or so. Then again, I also learned about Nosferatu in that book, only to find out years later that my mom had NEVER HEARD OF IT.

I guess one man’s common knowledge is another man’s overlooked film. In any case, you’re right, Metropolis barely counts as overlooked. Great article anyway!

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