1927: Metropolis - How Cinema Changed the Way We See the Future

In 1927 Fritz Lang released Metropolis, one of the most influential films in cinema history.Although it wasn't the first science fiction film, it changed the visual codes which film makers use to tell us about the future.
For many years much of Metropolis was thought to be a lost film. before the film was archived it was cut down to around 91 minutes, and it would remain that way until an almost complete version of the film would be found in an archive in Argentina in 2008.
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[@knockshinnoch1950]

I first saw Metropolis at Art School in the late 70s- exactly 50 years after it was released. Can't get my head around the fact that another 50 years has almost passed since then! The impact of Metropolis is awesome- those iconic sets still pack a punch.

[@antiqe4286]

As old metropolis was to you during the 70s, dog day afternoon is to me…

[@ObsessedCollector]

I also recently learned that when it came to the states, the film's theme of rich and poor were cut in such a way to remove that as the main theme.

[@MorriganJade]

I'm a lover of Sci Fi, and most specifically Cyberpunk. So I wanted to see with a movie lover friend of mine to see one of those early movies that were heavily inspired and saw the Blu-Ray reconstructed version... and wow! The moment I saw the cityscape shots I was HUGELY impressed (never having seen any footage of it) because of being aware it's a movie of the 20s!

[@OfMiceAndMegabytes]

Even on standard edition its breathtaking! I remember seeing it on TCM and just couldn't believe it was such an early film. Also for some perspective next year will be the 20s once again😮

[@LeFouGallois]

Ever since I discovered German Expressionist cinema, I felt such an incredible connection, especially with 'Metropolis'. I finally saw the reconstructed version recently, and the magnificent beauty of this piece literally brought tears to my eyes. It should never be forgotten or underestimated, the extent to which this film has informed and inspired modern film making.

[@paktype]

I remember seeing the shortened version of Metropolis on PBS in the 1970s. The full version drags in spots but ultimately it is far superior. It really was groundbreaking and way ahead of its time.

[@ggabey14]

The scene where the worker's city floods and we see the city master look at Metropolis while it's lights flicker and people are running around in the streets, confused... ...that is in my opinion one of the greatest scenes in movie history.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

I wanted to say, I've been LOVING this series, I can't wait to see where it goes next! I know how hard it is to stay consistent with a video series like this, but I love the way that you express ideas, and show off the more influential movies out there.

[@gilbertoignacioaguirrevarg4550]

Hey I'm subscribed to your channel! Ain't this a coincidence😄

[@davidyoung5114]

With the 100th anniversary of the release of METROPOLIS coming up, I really REALLY hope that a theatrical re-release of this movie will take place so that cinephiles (like me) could get the opportunity to see this fantastic film on the big screen. We can only hope! I guess you could say we'd go (RADIO!) GA-GA over it!

[@carolinejohnson7181]

Metropolis illinois History

[@cfbilly70]

Still 7 years away though.. You just have to find a good spot. We here in the Netherlands have something called EYE museum, they show arthouse films and there is always something old playing. Metropolis played November last year, freakin amazing.

[@AmusingMusic]

CF Billy Damn man i need to move to NL

[@AbeTheSigma007]

First, you have to make it past 2026...

[@nakynaki]

I hope there would be audio

[@sunnydayzie1202]

that's fabulous! I need to watch Metropolis again!

[@xbrandi12345x]

Metropolis is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's truly amazing.

[@Lkjhgf5482]

Metropolis is so present in the cyberpunk genre, especially video games like Deus Ex and System Shock.

[@shermanbrown419]

And decopunk/ dieselpunk like bioshock

[@ggabey14]

One thing that i find interesting is that the poster for Metropolis (which is by the way considered to be the rarest poster ever) is extremely similar to the cover art of Deus Ex. Was the cover art guy that worked on Deus Ex inspired by Metropolis? Also, Deus Ex is probably my 2nd favorite game of all time, go play it. I mean, think about it. We have the character that's in all of the promotional material, for Metropolis it's the Machine Person, for Deus Ex it's JC Denton, and there is a city behind that character. There is also text at the top of it.

[@babbisp1]

@@shermanbrown419 i love bioshock. Played it earlier today lol

[@rubytuesdayphoenix]

I loved your inclusion of the gothic fantasy imagery that later popped up in Batman and The Crow- two of my favorite movies that I never would have thought to connect with Metropolis. Keep it going, man, you're doing great work!

[@Mandibil]

Possibly my favourite movie of all time. Great little review :-)

[@ms.verepaine6914]

Even though the first time I saw this film it was a bad version, I loved it and knew there was something special there. I wonder if "M" will make the list when you get to that year.

[@onehundredyearsofcinema]

I don't like to give too much away about what films are coming up, but I will say to watch out for the video that is coming out later this week. ;)

[@DigitalEelRich]

You got a shout out in one of the workbooks for Scorsese's MasterClass online--and you, and 100YOC, deserve it.

[@markuscriticus8278]

Recently discovered this channel, it's wonderful. You always hear how something is important and influential, but they never tell you how. Thank you for this.

[@hectorsilva2205]

Bravo...very precise and accurate commentary on one cinemas...and specifically sci-fi's.... masterpieces

[@Abdullahs_World]

Top-Class story and visuals, ahead of the time

[@cagedREmix]

This was an entertaining view of how Metropolis established, as you put it, the visual grammar of how the future is perceived in film. You talked a bit about the history of the film which was great, but it wasn't until the last 2 minutes of the video that you start showing some examples to back your thesis. I wish that had the same amount of research put into it as you did for the history of the movie. Either way, keep it up can't wait to see more!

[@ChastasticGaming]

This is a fantastic video! I have always had a fascination with this movie and it's great to hear other peoples take on it.

[@OTLCellartapes]

if you regard this as merely a "future warning" then you fail to realise the film's Satirical aspects.,..,

[@oahts5906]

This movie is pretty parallel to American society today

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

Really well done and interesting for sure! I am a big fan of Metropolis and your information just makes it better than ever. Thanks for your efforts on this.

[@_anterix_2953]

It reminds me of BioShock for some reason

[@Curegirl0023]

Thank you so much for your beautiful channel

[@brianderee4614]

Buck Rogers 1939 feature movie, Forbidden Planet 1956, Star Trek franchise, and WALL -E.

[@classicmodernfilms7602]

Man this channel is awesome 😍 I compare classic films that are similar to modern stories.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Fantastic series- informative, insightful and entertaining. Also very stylish in presentation

[@leckmich_amarsch]

Marty McFly didn't call his friend Rotwang, he called him Doc ;)

[@AbeTheSigma007]

What???

[@Xeronimo74]

excellent video!

[@andrewjackson2011]

Truly amazing film.

[@bueler4950]

Incredible quality and creativity for and almost 100 year old film!

[@transorio3079]

I LOVE THIS SIERIES thank you so much for doijng this i have a massive special interest in silemt movies and thank you so much for makig me happy

[@nicholasreid1836]

I have seen "Metropolis" many times in different rescensions of it, and it is still very impressive. This is a very good introduction to it. Just three comments (A.) I can't help thinking that the paradisal world of the rich and the subterranean hell for the poor were influenced by the vision of the Eloi and the Morlocks in H.G.Wells' "The Time Machine". (BTW H.G.Wells hated this film. As an atheist he couldn't stand the religious imagery.) (B.) It is reported that when, a few years later, people were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis, some of them said "This looks just like 'Metropolis" " - meaning the images of regimented workers shuffling forwards with bowed heads. (C.) The film was much admired by Joseph Goebbels. He took the message or a benign leader who would join "hand" [the workers] and "heart" [the wealthy leisured classes] to chime in perfectly with the notion of a wise, all-knowing Fuhrer resolving class conflict.

[@claude196]

Ein zeitgeschichtliches Meisterwerk...

[@XPStartupSound]

I just found your channel and just want to say I am blown away. Love the content, and I look forward to 1962 where I assume you intend on covering Lawrence of Arabia? :D

[@NickOwens]

Great and informative video. I still can't believe I haven't seen 'Metropolis' yet. Which version do you recommend? I'm surprised you didn't mention the Gorgio Moroder edit from the 80's.

[@onehundredyearsofcinema]

+120percentNick definitely watch the extended version from after 2008. Metropolis is truly a great film, along with The Cabinet of Dr Caligari it's my favourite film from the silent era. I think it is available on Netflix.

[@NickOwens]

Thanks for the recommendation. Will 1927 part 2 be about Abel Gance's 'Napoléon'?

[@onehundredyearsofcinema]

+120percentNick I'm afraid not, but you will have to wait until next time to find out what it is!

[@NickOwens]

My second guess is 'The Jazz Singer'. Because, you know, sound.

[@jgcooper]

it's only a fad

[@AlexisSmithFilms]

How in the world is your channel not more popular??

[@s41r4mgopalpbelebr94]

This video made me subscribe to your channel

[@Logan_Explores]

Honestly it’s such an amazing movie even to this day.

[@kennethdzengedza8978]

The look of Metropolis at 4:47 is the same of Gotham in Batman Begins 2005 (minus the flying cars of course)

[@faefelix3743]

i dunno if you've seen steven universe, but what they're doing with white diamond and homeworld succinctly parallels metropolis in both aesthetics and the theme of class struggle & dehumanization.

[@taterbug70]

I need to see the unedited version, mthrfckr. Good video!

[@realMelonTusk]

I smoked weed and watched this silent film while listening to techno/industrial music. WOW

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

"Do you agree with my choices, are there any you don't like?" and how many have you seen?"

[@wrecklessfilmsofficial]

Watched Metropolis for the first time. I have to say it was daring to make such a Marxist critique of hyper capitalism at the time, probably why the US edit changed the story to make the workers look bad. But I wish it honed in on that more rather than on Rotwang and the story of envy and revenge, because the ending does't really show any solutions to the workers problems.

[@joaquinescotoaleman4320]

After watching this movie I can say it isn't Marxist at all. Part of its message is Anti-Communism, the workers rebel agaisnt Lang's power, but they soon regret it, they almost lost their children. In the end the so called revolution (which was orchestatred by Lang himself, just like Soviets' was by the II Reich) destroy their lifes, the meaning of work and almost their families, same go for Lang and the rich guys at Oshiwara. In the end society must come together, is the message of the movie.

[@xrayban2]

You can watch the full movie on youtube.

[@avesergio]

Немцы и правда смотрели в будущее! Тут вам отсылка к «Терминатору», и немного даже «Обители Зла». Невероятен и этот факт, что данный шедевр вышел на экраны более 90 лет назад, а также смог почти полностью сохраниться до наших дней…

[@randallrona9618]

This movie began the Sci-Fi & Cyberpunk genre. Without it, there will be no Star Wars(C-3PO was based by Metropolis' Robot), Star Trek, Terminator, Robocop, Alien and other medias today. Also since this was a German film directed by a German, it was an allegory of Germany after its defeat during WW1.

[@WalterLiddy]

But much of the imagery you refer to did not originate with Metropolis. It may have popularized some, but futurism was already well-established, as were metaphorical representations of industry, etc. In fact, HG Wells criticized Metropolis for being behind the times with its 'obvious' vertical society strata to mirror the wealth of its citizens etc. He said it was derivative, not innovative, and this was at the time of its release.

[@davidbanan.]

the one found in argentina, WAS THE COMPLETE MOVIE, the only reason there are 2 missing scenes are because they were too damaged

[@Ginkoman2]

the version from 2010 has 8 mins missing compared to the original release.

[@davidbanan.]

@@Ginkoman2 yeah, BECAUSE 2 SCENES WERE TO DAMAGED TO BE RESTORED

[@AnthonySmith-ty7ij]

What about influenced in 1936's things to come?

[@andrewjackson2011]

What a very good video.

[@TheBebelehaut]

What your favorite film set in the future???????

[@bar-1studios]

"The nearly complete version of this German film were found in, you guessed it, Argentina." - Norm Macdonald

[@VampiraVonGhoulscout]

2:04 Is that Lurch from The Addams Family series?

[@AbeTheSigma007]

I find this commentary quite worthy...

[@Dunderdawg85]

No mention of Brazil - 1985?

[@Pheicou]

I think this film also influenced Final Fantasy VII.

[@SpellingBeeC]

Fritz lang predicted dystopian world

[@SmuttiOtti]

Mad Max :D

[@keithnaylor1981]

Surely 1927 should have included a look at KING OF KINGS, which, along with BEN HUR are the two greatest epics of the silent era. KAN

[@SonofSethoitae]

Napoleon by Abel Glance as well. It we pretty advanced for its time.

[@seanslawson98]

Just pointing this out: on the thumbnail for this and The Jazz Singer it says 1937

[@onehundredyearsofcinema]

Thank you! I’m in the process of changing all my old thumbnails and I must have made a mistake!

[@seanslawson98]

One Hundred Years of Cinema no problem. Love the new thumbnails though

[@veiledzorba]

The Metropolis cityscape was largely copied many years later by "Logan's Run".

[@thedarkjw6219]

Dang I keep trying to research for a Superman game concept! But I get this creepy, face!

[@tangledwebb5044]

Where is GONE WITH THE WIND?

[@boredzilla9216]

🙋🏼‍♂️from 2020

[@hissingsidll750]

I see it had to be dumbed down for the US audience.....some things never change do they

[@oahts5906]

As well as set in 2026, just a few years from now 🧐

[@hissingsidll750]

@@oahts5906 AI......15 minute cities.....planned linear cities and the most worrying of all.....CONTROLLED LINEAR THOUGHT......are you sure we are not there already ?

[@oahts5906]

@@hissingsidll750 oh i think we’re certainly there, just think it’s interesting the 100th anniversary is coming up. They altered the film for American audiences, which included setting the year to 2026. Given the revolution, and siege / war in the film, kinda makes you wonder if they are telling us how things are gonna be here shortly

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

My favourits film set in the future, very difficult to say, it would depend on if you mean a utopian future or a DISTOPIAN future. As most films predict a bleak future despite how great they are. But...utopian future probably the very underrated BICENTENNIAL MAN (Robin Williams) & here we have a ROBOT that wishes to become human over a period of...200 yrs, as the human generations die off, another being Speilberg's A.I a very similar story but consearning a child Automaton, with the same wishes. My favourite genra of Sci fi is the heavily political kind and so the flip side of the coin would be- ROBOCOP (Heavily influenced by METROPOLIS for stryle & look) perfectly suiting the cynical souless 1980s. WEST WORLD 1973 again a social comment metaphor about American gun culture. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE a clear warning about what would happen in England living under a Faschist totalitarian state & the break down of law & order TERMINATOR (highlighting the dangers of new technology and the real life cold war, METROPOLIS itself foretelling the rise of a NAZI Germany, and finally BRAZIL which is 1984 but with a sense of humour (BUT I musnt forget the even better- V FOR VENDETTA. also an important film). As for monster sci fi - ALIEN and THE THING of course. hope that comprehensive lot answers your question

[@trashcanmanmanmanman]

almost call the commets are very long funny

[@bobbyokeefe4285]

The subtext is Fascistic not Communist,the screenwriter of the movie Thea von Harbourg was a National Socialist.

[@hissingsidll750]

Its a mixture of both. The opening of the workers ...obviously Marxist.The uprising of the workers conveys a very significant and important political message about inequality in society and the future of modern capitalism. Metropolis shows an idealised version of the mechanics of capitalism - from the labouring masses at the bottom, to the powerful elite at the top. Fascist ????....have you ever actually seen the film ?

[@gilbertoignacioaguirrevarg4550]

ALL WE HEAR IS RADIO GAGA

[@elijahcollier8348]

Any1 whose favorite movie set in the future isn't 'Demolition Man' is a liar

[@monkofdarktimes]

I rate it 1984 and Brave New World

[@tardisgirl1237]

My favourite film set in the future would be either Bladerunner 2049 or Dune, both the 1984 version and the 2021 version

[@andrewlankford9634]

Metropolis is rather pretentious in many respects. It's influential, but only really known to a small group of hard core nerds, some of who went on to make the films you cited. The last restored version with the much of the original soundtrack nevertheless has really impressive imagery and effects for 1927 and it's so unapologetically German and a Fritz Lang film.

[@kostajovanovic3711]

Can you elaborate?

[@camerontaylor7471]

There is nothing hopeful to take from metropolis! The film itself is a technology that is being used to socially engineer our human lives... the missing link that EVERYONE must study in order to better understand the rules to the game remain in ancient Egyptian religious text and monuments... THIS IS EGYPT!

[@ainoenollet1920]

Stating that we have been controlled since a year as early as 1927, quite conspicious if all historical data available right now (of ancient egypt) is made or possible adjusted by a span of almost 100 years. How do you know your sources are valid? I'm curious. Are you an urban explorer or archeologist, who has travelled and looked at all ancient sites, to then let everybody, the world know, by stating their ideas are indoctrinated and have to believe in ancient hierogliefs on every single videoanalysis of a movie, only art (movie) intrested people have seen. Sumero-akkadian and other ancient writings?

[@sheramaher3885]

@@ainoenollet1920 To answer your curious question: we have the internet. And today have Neuralink set to go. Yes, we are experts. We don't have to outsource our discernment to others. That is where artificial intelligence will fail. It is obvious that even "as early as 1927" the programming for what is happening today, had begun. Notice the upside down star. Notice it all. Did you think the psychopaths only recently began scheming? No, this is older than the hills. Effectiveness is the measure of truth. And effectively (as in, almost 100 years later) the truth of this "science" "fiction" is bearing out. No one likes to realize they have been programmed. It makes us uncomfortable to consider we are not totally in control of our own lives and possibly our thoughts, doesn't it? There is a remedy.

[@1thinkboss]

@@sheramaher3885 that's right im glad you're awake.

[@jonsnowver4183]

Like if you're here from mr billing's class

[@peterpiets3631]

Ehhhh... Wells, timemachine, 1895???

[@submarineinthesky8946]

"it was cut again to remove all religion and communist imagery" which side are you on jeez

[@shermanbrown419]

What?

[@submarineinthesky8946]

@@shermanbrown419 well, if you were communist you'd want to remove religious imagery, and if you were religious, you'd want to remove communist imagery what the hay was the purpose in removing both

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

​@@submarineinthesky8946Apparently you have never heard of Christian Socialism. Are you from the U. S. A. ?

[@jorgedominguez2256]

cities today are shit compared this this.

[@morningcoffeecat2271]

Qwerty uiop the walk in conveyer type escalator is a disaster waiting to happen XD

[@jorgedominguez2256]

Liam Cahill right but as far as looks. i like this more. lol

[@morningcoffeecat2271]

Qwerty uiop oh definitely, no doubt about it 😅

[@fishertech]

i was forced to watch this in my germ 357 class today and i got boredom induced nausea

[@hanszlh6522]

Of course , you , no-one should be forced to watch a movie , or to whatevver - naturalmente !!! But "boredom" can really not be connected to this movie , by NO means - possibly though to a 'hole-for-a-brain' , ,,, although how would that account for "nausea" ??? - me not know

[@simplydrawing4652]

Perhaps try The Neverending Story. It's made for children to enjoy.