History Film / Metropolis

''Metropolis'' is a silent 1927 {{German|Expressionism}} sci-fi film directed by Creator/FritzLang. Considered one of the [[UrExample forerunners]] of the genre, it was at the time one of the most expensive films ever made (it cost a bit over 5 million 1927 reichsmarks, a few tens of millions in current euros or dollars). The plot takes place in the year 2027 where society has divided into [[ExtremeSpeculativeStratification two sections]]: the underground lair of the workers and the skyscraper city of the elite. Freder, a member of the city's elite, falls in love with a worker's daughter named Maria, and the class confrontation between them is fueled by Rotwang, a MadScientist rival of Freder's father, city ruler Joh Fredersen.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: The UrExample since it existed in 1927, way before ''Film/BladeRunner'', Bruce Bethke's short story ''Cyberpunk'', and ''Literature/{{Neuromancer}}'' created, named, and codified the genre in the 1980s. In hindsight, ''Metropolis'' anticipated most of the cyberpunk tropes. Like modern cyberpunk works, the setting is a Japanese-influenced, neon-lit city where the low-class workers spark a rebellion against the upper-class elite. The protagonists fit the cyberpunk rebel archetype as Freder is the ruler's son who dissents against his father while Maria is a visionary who leads the workers' revolution. If that is not enough, there is also a MadScientist with an ArtificialLimb who unleashes a KillerRobot on Metropolis to incite more chaos. The only computer featured in the movie is Joh's ticker tape printer, but in true [[{{Zeerust}} retrofuture]] fashion, it is treated as advanced technology that gives Joh Fredersen updates on the state of his factories and even provides him with a VideoPhone to communicate with the foreman Grot.

* DieselPunk: Despite the cyberpunk themes, this is the movie's main punk aesthetic as it was released in TheRoaringTwenties when the diesel engine was replacing the steam engine. Most of the cars are of the Rumpler Tropfenwagen model, and the air transportation consist of biplanes, monoplanes, and zeppelins. The city landscape is inspired by 1920s New York, which itself has skyscrapers built in the ArtDeco style.

* StandardSnippet: The "Dies Irae" theme figures heavily in the original soundtrack by Gottfried Huppertz, as does a tweaked version of the Marseillaise, which plays during the workers' revolution.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: The UrExample since it existed in 1927, way before ''Film/BladeRunner'', Bruce Bethke's short story ''Cyberpunk'', and ''Literature/{{Neuromancer}}'' created, named, and codified the genre in the 1980s. In hindsight, ''Metropolis'' anticipated most of the cyberpunk tropes. Like modern cyberpunk works, the setting is a Japanese-influenced, neon-lit city where the low-class workers spark a rebellion against the upper-class elite. The protagonists fit the typical cyberpunk rebel model as Freder is the ruler's son who dissents against his father while Maria is a visionary who leads the workers' revolution. If that is not enough, there is also a MadScientist with an ArtificialLimb who unleashes a KillerRobot on Metropolis to incite more chaos. The only computer featured in the movie is Joh's ticker tape printer, but in true [[{{Zeerust}} retrofuture]] fashion, it is treated as advanced technology that gives Joh Fredersen updates on the state of his factories and even provides him with a VideoPhone to communicate with the foreman Grot.

* GratuitousJapanese: The apparently European city contains a nightclub called the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiwara Yoshiwara]], which is also the name of the RedLightDistrict of Tokyo. Possibly an [[UnbuiltTrope early example]] of JapanTakesOverTheWorld.

''Metropolis'' is a silent 1927 {{German|Expressionism}} sci-fi film directed by Creator/FritzLang. Considered one of the [[UrExample forerunners]] of the genre, it was at the time one of the most expensive films ever made (it cost a bit over 5 million 1927 reichsmarks, a few tens of millions in current euros or dollars). The plot takes place in the year 2027 where society has divided in two, the workers underground and the wealthy on the exterior. Freder, a member of the city's elite, falls in love with a worker's daughter named Maria, and the class confrontation between them is fueled by Rotwang, a MadScientist rival of Freder's father, city ruler Joh Fredersen.

* [[invoked]] ''Film/BladeRunner'' in particular is considered a SpiritualSuccessor to this film.

* AllThereInTheManual: Neither the the film nor the book ever specify the year of the setting, at least if one goes by the original versions since subsequent editions of the film/book, none of which approved by Fritz Lang or Thea von Harbou, will sometimes add a random futuristic year to the setting and call it a day. However, the [[https://peterharrington.co.uk/blog/metropolis-film-programme/ program]] for the 1927 London premiere estimates that the story takes place "one hundred years hence". This would mean that the story takes place around 2027, give or take a few years.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: The UrExample since it existed in 1927, way before ''Film/BladeRunner'', Bruce Bethke's short story ''Cyberpunk'', and ''Literature/{{Neuromancer}}'' created, named, and codified the genre in the 1980s. In hindsight, ''Metropolis'' anticipated most of the cyberpunk tropes. Like modern cyberpunk works, the setting is a Japanese-influenced, neon-lit city where the low-class workers spark a rebellion against the upper-class elite. The protagonists fit the typical cyberpunk rebel model as Freder is the ruler's son who dissents against his father while Maria is a visionary who leads the workers' revolution. If that is not enough, there is also a MadScientist with an AriticialLimb who unleashes a KillerRobot on Metropolis to incite more chaos. Computers exist in the form of a VideoPhone but otherwise play a small part in the plot.

''Metropolis'' is a silent 1927 {{German|Expressionism}} sci-fi film directed by Creator/FritzLang. Considered one of the [[UrExample forerunners]] of the genre, it was at the time one of the most expensive films ever made (it cost a bit over 5 million 1927 reichsmarks, a few tens of millions in current euros or dollars). The plot follows a society divided in two, the workers underground and the wealthy on the exterior, how Freder, a member of the city's elite, falls in love with a worker's daughter named Maria and the class confrontation between them fueled by Rotwang, a MadScientist rival of Freder's father, city ruler Joh Fredersen.

* An 83-minute, color-tinted 1984 restoration by composer Music/GiorgioMoroder, who also wrote a new [[TheEighties pop-influenced]] soundtrack that proved to be [[BrokenBase highly controversial]]. It was [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes available on VHS and laserdisc]] at first, but was later taken out of production due to issues with music licensing. [[http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/video/kino-to-bring-giorgio-moroders-metropolis-to-blu-ray-and-dvd/ In 2011]] Kino International, current holder of the rights to the film, released this cut on home video after successfully sorting out these problems.

* ''Film/BladeRunner'' in particular is considered a SpiritualSuccessor to this film.

!!TropeCodifier, or UrExample for the following sci-fi movie conventions:

* {{Ridiculously Human|Robot}} RobotGirl

* AIIsACrapshoot: Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel) wants to use Robot Maria (Brigitte Helm) to sow dissension in the workers' movement, but the robot, and her maker C. A. Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge), have different ideas.

* CyberPunk: This movie could be considered an UnbuiltTrope for the genre—while the technology is closer to DieselPunk, the theme of a technologically advanced society divided between an ultra-rich elite and an impoverished lower class would be very familiar to cyberpunk fans.

* {{Steampunk}}: Perhaps the UrExample.

** "[[GratuitousJapanese Yoshiwara]]", which is the RedLightDistrict of Tokyo since [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiwara the early 17th century]].

* GratuitousJapanese: The apparently European city contains a nightclub called the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiwara Yoshiwara]]. Possibly an [[UnbuiltTrope early example]] of JapanTakesOverTheWorld.

''Metropolis'' is a silent 1927 {{German|Expressionism}} sci-fi film directed by Creator/FritzLang. Considered one of the [[UrExample forerunners]] of the genre, it remains to date one of the most expensive films ever made. The plot follows a society divided in two, the workers underground and the wealthy on the exterior, how Freder, a member of the city's elite, falls in love with a worker's daughter named Maria and the class confrontation between them fueled by Rotwang, a MadScientist rival of Freder's father, city ruler Joh Fredersen.

** Gyorgy (or Georgy) is the Slavic version of George.

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[[quoteright:297:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/metropolis.jpg]]

* DigitalDestruction: Thankfully averted in the 2010 remaster. A special feature on the restoration included on the Kino DVD release shows how the usual computerized 'clean-up' process for old films (which compares each frame to the one before and after to eliminate blemishes on the record) could make fast-moving objects (like a running man's legs) disappear. Therefore, the automated process was carefully supervised, and manual operations and techniques used to ensure that detail was not lost.

** Subverted in the 2010 version, where it's clear that he doesn't mind his robot being used for unethical means. He just doesn't want Joh Fredersen to take her away from him.

* AdaptationExplanationExtrication: A minor one. In the film, Freder's line "Father! Father! Will ten hours never end??!!" seems to just be him finding the work unbearable. The book establishes that Freder's father actually is responsible for calling the work off, an he is late due to having visited Rotwang. This is not the case in the film, where the shift ends even without him present.

* The original Ralph [=McQuarrie=] concept art of [[Franchise/StarWars C-3PO]] looked nearly identical to a male version of robot-Maria.

* The anime film and manga, ''[[Anime/{{Metropolis}} Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis]]''.

* A mad scientist named Rotwang appears in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny''—complete with RobotGirl creation.

Not to be confused with the [[Anime/{{Metropolis}} anime film of the same name]], which does take elements from here as well as a manga by Creator/OsamuTezuka, which was itself SuggestedBy, but not adapted from, this movie.

** Metropolis is likened to Babel throughout the film. The city's central tower is even called the "New Tower of Babel" and, denoting its role as the center of corruption and oppression, is topped by a not-so-hidden pentagram.

** Metropolis is likened to Babel throughout the film.

* LoudnessWar: Moroder's version, which served as the test run for the HPS-4000 cinema sound system, comparable to IMAX in terms of its acoustic power. Moroder, known as the founding father of disco, wanted to bring the sonic energy of dance clubs into the movie theater. The songs as heard in the film are mixed far louder and with more dynamic range than they are on the original soundtrack album.

* LoudnessWar: Moroder's version, which served as the test run for the HPS-4000 cinema sound system, comparable to IMAX in terms of its acoustic power. The songs heard in the film are mixed far louder and with more dynamic range than they are on the soundtrack album.

* A [[Theatre/{{Metropolis}} musical theater adaptation]].

* An ''{{Elseworlds}}'' one-shot that combined this Metropolis with Franchise{{Superman}}'s.

* An ''{{Elseworlds}}'' one-shot that combined this Metropolis with {{Superman}}'s.

* AdaptationalExplanationExtraction: A minor one. In the film, Freder's line "Father! Father! Will ten hours never end??!!" seems to just be him finding the work unbearable. The book establishes that Freder's father actually is responsible for calling the work off, an he is late due to having visited Rotwang. This is not the case in the film, where the shift ends even without him present.

* AdaptationExplanationExtraction: A minor one. In the film, Freder's line "Father! Father! Will ten hours never end??!!" seems to just be him finding the work unbearable. The book establishes that Freder's father actually is responsible for calling the work off, an he is late due to having visited Rotwang. This is not the case in the film, where the shift ends even without him present.

* FamousFamousFictional: A variation. The story is of course set in the fictional city of Metropolis, but the book then goes on to establish that Joh Fredersen is recieving the evening exchange reports from New York and London when Freder interrupts him in his office.