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My wife and I traveled some distance this past weekend to catch a couple of classic silent films in an appropriate venue (i.e., the vintage Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas). The first, screened Friday evening, was the highly anticipated "Metropolis" restoration which is being shown in selected cities as part of a limited engagement tour before a home video release in early 2003. I must say that the 35mm print is STUNNING and is probably the most complete version of this influential film shown since the late 20's. With rare exception the footage appears remarkable clean and absent damage. Occasionally, there are segments which were obviously derived from inferior source materials, but this is the rare exception rather than the rule and these are in great shape as well (i.e., albeit with a bit more grain and contrast limitations). The remaining scenes which have presumedly been lost since the film's premier are augmented by black frames and story branching; this BTW, isn't a hinderance to appreciation the film since the rather simplistic allegorical story isn't essential to enjoyment of the films remarkable imagery.One final point needs to be made about the music track with this F. W. Murnau Society approved "Metropolis" restoration. It is my understanding that it's the original score written for the film and performed by a symphony orchestra at it's premier; all I can say is that this newly recorded performance is awesome and totally fits the mood! I heartily recommend that you see this film if it comes to a venue near you and just be sure to pick up the Kino DVD release for your collection early next year.
The second classic silent film we viewed over the weekend was a nice nearly complete 35mm print of Douglas Fairbank's "Thief of Bagdad" with a live six piece orchestral accompanyment (The Thousand & One Nights Orchestra). This was an exceptional presentation as well for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the remarkable good and highly appropo live music. The print quality of "Thief of Bagdad", while not of the restroation calibre of the aforementioned "Metropolis," was very nice overall with only scattered segments showing emulsion damage or noticeable jumps from unfortunate splices of damaged film elements. In addition to joy of Fairbank's swashbuckling prowess and humor, and the timelessness of the story, there's the incredible William Cameron Menzies sets to hold viewers in constant awe. Upon consideration of the fact that "the most expensive movie in Hollywood" cost $1,000,000 to make in 1924 dollars it's easier to appreciate how inflated movie costs are now!
FTR, I already own the Image Entertainment DVD of "Thief of Bagdad" which is actually quite nice, but I have it on good authority that another more definitive restoration is in progress complete with a fine symphonic score composed by the Monte Alto Orchestra more befitting what is arguably Fairbank's greatest filmed performance. In any case, viewing a decent 35mm print of this classic is also highly recommended, especially if you can see it with appropriate musical accompaniment.
Cheers,
AuPh
Follow Ups:
What is the running time of the restoration? I'm curious because there were SEVENTEEN REELS of footage lost from the original Metropolis negative. I don't believe this footage exists anywhere in any form, so the "restoration" is probably just a few additional snippets, cleaned and scrubbed.
... amounts to about 300 meters if I'm not mistaken. That may not seem like much, but it's fairly important footage which moves the story along and fleshes out the characters a bit. Of course it isn't the surface story which rivets the viewer, but rather the potent images that propels this film into the lofty pretension of being a classic of the first order. Unequivocally, those images have been 'cleaned, scrubbed' and restored with almost boot-camp precision, and the period score adds the final embellishment which gives this film a grandeur that it probably hasn't expressed in nearly 75 years!I can recommend the restored "Metropolis" without reservation, so if it isn't playing anywhere nearby be sure to rent or purchase the Kino DVD release early next year. BTW, if silent era German impressionistic horror interests you the F. W. Murnau Society approved DVD release of German Horror Classics is coming out toward the end of September, also from Kino. The box-set will include restored versions of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "Nosferatu," "Der Golem" and "Waxworks," the latter two appearing in official restoration prints for the first time.
Cheers,
AuPh
...has received the same critical praise. Here's the money line from what is actually an appreciation:"In short, Metropolis has everything . . . except a story line that makes sense and a cast who can act. You could say that about Star Wars, of course. With all respect to George Lucas, however, Metropolis isn’t just the Everymovie of the 20th century, it’s the Antimovie of the 20th century. Not even Star Wars subverts everyday art — or everyday life — the way Metropolis does."
The Georgio Moroder version from the 1980's had a soundtrack that was quickly more dated than the film, so an update of a less disjointed version, especially on the big screen, would have been well worth your travel.
I think every science fiction film made since owes something to Metropolis. To see an audience react to the "electricity arcing" laboratory sequence; where the evil Rotwang creates the Robot Maria, is something that's never been bettered in film IMHO, tho' many have tried. Compare this to say the Robert de Niro "creation" sequence in (1990's) Frankenstein and see that 80 years has done nothing to dilute the cinematic power of those few Metropolis scenes.
The medieval city seen in cityscape and cathedral interiors/exterior scenes was Dresden, scenes that would not have existed after WW-II
A TV screen is clearly seen when J. Frieder, master of Metropolis talks by TV/Phone to an engineer, filmed in 1924, when TV was not even invented until 1936, and a digital clock appears, something else that was a first.
Eric
Tokyo*
The restored Metropolis is coming here to Ann Arbor (Mi) soon, I am looking forward to it. Sounds like the restoration is good.Kind of spoiled here though. We had a showing of Nosferatu with live organ acc. followed immediatly by Shadow of a Vampire a few months ago. 2001 is showing a couple times now in 70mm, Kiss me Kate was recently shown in 3-D (really something you have to see, it was grand), and various others have come around. We're so lucky to have these opportunities near by to see classic cinema as it was meant to be.
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