* boys clothing depictions in movies: M








Metropolis (Germany, 1927)


Figure 1.-- This is a scene from Fritz Lang's destopian film 'Metropolis' with child workers. Film buff Josef Goebbelsbecame Propaganda Minister. He had been impressed with the film and offered Lang the job of heading UFA, the major Germnan film studio. Lang immediately took off for Paris.

'Metropolis' is an imprtant film in movie history. It is not a pleasure to watch, but is undeniably a master work which all serious movie students shoul watch. It is German expressionist science-fiction drama movie. It was directed by Fritz Lang and written by Thea von Harbou in collaboration with Lang. It is one of the most important silent films and shows the vitality of the the German film industry before the NAZIs seized power. Eugen Schüfftan created pioneering special effects for Metropolis. seized power in Germany (1933). It was a pioneering sci-fi, one of the first sci-fi feature films. The film is notable for painstaking design of the film, the camera positioning, and dramatic lighting. Lang's choreography has been described as 'muscular'--especially the crowd scenes. It was an expensive film to make, causing problems at UFA--Gernany's major movie studio. Eugen Schüfftan created pioneering special efects. And we have the appearnce of an early robot--the Maschinenmensch (the machine person). The plot is about a distopoian futuristic city. The workers live in poverty and are dominated by city planners. It that society the son of the city's mastermind falls for a working class prophet who predicts the arrival of a savior to mediate their differences. The savior role ghows Lang's Catholic upbrining. Metropolis was not depicting the future controlled by capitalists, but rather city managers. Strangely that more or less decribes the Communists who seized power in many countries and the poverty they created in their wake. We are not sure, however, just what were Lang's intentions. What it does not show is the ppwer of capitalisn to create wealth and prosperity--in sharp contrast to socialism.

Film Classic

'Metropolis' is an imprtant film in movie history. It is not a pleasure to watch, but is undeniably a master work which all serious movie students shoul watch. It is German expressionist science-fiction drama movie. It was directed by Fritz Lang and written by Thea von Harbou in collaboration with Lang. It is one of the most important silent films and shows the vitality of the the German film industry before the NAZIs seized power. Eugen Schüfftan created pioneering special effects for Metropolis. seized power in Germany (1933). It was a pioneering sci-fi, one of the first sci-fi feature films. The film is notable for painstaking design of the film, the camera positioning, and dramatic lighting. Lang's choreography has been described as 'muscular'--especially the crowd scenes. It was an expensive film to make, causing problems at UFA--Gernany's major movie studio. Eugen Schüfftan created pioneering special efects. And we have the appearnce of an early robot--the Maschinenmensch (the machine person).

Length

"Metropolis' was claerly a labor of love for Lang. Hius orioinal version was very long. It is likely that even film critics have seen the original version. It was cut down to a more normal length for public release. The original premiere version, Lang's director's cut) ran an amazing 3½ hours. This was considered lost for 80 years. A version restored by the German Democratic Republic runs 115 minutes (1980s). The East Germans saw it as an attack on capitalism, gnoring the fact that German workers rose up against Communisk (1953) and not capitalism. As this was a silent film. It is up to whoec=ver relaease it to supply the music. And thus we have various versions, differing primarily with the music.

Fritz Lang (1890-1976)

Fritz Lang is one of the most notable early dorector and a rare one that did not comme from Hollywood. Fritz was born in Vienna, Austria to a prosperous family (1890). His father was the manager of a construction company. His mother, Pauline Schlesinger, was Jewish but converted to Catholicism when Lang was 10 years old. After completing secondary school. Lang at his parents behest entered the the Technische Hochschule Wien, but remained thei only briefly. He ran aaway because of his ambitions to become an artist. He traveled widely in Europe (1910-14). He later claimed his travels took him to Asia and North Africa. He studied painting in Paris (1913-14). With the outbreak of World War I, he went back to Vienna. He was drafted into the army (January 1915). He was badly wounded (June 1916). He began ton take and interest in movies. And he sketched out some scenarios for films while convalescing. He was sent home, still suffering from what is now called shell shock. He tried acting in Viennese theater> He then tried writing as Erich Pommer's production company in Berlin. This seens to have captured his interest. He was hired as a writer UFA and then began to get directing commissions, first at UFA and then Nero-Film which was owned by American Seymour Nebenzal. Ot is at this time that he began a relationship with actress and writer Thea von Harbou (1889-1954). She collabirated with him on the scriot for one of his most important movies, 'Dr. Mabuse the Gambler' (1922), 'Die Nibelungen: Siegfried' (1924), 'Metropolis' (1927) and 'M' (1931). The later was crediuted to only von Harbou.. They married (1922), but divorced (1933). That was the year the NAZIs seized power. Her pro-NAZI senyments were a factor in their divorce.) Hitler personally chose Josep Goebbeld for Propaganda Minister. He was duisappointed with his new post, but took it up energetically. Goebbels like Hitler were movie fans. And Goiebbels seized control of all German media, including movies. Gobbels summoned Lang to his office and according to Lang 'apologetically' informed him that the 'The Testament of Dr Mabuse', was being banned. Goebbels decided that the film 'showed that an extremely dedicated group of people are perfectly capable of overthrowing any state with violence'. According to Lang, Goebbels was, however, impressed by his talents as a filmmaker -- especially' Metropolis'). And Lang claims that Goebbels wanted him to head UFA. Goebbels was unaware that he was half Jewish, that onky later came out later. Lang was a confirmed anti-NAZI, in part because iof his Catholic upbringing. He immeduately took off for Paris, managing to take some if his money with him. He spenbt a year uin Paris and then took off for the United States and Hollywood (1934). During his 20years in Hollywood he directed several films, leaving a lasting imopact. He began worjking with MGM. He is noted gpr his Film Noir work like 'The Big Heat' (1953). He eventually returned to Germany where he made his final three films.

Plot

The plot is about a distopoian futuristic city. The workers live in poverty and are dominated by city planners. It that society the son of the city's mastermind falls for a working class prophet who predicts the arrival of a savior to mediate their differences. The savior role ghows Lang's Catholic upbrining. Metropolis was not depicting the future controlled by capitalists, but rather city managers. Strangely that more or less decribes the Communists who seized power in many countries and the poverty they created in their wake. We are not sure, however, just what were Lang's intentions. What it does not show is the ppwer of capitalisn to create wealth and prosperity--in sharp contrast to socialism.







HBC





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Created: 5:58 PM 10/28/2020
Last updated: 5:59 PM 10/28/2020