Fritz Lang

Fritz Lang born in Vienna, Germany, 1890 -- the son of an architect
• Dropped out of college Fought in the Great War (WWI)
After the war, Lang meets producer Erich Pommer who worked for the movie company Declar
Later Declar becomes UFA (the largest film company in Europe)
1919 - Lang directs his first film “Halbblut” (the Half-Caste)
1920 - Meets writer Thea von Harbou, marries her in 1922
Thea von Harbou wrote all of Lang’s films (including Metropolis) until 1933 when they divorced
1925-1926 - makes the film Metropolis which is drastically cut and distributed over the world Lang forms his own production company; Thea is his main writer
1931 - M (with actor Peter Lorre)
1932 - The Testimony of Dr. Mabuse (banned because it criticized the Nazi party)
1933 - Immigrated to the U.S.
1934 - Offered a contract by David Selznick, producer at MGM Goes on to make several films (mixing styles), ends up going blind and dying in 1975

MAJOR FILMS: Halbblut (Half Caste) (1919) Dr. Mabuse (1922) (serial) Die Niebelungen (Siegfried; Kriemhild's Revenge) (1924). Metropolis (1926) Spies (1928) M (1931) The Last Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1932) Fury (1936) You Only Live Once
(1937) Western Union (1941) Man Hunt (1941) The Ministry of Fear (1944) Cloak and Dagger (1946) Secret Beyond the Door (1948) The Big Heat (1953) Moonfleet (1955) While the City Sleeps (1956). Die Tausend Augend des Dr. Mabuse ("The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse") 1960

On Youtube, check out some clips from Lang's movies. We will view the entire Metropolis next week.

Please read Sergei Eisenstein and the use of Montage & The Movies Learn to Speak for Monday.