Fritz Lang's Masterpiece: Metropolis (1927)

Fritz Lang born in Vienna, Germany, 1890 -- the son of an architect, he dropped out of college to fight in the Great War (WWI)

After the war, Lang met the German producer Erich Pommer who worked for Germany's largest and most successful movie company: Declar

Later Declar becomes UFA (the largest film company in Europe)!

Fritz Lang Selected Chronology
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 - Lang makes the film Metropolis which is drastically cut and distributed over the world Lang forms his own production company; Thea is his main writer.
1927 - Metropolis is screened to the public for the first time.
1931 - Lang directs M (with actor Peter Lorre)
1932 - The Testimony of Dr. Mabuse (banned in Germany because it criticized the Nazi party)
1933 - Lang immigrated to the U.S.
1934 - Lang is offered a contract by David Selznick, a producer at MGM. He 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).

Film history and analysis:

Reviews are written to encourage an audience for a film. The film historian's job is to connect history (both world history and events, as well as the history of film) with the artistry of film and the film industry (including the actors, directors, producers, editors, technicians, cinematographers, and writers).

You are going to pick a topic for a film PAPER--a scholarly research paper that examines an aspect of Metropolis, the film. Here are your choices:

1. Write about the effective use of special effects (including titles and music to affect tone); You may look here for further help in writing your paper.
2. Write about the effectiveness of the cinematography (the shots, angles, lighting, composition of the shots, mise-en-shot, mise-en-scene, etc.) and the cinematographer of the film: Karl Freund
3. Pick a major character in the movie and analyze the actor's portrayal of the character: i.e., examine his/her acting, effective portrayal of the role, etc. The cast list can be found here at IMDB.com.
4. Write about the effectiveness of the plot, film script, and story elements of the film: Frequency, Narration, Story, Plot, Order, Narrative Format, Sequence, etc. and the film's author: Thea von Harbou (see link above).
5. Write about the film as a historical vehicle. Answer: how is Metropolis the epitome and culmination of the Golden Age of silent film? What events in the 1920's triggered it--how did it affect the people of its period, etc?
6. Write about the effective use of theme in the film. Why is the film still relevant today? How has the film inspired other films after it? Why is this theme important for us to learn? What does it say or criticize about humanity?

The nitty-gritty details:

• Your paper should be between 4-5 pages, double spaced. It will count as an exam.
• Your paper should include AT LEAST 3 secondary sources that are referred to and cited in your paper. (please include an MLA formatted works cited page with your paper). MLA format can be found here. 
• PLEASE NOTE: You may not use Wikipedia as one of your 3 sources. You may use it as a 4th or 5th or 6th source if you wish--just not the first 3...! You may use the materials I've linked from this page--or check the internet. That may have something...?
• Your MLA formatted citation page does NOT count as one of your 4-5 pages, double-spaced pages.
• You will need to take notes, research your topic, and type your final paper. See the MATERIALS on our GOOGLE CLASSROOM. 
• Please include a title for your paper that clarifies your paper's thesis/topic. 
• The paper is due April 17 (the proposed end of the marking period). 
• As you watch the film, you should begin to conduct your research and gather your sources. You may find it helpful to use the links I've provided as a starting point:

The Metropolis Case (part 1; parts 2-3 can be viewed online as well...)
Roger Ebert's Film Review
IMC's Film Review
Metropolis' Occult Symbolism
Metropolis: Masterpiece or Museum Piece (podcast review & analysis)
Metropolis Special Effects (clip)
Hyperinflation in Germany, 1920's
Rise of Communism & Fascism in the 1920's 
Why was the Weimar Period the Golden Age of Germany?
The Spartacist Rising
The Roaring 20's: Crash Course

Please contact me with questions or concerns. See our Google Classroom for materials (including a copy of the film!) and instructions.