The State of American Filmmaking
Legendary German filmmaker Fritz Lang made many classic films, both in Germany and Hollywood. His reputation was so golden that even though his Dr. Mabuse films criticized fascism while the Nazi party was coming to power, he was invited to be Hitler’s personal filmmaker. Lang responded to the offer by leaving the country.
The most iconic of his films is Metropolis, which inspired science fiction films for decades, with flying cars and art deco robot that influenced the design of C3PO.
But watching the film itself has been a confusing experience–about 25 percent of the film has been lost since it’s 1927 release. In restored versions, title cards have attempted to fill in the blanks, but following the plot is still a challenge.
The science fiction blog io9 reports on the delightfully shocking discovery of the missing footage. The German film preservation group, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation reports that the missing scenes have turned up in Buenos Aires, even though they had been thought lost forever.
Film lovers everywhere are eagerly anticipating the day when they can get the full Metropolis experience.
Dan Glickman, the President of the Motion Picture Association of America spoke with Big Think about the classic films that inspired his love of movies. He went on to discuss the Hollywood Legends of today, including Stephen Spielberg, who knows a thing or two about science fiction himself.
