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Metropolis
(1927)
Illustrated
by Schulz-Neumann
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| Description: |
Three
Sheet |
| Medium: |
Lithograph
on paper |
| Price: |
$1,100.00 |
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 Metropolis
had an astoundingly large cast of 36,000, which included
1100 bald extras for the Tower of Babel scene. An incredible
amount of film footage was taken — 1,960,000 feet
of film was edited to 13,165 feet.
Often,
well-known artists were contracted by studio executives
to create an unconventional look for their advertising
campaigns. When commissioned to create a movie poster,
European artists were not as concerned with creating
images of the movie’s stars, but often incorporated
styles such as surrealism, Expressionism, and Cubism
in an effort to capture the mood, tone and resonance
of the film at hand. As a result, movie posters by such
noted artists as Schulz-Neumann often sold tickets based
on the poster alone, much as their other posters would
sell everyday goods such as medicine, tires, etc
Click
here for
the original February 23, 1927 Variety review of "Metropolis"
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Variety,
February
23, 1927
Metropolis
(1927)
Berlin, Feb.
5
 The
long-awaited film for which UFA has been beating the gong for cost
7,000,000 marks (about $1,630,000) and the picture looks it.
Nothing of the
short has ever been filmed before; its effect is positively overwhelming.
From a photographic and directorial standpoint, it is something
entirely original. Brigitte Helm, in the leading feminine role,
is a find. If she has really never acted before, Fritz Lang, directing,
certainly did an extraordinary piece of work with her.
Also Heinrich
George, Fritz Rasp and Gustav Froehlich deliver exceptional performances.
The weakness
is in the scenario by Thea von Harbou. It gives effective chances
for scenes, but it actually gets nowhere. The scene is laid in the
future, 100 years from now, in the mighty city of Metropolis, a
magnified New York. It is ruled by a millionaire, who lives in the
upper city and whose son falls in love with a girl of the workers,
who lives below in the city of the toilers. This girl is preaching
good will to the workers in the catacombs below the city.
An inventor
has discovered a way to make artificial human beings, and at the
request of the millionaire gives this creation of his the form of
the girl. She preaches destruction to the workers, and they destroy
the machinery which regulates everything in the city. Only through
the aid of the boy and the real girl can the children of the workers
be saved from inundation in the lower city. The workers turn against
the evil marionette and burn her on a scaffold. The boy and the
girl are united, and peace is closed between the millionaire and
the workers.
Too bad that
so much really artistic work was wasted on this manufactured story.
However, if put across with strong publicity, it may be possible
to get out the money invested in it.
copyright
© 1927 Variety
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