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| Fig. 1. Metropolis Poster (1927) |
Metropolis is a film set in a metropolis with a massive class divide. The film follows Freder as he uncovers how badly the working class is treated and tries his best to fix the inequality. At some point in the film, Freder's love interest, Maria, is replaced by a robotic replica and she causes absolute chaos in the lower levels of metropolis.
Metropolis is an old silent film, so obviously the acting was exaggerated like most other productions at the time, however the actual filming of the film was a lot more modern.
One of the more modern ideas of filming was using miniatures to create a larger world (This is something still done in some films today).
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| Fig 2. Use of Miniatures (1917) |
“The miniature set which was used in the filming of this remarkable motion picture. Toy trains and automobiles were pulled along the bridges by means of wires. The airplanes were suspended by a wire which was pulled by an operator outside of the set. At times full size lower stories were used, the image of the upper stories being reflected in a mirror to blend with them.”
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
To achieve the sight of a busy city of metropolis' size, the film makers used miniatures. These small trains, cars and aeroplanes would be moved along by stings pulled by operators, creating the illusion of a much larger world.
There was also signs of early special effects. In a scene later in the film, a large machine is creating a lot of electricity, to show this the film makers had to get creative.
“The effect of sparks jumping about the machines was produced by placing a small high frequency apparatus near the camera as shown above. In the finished picture the sparks seemed to jump from the two huge coils placed on either side of the mechanism.”
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
To achieve the sight of a busy city of metropolis' size, the film makers used miniatures. These small trains, cars and aeroplanes would be moved along by stings pulled by operators, creating the illusion of a much larger world.
There was also signs of early special effects. In a scene later in the film, a large machine is creating a lot of electricity, to show this the film makers had to get creative.
“The effect of sparks jumping about the machines was produced by placing a small high frequency apparatus near the camera as shown above. In the finished picture the sparks seemed to jump from the two huge coils placed on either side of the mechanism.”
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
This use of a practical effect to create a special effect is unique, but was probably the only way to achieve such an effect in 1927. Effects like this must have been new and amazing to viewers all those years ago.
Aside from the filming practices, there are also concepts shown in the film itself that are common in today's world. In the example show here (Fig 4) is what eventually became video calling.
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| Fig 4. Television-Telephones (1927) |
“Of course the city of the future would have all the inventions of which we dream today. The recently perfected television apparatus, is in common use. By using it, those who converse may also at the same time see the other party.”
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
(Science and Invention magazine, 1927)
The television had only just come into proper existence back then, so the concept of something like video calls seemed so outlandish and alien. In modern society, video calls are something that almost anyone can do on their phones; the idea of a handheld phone that can fit in your pocket must have seemed like insane and futuristic idea as well.
Metropolis was one of the first sci-fi films that actually took itself seriously. Most other sci-fi films in the 20th century were far from serious. Take Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon (1902) for example; it takes the concept of traveling into outer-space and makes a mockery out of it.
Modern science fiction owes its legitimacy to Metropolis, because without it films like Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop (1987), Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (1982) and George Lucas' Star Wars (1977) wouldn't have been created.
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| Fig 5. A 2016 replica of Walter Schulze-Mittendorff's "Maria" (2016) |
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| Fig 6. R2-D2 and C-3PO on Tatooine (1976) |
Metropolis inspired science fiction in many ways. A famous example of this is with Star Wars. Figure 5 shows the Maschinenmensch (The official name of the robot from Metropolis). The Maschinenmensch was one of the original ideas for a humanoid robot and, as you can see in figure 6, was probably the main inspiration for one of the most famous robots in cinema history, C-3PO.
“Rotwang is the inventor of the Threepio-like robot and has a mechanical right hand he keeps covered with a black glove. Sounds very much like a piece of Threepio and Anakin Skywalker’s history, with the motif of the black glove carrying on through the entire Star Wars saga.”
(Young, 2014)
Lang's original film clearly inspired both Star Wars' creator, George Lucas and its concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie. As noted by Young, one of the main villains of Metropolis, Rotwang, has a cybernetic hand, this is something seen throughout modern cinema, and is a significant element of Star Wars, with characters like Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) and Luke Skywalker. After the story of Star Wars was finished, Ralph McQuarrie created concept art, still using Metropolis as inspiration for locations and characters.
Metropolis even became influential in other forms of media, commonly in music.
Lang's original film clearly inspired both Star Wars' creator, George Lucas and its concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie. As noted by Young, one of the main villains of Metropolis, Rotwang, has a cybernetic hand, this is something seen throughout modern cinema, and is a significant element of Star Wars, with characters like Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) and Luke Skywalker. After the story of Star Wars was finished, Ralph McQuarrie created concept art, still using Metropolis as inspiration for locations and characters.
Metropolis even became influential in other forms of media, commonly in music.
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| Fig. 7. Maria from “Metropolis” / Beyoncé Bet Awards 2007 (2015) |
In figure 7, you can see Beyoncé dressed like the Maschinenmensch at the beginning of a live performance.
Another example of Metropolis in music, is the music video for Queen's Radio Ga Ga.
The song reflects on the idea that people have stopped using radio and moved over to television. To show the feeling of technological advancement, the futuristic setting and features of Metropolis are used. The video even goes so far as the edit Freddie Mercury's face onto the Maschinenmensch.
In closing, Fritz Lang's Metropolis was a film created in 1927 filmed with modern techniques, it showed futuristic technology that has become common usage in today's society and it inspired many different films and media throughout the years. Metropolis itself may still show its age and may end up lost to time, but its key ideas will remain in films for years to come.
Bibliography
Science and Invention Magazine. (1927) A Movie Based On Science [Report] At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Young, B. (2014) The Cinema Behind Star Wars: Metropolis [Online] At: https://www.starwars.com/news/the-cinema-behind-star-wars-metropolis (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Image Bibliography
Figure 1. Schulz-Neudamm, H (1927) [Poster] At: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Metropolisposter.jpg (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 2. Bate (1927) The Use of Miniatures [Illustration] At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 3. Bate (1927) Sparks of Electricity With Forced Perspective [Illustration] At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 4. Bate (1927) Television-Telephones [Illustration] At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 5. Tarling, J (2016) A 2016 replica of Walter Schulze-Mittendorff's "Maria" [Photograph] At: https://www.flickr.com/photos/16013719@N00/33268065925 (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 6. McQuarrie, R (1976) R2-D2 and C-3PO on Tatooine [Concept Art] At: https://www.starwars.com/news/an-annotated-guide-to-the-star-wars-portfolio-by-ralph-mcquarrie (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Figure 7. Yamaoka, A & Kelly, M (2015) Maria from “Metropolis” / Beyoncé Bet Awards 2007 [Comparison Photograph] At: https://robobeyonce.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/beyonce-the-queen-of-afrofuturism/ (Accessed on: 09.10.18)
Video Bibliography
Queen (1984) Radio Ga Ga [Music Video] London: EMI. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdwsXLmrHE (Accessed on 09.10.18)
Well-structured and much easier to read, Terry!
ReplyDeleteSome excellent choices for comparison there too, not only looking at film, but music videos too; a good practice to get into.
'...the idea of a handheld phone that can fit in your pocket must have seemed like insane and futuristic idea as well.'...that seemed like an insane idea even when I was growing up! ;)