Missing Scenes Discovered From Fritz Lang’s "Metropolis"

For 80 years the original version of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” has been considered lost. But it is lost no more. Film historians have recently discovered an extended version of the Sci Fi classic which, ironically, they’ve possessed all along.

According to a fascinating article in ZEITmagazin, “Metropolis” was cut and edited by an American firm after the film flopped with audiences and critics.  March of 1927 was the last time anyone saw the original full-length version, with the chopped version becoming the classic has aired on TV and in festivals ever since.

But in 1928, a film distribution company in Argentina asked for a copy of the film for release in local theaters. We know now that a copy of the full-length version was sent. Shortly after, the film reels ended up in the collection of a film buff in the area and then, in the 1960’s, were sold to Argentina’s National Art Fund. From there, in 1992, the reels went to the collection of the Museo del Cine (Cinema Museum) in Buenos Aires in 1992. 

Here’s where it really gets interesting.  In January of this year, a new curator took over the museum.  Paula Félix-Didier and her ex-husband, director of the film department of the Museum of Latin American Art, had a hunch and they decided to check it out.  Some years earlier, the ex-husband had engaged in a conversation with the manager of a cinema club who happened to mention how surprised he was by the length of the film “Metropolis” which he had recently screened. This nugget of information remained in the back of his mind and it was that small remark that propelled him and his ex-wife to pull the film from the museum’s archives and watch.

What they saw on the screen was movie history.

Now, for the first time since 1927, details of the lost footage are coming to light.  ZEITmagazin has a full report, along with screencaps from some of the missing scenes. They say that the additional footage makes key scenes more intelligible and minor characters now have leading parts.

Prof. Martin Koerber, the restorer of the most recent version of “Metropolis”, who also examined the footage, confirms the authenticity of the material. He adds:

“No matter how bad the condition of the material may be, the original intention of the film, including all of its minor characters and subplots, is now once again tangible for the normal viewer. The rhythm of the film has been restored.”

I find it incredible that there are still treasures like this hidden amongst us. To think that this landmark film has been changing hands for 80 years, no one knowing that they were handling gold — it’s exciting, to say the least. And it makes you wonder what else is out there, in storage units and attics and in the long forgotten recesses of studio and museums vaults. Only time will tell.

Film poster courtesy of Movie Goods