Fritz Lang's Metropolis movie now available in complete restored form

This epic film by Fritz Lang (1890-1976) from the silent era (1927) - described as expressionist in the science fiction genre - is now available on a special 2-DVD set including a 56-page booklet in its complete version. Metropolis was cut substantially after its German premiere, and much footage was lost over the passage of time. In 2008, a copy of the film 30 minutes longer than any other known surviving copy was located in Argentina. After a long period of restoration in Germany, the restored film was shown publicly for the first time simultaneously at Berlin and Frankfurt last February.

There is no doubt that the film's imagery has been highly influential over the years. 

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 their attitudes towards Lang's films was ambivalent. According to Lang, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels called Lang to his offices to inform him that his film The Testament of Dr Mabuse was being banned, but that he was nevertheless so impressed by Lang's abilities as a filmmaker (especially with Metropolis), he was offering Lang the position as head of German film studio UFA. Lang says he then told Goebbels that he was half Jewish, to which Goebbels replied, "We decide who is Jewish." Lang declined the offer and later left Germany for Paris, eventually for Hollywood.