Long-Lost Version of Fritz Lang's Metropolis Rediscovered

A long-lost version of Fritz Lang's monumental silent classic Metropolis has resurfaced in Argentina, German newspaper Die Zeit reports in an exclusive. It appears that the print may well be Lang's complete original cut, which was only shown briefly in Berlin cinemas in early 1927. Over a quarter of the film has been believed lost since then.

Helmut Possmann of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Foundation claims that the material will lead to "a new understanding of Lang's masterpiece." Martin Koerber, who restored the currently known version of the film, said: "No matter how poor the condition of the material may be, even an ordinary audience will now be able to grasp the film's original intention with all its minor characters and subplots." Koerber continued: "The film's rhythm will be restored." A gallery at Die Zeit shows stills from the rediscovered material.

This is especially good news since all traces of a previously announced restoration of Lang's 1924 Die Nibelungen seems to have disappeared from the web. Die Zeit promises more details on the formerly lost version of Metropolis in its magazine, available tomorrow. More from GreenCine's David Hudson.

Image credit: © Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Foundation;Photo Editing: Dennis Neuschäfer-Rube