Lost Footage of Metropolis Discovered

In a remarkable bit of film-fan sleuthing, a complete version of Fritz Lang's early science fiction masterpiece Metropolis has been found in a Buenos Aires film museum, according to Reuters.

I hope this means that classic movie buffs and will soon be able to see the ground-breaking silent film with its dystopian view of the future just as Lang intended. Its influence can be traced in almost every sci-film that followed, especially Blade Runner's dark vision.

Even those who have never seen it will recognize its iconic female robot, and the marvelous Deco-Goth sets of the world of 2026 as imagined in the 1920s. Visually stunning, it was one of the most expensive films ever made, and achieved only moderate success when it as released in 1927. There have been a number of restorations and re-releases -- looks like it's time for another round!