History of Sci-Fi Film- 1927- Robots and Ray Guns Episode 7
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- Episode 7: 1927 we step into the captivating world of science fiction cinema with the latest episode of our 'Robots and Ray guns' series. Metropolis is one of the most important science fiction films ever made and laid the foundation for the sci-fi genre we know today.
Mars Wants Movies is a guide to the history of science fiction film (and eventually television). Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Fair Use Disclaimer
Disclaimer: I do not own the right to the video clips used in this video. Use of these clips follows Fair Use laws regarding commenting and criticizing.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:03 Germany in Historical Context
06:50 The Film, The Universe and the Characters
10:41 Making a Classic
14:00 Reviews, Reception and H.G. Wells
19:19 Legacy of a Classic
23:28 The 1920s and The Beginnings of Political Sci-Fi
29:36 From Silent to Sound
32:28 Literary Science Fiction of 1927
35:01 History, Culture and Science
40:16 Hollywood and Beyond
44:10 Final Thoughts
Links to articles, documentaries and videos discussed in the video:
The documentaries “Voyage to Metropolis,” and “Interview with Paula Felix-Didier” are included on the 2010 DVD and Blu Ray “The Complete Metropolis”
kinolorber.com/product/the-co...
100 Years of Cinema CZcams Channel
1927: The Jazz Singer - How The Movies Learnt To Talk
• 1927: The Jazz Singer ...
H.G Wells review of Metropolis in the New York Times
If you are a subscriber to The New York Times, you can access the original review on their website at
www.nytimes.com
If you are not a New York Times subscriber you can read the full review at
www.wired.com/beyond-the-beyo... - Krátké a kreslené filmy
This channel needs, and deserves, many more subscribers. The appeal should be wide-ranging, from film buffs to sci-fan fans to educators using these videos as a reference source. This is great stuff. I have enjoyed every episode to date and learned at least one thing each time.
Wow, thank you! I've only been doing this for a few months and appreciate every viewer.
@@marswantsmovies You cover the films of the time, and their place in history, and as you said nothing lives in isolation so you touch on the social-political and technological innovations of the day which provides that much more color around the edges (though you haven't gotten to color films yet ;-)).
I agree with everything you said!
This channel is one of the few that I will just Marathon everything that makes in my earbuds at work. I look forward to seeing where it goes
You can NEVER say enough about Metropolis!
After reading about this movie since high school, I bought my first copy as a QuickTime video on CD in the mid-'90s.
I even saw nods to Metropolis in the George Pal "The Time Machine."
I'm still looking to find the most complete version of this movie that I can. It came out at such a pivotal time in history. This is one of my favorite historical periods because so much was happening in the arts and culture.
The 1920s were an amazing time in film history that is unfortunately overlooked by many people. The Germans made some great films in that time.
METROPOLIS is still having an effect on today's movie industry! At the recent DUNE PART 2 premiere in London, actress Zendaya dazzled in a METROPOLIS-like outfit that had the paparazzi taking notice! I'm hoping that with the 100th-anniversary of the original release coming in 2027, there will be a re-release into theatres so that cinephiles (like me!) can have the opportunity to see this masterpiece on the big screen.
A 100-year re-release would be awesome. I wish more classics would be re-released in theaters just to appreciate how filmmakers created such amazing films without the use of computers and CGI. Zendaya's outfit was very cool and hopefully, some of the younger generation were introduced to Metropolis through her.
Thanks YT algorithm for suggesting this channel. Kudos to the hard working folks who put it all together. The additional historical content is also superb.
Thanks so much. I always wonder if viewers like the history content as much as I like to research history for the video. Welcome to the channel.
Metropolis is a masterpiece, and will always be relevant to the time of the viewer. There are few movies of any genre that can make that claim, modern or historic.
I do love that group of German directors from the 1920s, they created modern cinema in a time when slapstick and melodrama ruled. They were an awful lot like David Bowie, always about a decade ahead of the competition, the high quality of their work was obvious from scene 1 of any of their films....
And Herr Lang, he was able to troll the Nazis for years and that just makes me giggle. Who else had THAT kind chutzpah in Germany back then?
It is amazing how there were already differences between European and American films even back then. I have so much appreciation for all the innovations made by German filmmakers in the 1920s.
In the opening scene where the workers are descending on the lift, look closely at their backs. They are not moving at all. The images of the workers in that particular scene were more-than-likely painted on glass. A lot of people miss this.
18:20 Welles was right about this issue: Planes and cars in "futuristic" scenes are 1920s models!
Thanks for posting! Looking forward to the next one too!
Thanks for watching!
Been waiting for the next release. Thanks! As always, well done.
The Jazz Singer was the first movie coming out of Hollywood with sound but the first audiovisual from 1914 was the Photo Drama of Creation. The Jazz singer also was played by Danny Thomas and then later by Neil Diamond.
Fritz Lang’s favorite television program was “Dark Shadows”.
RIP Jonathan Frid.
@@WildBillCox13 Or DOES he?
@@fredblonder7850 Hehe.
Alright! The next History of Sci-Fi Film episode is here! Watching now.
Thanks so much.
I fell in love with this film when I came across a 16mm version in 1975 as a teen. Since then, I have watched several reissues with different music and different edits... culminating in the version most closely resembling Lang's original vision. It is my second most favorite film (after Casablanca). The 16mm film was lost in a flood a few years ago. I am a silent cinefile and collect them as I can. Thank you for this series.
Thanks so much for watching.
Liked and shared.
The first time I encountered Metropolis was in 1984 with the Giorgio Moroder version. This version was a tinted version from the American version originally released in 1927/8. I managed to see it in an art house theater in the San Diego, CA area. My next encounter with the film was with the 2001 restored version, which was touring theaters across the country in 2001-2002. A restored art deco theater outside Baltimore, MD held a limited-run showing of this version, which is where I saw this 2001 version. The 2008 version has been shown with live music over the last couple of years with showings in NYC and Dresden, Germany. Check with symphony orchestras for any future showings with live music in the 2024/2025 seasons and beyond. Both the Giorgio Moroder version and the restored 2008 version are available on optical media, with the restored version being available from Kino Lorber. (I have no affiliation with Kino Lorber.)
I've never had the oportunity to see Metropolis on the big screen but I'm hoping there will be a re-release into theaters in 2027 for the anniversary. I wish more classics would be re-released in theaters to give the next generation a chance to experience it in its original format. I do believe the art deco theater you are referring to is the Senator in Baltimore. Its a gorgeous theater.
@@marswantsmovies Yes, it was the Senator Theater. They did a beautiful job on the theater restoration. The Japanese version of the 1954 Godzilla film was restored and released to art house theaters back around 2004 for its 50th anniversary. (I caught that when it played at the AFI Theater in Silver Spring, MD.). So there is hope for the same with Metropolis. Are you listening Kino Lorber?
Thanks again for another rivetting episode - I am currently streaking ahead in the movie list, but the silent era has been an enjoyable ride, especially with decent copies of many of the greats available online. I'm stuggling to keep up with the backlog of pulp sci-fi however (Holy Cow there's shedloads of it during this era!!).
Anyway, i must say that I particularly appreciate the comparatives provided in these video's, in both litrature and cinematography, as well as culture.
Keep up the amazing Job - I LOVE it!!
Thank you. I've learned a lot as I've made each episode. It's so much fun to make these videos. The 1920s are a fascinating decade that doesn't get talked about as much as it should.
I'm Generation X, so my childhood was the late '70s/early '80s. Back then, NYC Public Broadcasting Channels like 13 and 21 would occasional feature a version of Metropolis that in retrospect was often poorly and confusingly edited. Occasionally, at 1am or 2am in the morning, one of the local networks would play it as the "Late, Late Late Movie" (before cable or hour long promo/ads, in the 1970s/1980s Silent movies were often used as afterhours filler before morning news) but I would usually give up trying to follow it after 30 minutes. When I got to college, my university library had a copy that made no sense either!! For years I just assumed it was a incongruent, overly ambitious film whose director was over his head. Than a year ago I discovered a documentary on European silent films that finally put the film in a context (with footage) that made it all make sense. We truly have no idea was an incredible lost world the Silent Film era was. PS: Damn, HG Wells was a hater (probably jealous)!!!
I'm glad film preservation is taken seriously today but it is a shame how many lost films there are. And I love how many people on CZcams love catching up with silent film history.
The biggest game changer has been the release of Silent Films with Commentary by Silent Film Historians/academics. The commentary helps puts the films (like Harold Lloyd's movies) in much needed socio/cultural/economic context. (The genius and athleticism of Lloyd was a revelation to me. He was the Jacke Chan of the 1920s!)
Thank you!
Second time watching this episode. I find it very interesting. When you mentioned remakes and reboots, I remembered how I think R.U.R. could be done as a rock musical.
Greetings. R.U.R. has the potential to be revamped for a modern audience if handled by the right creative team. Rock musicals can work in the right hands. It's been adapted multiple times, including as a musical, it has yet to truly capture mainstream attention.
METROPOLIS is Kino video's best selling DVD by far. Dispute being public domain it is essential viewing for film buffs. I often go see Sci-fi for failed films which go on to be top favorite cult movies... Gattaca, Dark City, Donnie Darko, Starship Troopers, & Moon were not hits. Thanks
Thank you so much for your work on this video. I am surprised H.G. wells had such a negative reaction to that groundbreaking film .
I would love to see how H.G. Wells would review current sci-fi films. That would be awesome to read his reviews.
Love your posts...watching from Norway... Waiting for the next one... Good luck with your channel..
Thanks so much!
Another home run! Knocked it out of the park 🙂 If you ever make this series available for download, I'll buy a copy. My favorite feature is how you put the films in context by doing a capsule history lesson of what was going on at the time.
Speaking of, I do have one nit to mention. At 3:58 you mention the unstable Reichsmark and the inflationary economy. In the post-WW I era of the Weimar Republic, the currency was still the Papiermark (Paper Mark) which was introduced in the mid-teens to finance the war. Since, as the name suggests, the currency was paper and not backed by anything, it resulted in the disasterous hyperinflation as the economy tried to rebuild. The Reichsmark (Empire Mark) was introduced in 1924, a silver-backed currency used to combat the inflation. So, for the purposes of this video, you are correct that "Metropolis" was produced using Reichsmarks, but not the period you were describing.
Thanks so much for watching and the notes. If I ever make this available for download I'd want to re-record the early episodes and fix any errors. I'm learning as I'm making each new video.
Love how you include the wider social history that were going on around these classic sci-fi films. It provides a more interesting context that is missing from many of these historical channels. Nice work!
You forgot Lang's movie Spiones (Spies)
I've only just discovered this channel, watched it all, and am an immediate subscriber! Only two quibbles - I don't think you've mentioned the Theremin, or any of the other electronic instruments that were developed in the 1920s. As the proud owner of a theremin (which I struggle to play! 😄), I think you're missing a dimension of innovation and wonder, the auditory, which contributed to the wider public's conception of what the future might be. And then, of course, those instruments would be later used to contribute atmosphere to SF films - you missed an opportunity for foreshadowing! The second quibble is your unusual pronunciation of "dystopia" - not a big deal, but it pulls me out of the narration every time.
I love what you're doing, and greatly look forward to future episodes! 👍🖖
Thanks for much for watching. I do appreciate every comment and notes. And can add some information about the Theremin when discussing inventions in my next episode which will cover 1928 to 1929. It looks like the device was patented in 1928.
1928 was when Leon Theremin moved to the US and, as you say, patented his instrument, although he invented it about a decade earlier. '28 is probably a good date to introduce it. The instrument certainly gained a lot more attention after that date. I'm fascinated by the use of electronic instruments (and other sounds) in film, as you can probably tell ☺.@@marswantsmovies
I am very impressed with your channel so far! The granularity of your research and your thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated. Given the scope of the subject you've taken on, how long will it take you to get to (for example) Robot Monster? or 2001: A Space Odyssey? or Avatar?
To paraphrase Criswell in Ed Wood, "I predict this channel will be an outstanding success!"
Thanks so much for your kind words. It's so hard to tell how long it will take me to get to later films. Right now I'm doing all the writing and editing myself so I'm hoping to average 3-4 videos per month from now on. I probably won't get to the films of the 1950s like Robot Monster until late January.
Another excellent in-depth analysis. It was worth the wait. I have my own DVD of the restoration released by Madman, and also the Criterion Blu-ray of Wells' 1936 Things to Come. Thank you for putting the former in context, including Wells' somewhat pompous critique. His own film has its flaws too, but both were milestones of their time, later suffering neglect and damage. We are enriched by experiencing these in their restored state, along with more balanced critiques such as yours.
Hi again. I do not wish the following to be taken as a criticism of your excellent work. But at 42:44 you credited Farnsworth with the first successful demonstration of an all electronic television broadcast system. This may have been the first successful demonstration in the USA, but you seem to have overlooked the achievements of John Logie Baird. you may wish to consult Wikipedia. He was a Scottish pioneer who patented his monochrome TV system in 1922, gave a successful demonstration on 26 January 1926, more than a year before Farnsworth. Then In 1928 the Baird Television Development Company achieved the first transatlantic television transmission. This was the forerunner of the PAL system used in the UK. Interestingly, Baird also demonstrated a mechanical system for colour TV broadcast (3 July 1928) which used a monochrome system and rotating colour filters. He followed this with a fully electronic colour TV broadcast system. His earlier mechanical system was apparently used in 1969 by NASA for the broadcast from Apollo 11. I only mention this as a significant correction of the historical record. 😅
Hello. I don't mind the notes at all. I did briefly discuss developments in television in Episode 5 (1922 to 1924). My next video will cover 1928 to 1929 and can any further developments and inventions that occurred in those two years. Thanks so much for watching.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥂🇿🇦
Weird that you used the talky 1930s clips of the Cat and the Canary?
I made a mistake and I'm editing the segment out of the episode. Thanks for the notes.
To be fair it was a good version as well;)@@marswantsmovies
Its funny that Apple wanted to remake Metropolis, since it was founded by the American version of Rotwang. You keep misprouncing the word "dystopia". I think it is because you are seeing it as "dy"
and "stopia". It is not. It is based on the Greek words "dys" (ill or evil quality) and "topia" (place, area or geographic region). So, in this case the "y" is pronounced more as a short i sound, rather than a long i sound.
First. let me say how much I'm enjoying this series. It's well thought out and interesting. But, I don't like reboots. There are a handful that are pretty good, but the majority of them are not. You brought up Battlestar Galactica. I was in high school in 1978 when the original first aired. It was great! But I couldn't take much more than the first 20 minutes of the reboot before I had to shut it off. I don't care how popular it was. It lost the total feel and spirit of the original. The same with others like Star Trek, The Day The Earth Stood Still and War Of The Worlds. Reboots, in my opinion, are the products of producers who are too lazy or they lack the imagination to come up with something original all their own. Instead, they seem to think that because they're young and are living on the cutting edge of society, that they can take something, like a classic masterpiece, that they consider outdated and make it better. But, they end up producing an inferior version.
Thanks for watching. I'm a fan of both version of Battlestar Galactica even though they are very different but I do agree that most sci-fi remakes are pretty bad. Bigger budgets do not always equal better quality. Maybe Hollywood will learn that lesson eventually. LOL.
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It remains remotely possible that if an equally odd aficionado were to access my eight episode fan edit of Metropolis, it may not entirely displease them...
Just sayin. Not trying to spam solicitations. Could be relevant though.
The trailer you made looks really cool. I'll check out the first episode. Thanks for sharing.
I agree that Metropolis is a much better film. Things to Come proves that you can be a master storyteller when it comes to writing novels but writing a great screenplay is totally different.
I'm a big Sci Fi movie fan and I've just found a Channel that suits me fine 🙂 🛰🌌🚀👨🚀
Welcome. Thanks for stopping by.