The 75th Anniverary edition of Thea von Harbou's classic, the basis for van Harbou's screenplay for Fritz Lang's ground-breaking 1926 Science Fiction Epic of the same name. This edition of the novel is "stillustrated" with scenes from the Fritz Lang film classic as will as behind the scenes photos photos. Theis edition also includes poster art work, film advertisements, and more including pieces from Forrest J Ackerman's extensive collection of "Metropolis" related artifacts.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The essential companion to the film!,
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This review is from: Metropolis: 75th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)
Thea von Harbou's book is the indispensable companion to Fritz Lang's immortal film. As most people know, Lang's film was butchered by German and American editors-we have lost about 25% of the film. Essential scenes and many of the subplots were deleted to make it fit within a small time frame. Reality Check: The shorter the film, the more times they can show it, and the more money they collect. Consequently, with the best of restorations, we are seeing a film with as many gaps as a hockey player's smile.This book, which was serially published before the film's release, fills in the gaps. You get a better sense of the story that Lang and von Harbou are trying the tell. The book allows you to get inside the heads of Freder and co. in a way that the film does not allow. You get a stronger feel for the dystopic milieu that Freder fixes. This story is essentially mythic, so devotees of Joseph Campbell, George Lucas, and James N. Frey will devour the book and the film. You see the messianic and redemptive elements that makes this story so enduring. This story is one of my favorites, and rates with anything C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkein wrote, although not with the same level of craftsmanship. This particular edition is the 75th anniversary edition. It includes an introductory essay by Forrest J. Ackerman, a Metropolis aficionado. It is illustrated with a few movie sills, and several movie posters from German and American screenings. These illustration selection could have been better, and for crying out loud, next time please do not put the pictures in sideways! The only drawback with this book is the size-it is 8 ½ by 11, as opposed to the normal novel-book size of 7 by 4. It is awkward to read and hold. It feels in my hands more like a coffee-table picture book than a novel. So it is a little hard to read in this fashion. The translation, however, is readable, and doesn't have an "Germanisms." I'm not sure if this book "stands alone" apart from the film. It wasn't conceived as such, but was more of a segway for the film. However, the story or the "feel" of the times and perplexities of the dystopic Metropolis. In this sense, the book achieves it's purpous. Anything that lasts 75 years is worth investigating. I love film and am glad that I own the novel so doubles my cinematic pleasure.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A DISAPPOINTMENT,
By Tom D. "NightOwl" (Detroit MI) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Metropolis: 75th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)
I was very disappointed to open this book and find very bad quality illustrations. For $24 I would expect better than this. The illustrations, which are mostly stills from the movie, are about the same quality as newspaper photos from 40 years ago---very low contrast, mostly gray tones. This ruins what should have been (and sounded like) a good book. I take issue with the previous reviewer who said it has "improved scans". If this is the improvement, I'd hate to see what they looked like before. Any book about movies that features Metropolis will have far better quality stills from the movie than this book.
Metropolis is one of my favorite films, and its influence can still be discerned today. Moreover, it is a political metaphor for class divisions that grow ever deeper in America. As long as there is a ruling class and an underclass this movie will stay relevant. Your money would be better spent on the excellent DVD of the fully restored film than for this disappointing book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional for over 100 years.,
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This review is from: Metropolis: 75th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)
Long time fan of the Fritz Lang masterpiece. I had never read the original novel before.
Once again, and even though Thea von Harbo authored the screenplay too, the book is in and of itself a masterpiece.
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