The Film Music Museum

"Metropolis" around the World

By: Aitam Bar-Sagi

The First Season: 1926/7

Germany (First release)
Length: 4189m
Censorship/Classification: 13/11/1926, B.14171, Not for Children, No cutting
Premiere: 10/01/1927, Berlin, "UFA Palast am Zoo" and "UFA Pavillon am Nollendorfplatz"

The world premiere of "Metropolis" took place not in one Berlin Theater, as usually written in different books, but in two theaters:

  1. UFA Palast am Zoo: Here were the most important people from the Élite of German politics and arts, as well as critics of leading newspapers. The music at the premiere was conducted by Gottfried Huppertz himself. Unlike other prestige UFA premieres, such as “Die Nibelungen”, “Der Letzte Mann” or “Zur Chronik von Grieshuus”, no special design was applied to the theater. A published drawn illustration of the UFA Palast am Zoo (“Der Film”, Berlin, 15/01/1927) shows that there was only a small sign above the entrance, which read “Welturaufführung” (World Premiere). Due to the lack of any special design no actual photographs of the theater at premiere night seem to have been made.

  2. UFA Pavillon am Nollendorfplatz: Here was apparently a screening for critics of less importance, as well as the general public. In contrast to the common belief, that “Metropolis” was shown in this smaller theater only after the premiere (due to bad press reports), the premiere took place here in parallel to the one at the Palast am Zoo. Actually, announcements of the premiere happening at the Pavillon am Nollendorfplatz appeared already as early as 06/01/1927 (Illustrierte Film-Zeigung, Berlin, Nr. 1, 06/01/1927). The silver coating of the building was ready by premiere night, and is noted in reports from 11/01/1927. Again, this is to show UFA (Or actually Parufamet) wanted “Metropolis” to be shown in the smaller theater from the beginning, regardless of the bad reviews.
The most clear indication for the film’s premiere in two theater’s: Two different reviews from the 11/01/1927 “Film Kurier”, each from a different theater (A general film review from the UFA Palast am Zoo, and a review specifically of Gottfried Huppertz’ music, from the UFA Pavillon am Nollendorfplatz).

After premiere night the film’s showing in all of Germany was limited to Berlin’s Pavillon am Nollendorfplatz, where it was shown until 13/05/1927. Music conductor: Richard Etlinger.

The film’s running time was between 135 (Hans Erdmann, "Filmmusik", Reichsfilmblatt, Nr. 4, 1927) to 140 (Roland Schacht) minutes, excluding intermission, which translates to a speed of 26 to 27 frames per second. This corresponds with the handwritten notes by Gottfried Huppertz on his copy of the "Metropolis" script, where is repeatedly noted a speed of half a Meter per second (i.e. for scene 55, on page 74, it is noted: “93m = 186sek”)

Further notes: One day before the premiere Fritz Lang gave a speech on the Berlin-Sender Radio Station about “Metropolis” (See: "Kritik Der Leinwand", Die Filmwoche, Nr. 3, 1927). It is, however, not the speech which was later featured on the 12" VOX Shellac record Nr. 08386. The speech was most likely given at the program “Talk on ‘Film Secrets’”, which ran from 19:55 to 20:30 (“Programmes for the Week-End”, Times, London, 08/01/1927, where the name of the program is given in English).
A later radio transmission in Breslau, dating 07/02/1927, featured a reading from Thea von Harbou’s "Metropolis" script, as well as musical extract from Gottfried Huppertz’ music for “Metropolis” and “Die Nibelungen”.

Austria
Length: 4224m
Censorship/Classification: 04 or 05/02/1927
Premiere: 06/02/1927, Vienna, "Löwen Kino"

The premiere of the film lasted, including intermission, 165minutes (20:45 to 23:30), and was accompanied with the music by Gottfried Huppertz (“Neue Freie Presse”, Vienna, 08/02/1927). Subsequent screenings are reported with the same length. At the premiere were present, as was at the Berlin premiere, many important people, including Bundespräsident Hainisch, Präsident des Nationalrates Waber, Vizekanzler Dinghofer and UFA's general director Bausback. The premiere of the film was a failure and the showing ended in almost silent applause. (Ditto)

Starting 08/02/1927, the film was shown in five Viennese cinemas: "Burg Kino", "Central Kino", "Kärntner Kino", "Löwen Kino" and "Maria-Theresien Kino". Some reviews briefly mention Hel and "Der Schmale". From available information, it is possible to conclude the version shown in this country was identical to the German premiere version.

Additional Sources: "Wiener Sonn-und Montags-Zeitung", 07/02/1927; "Wiener Zeitung", #32, 09/02/27; "Die Neue Zeitung", 09/02/27; "Wiener Sonn- und Montags-Zeitung", 14/02/27; "Entscheidungen der Wiener Filmzensur“, Paolo Caneppele, 2002, Film archive Austria.

The Netherlands
Length: 4468m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 18/02/1927, The Hague, "Asta"; Rotterdam, "Luxor Theater"; Amsterdam, "Rembrandt Theater"; Groningen, "Luxor"

In the Netherlands "Metropolis" was presented as a two part Film. The first part was named "Het moderne Babylon" ("The modern Babylon") and the second part was named "De valsche Maria" ("The false Maria"). Alternately, sometimes the parts were referred as "Metropolis 1" and "Metropolis 2", or collectively as "Metropolis".

The second part of “Metropolis” premiered in Groningen on 25/02/1927. In the other cities due to high amount of visitors it was postponed, starting 02/03/1927 in Rotterdam, and 04/03/1927 in The Hague and Amsterdam. Sometimes, however, the two parts were shown together and not on different dates. The film was presented with the music of Gottfried Huppertz on both parts.

The length of 4468m comes from Censorship notes from the National Archives in Hague, which specify the following information:

The long length is probably due to repeating footage (and openning credits) between the two parts. No information is given as to the length of the cuts. While these notes do not give exact representation of the total length in February 1927, they do show that in October 1928 an almost complete print was still in Europe. This could be extended further: the latest date in which a newspaper ad explicitly noted Metropolis as a two part film, was in 13/12/1929, where screenings took place until 19/12/1929 (“De Bel”, 13/12/1929), and the last time an ad notes the length as 14 or 15 acts is 21/04/1931 (Schiedamsche Courant, 17/04/1931). Of running time I found only one notice that states 180 minutes, but one should account the longer length due to repeating footage and the fact most likely two intermissions are taken into account (“De Groene Amsterdammer”, Nr. 2592, 26/02/1927).

Interesting sidenote is that while the name "HEL" supposedly caused problems in the U.S. due to its similarity to the word “Hell”, no one seems to have had a problem with the name in the Netherlands, where that is the exact spelling for "Hell" or “Inferno” (i.e., the second part of Fritz Lang’s Dr. Mabuse was released in the Netherlands as “Dr. Mabuse: De Hel”).

Additional Sources: "Niewe Rotterdamsche courant", 17/02/1927; "Het Vaderland" 03/03/1927; Cinema Context F005391

Hungary
Length: Unknown
Censorship/classification: Unknown
Premiere: February 1927

A film review of "Ben Hur" from 16/01/1927 (“Nyugat” periodical) notes that "Metropolis" will arrive in February. The review for "Metropolis," from 16/02/1927 (also from the "Nyugat" Periodical), Only gives one piece of useful information: a note of the music being made by Gottfried Huppertz, which might, to a not very high degree, suggest that the version shown had the structure of the original version.

Norway
Length: 2447m
Censorship/classification: 28/02/1927, 16 years and above
Premiere: Unknown

This is apparently the shortest version of "Metropolis" to be shown in Europe. The Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) notes of the following cuts:

Total cuts: 22.5m
http://film.medietilsynet.no/Filmdatabase?Id=14531a

United States
Length: 3120m (10400ft)
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 05/03/1927, New-York, "Rialto"

After a print of the film was sent to Paramount in December 1926 the chief executive Walter Wanger assigned Channing Pollock to re-write the titles. In addition to the many cuts, the film’s plot was severely changed, and new names were given to most characters.

A Nice piece of trivia is the fact that Lang hated this version so much he declared he would never work in America. Naturally, as all know, Lang eventually immigrated to the U.S., but what is always overlooked is the ironic fact Lang actually ended teaming up with Walter Wanger to create “Diana productions” (Which among other produced "Scarlet Street").

Latvia
Length: Less than 3300m or 3000m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 09/03/1927, Riga, "Splendid Palace"

An ad from the time says the film is 11 acts (“Latvijas Kareivis", Riga, 09/03/1927). A later ad from February 1928 says the film is only 10 acts. The film was rescreened in Riga again, after initial screening, on 22/03/1927. The only film review I could find was a very small and un-informative one bearing the negative title “Amateurism and the Arts”.

United Kingdom
Length: 3050m (10000ft)?
Censorship/Classification: 18/03/1927, AFF063928, "A" Category
Premiere: 21/03/1927, London, "Marble Arch Pavilion"

Based on the U.S. "Pollock version", it was further cut by the BBFC (British Board of Film Censorship). The length comes from contemporary reviews, as the BBFC does not provide any information except for the fact the film had a running time of 118 minutes and 13 seconds before any cuts were made. Unlike in the U.S, it seems here reports were much more aware, and critical, of Channing Pollock's part in the film's editing. Especially negative (about the titles and the film in general) was author Arnold Bennett: “’Adapted by Channing Pollock.’ Good God! What captions. Enough to make you give up the ghost.” (“The Journals of Arnold Bennett”, entry for 03/08/1927). To those unfamiliar with the English term, one can sum up the fact the Inter-titles caused him to have suicidal thoughts, no less!

Classification information: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/0/9FAA95787510EDF8802566C8004536EA?OpenDocument

Estonia
Length: 4189m
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 21/03/1927, Tallinn, "Gloria-Palace"

Newspaper ads note the films as "15 acts", and having Gottfried Huppertz' music.

Sources: "Päewalehht", 20/03/1927, Tallinn; "Postimees", 04/04/1927, Tartu

Finland
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 21/03/1927, Helsinki, "Capitol"

Release date and location according to a database maintained by the Finnish Board of Film Classification (Valtion elokuvatarkastamo, VET) and the National Audiovisual Archive. A credit there is given to Gottfried Huppertz, but it is possible this was added in retrospect.

Source: http://www.elonet.fi/title/ek352o/

Switzerland
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: 14/03/1927
Premiere: 25/03/1927, Geneva, "Alhambra"

No useful information from Geneva newspapers (Except the above dates), but Swiss newspaper clippings in German language (From Zürich) which I saw while in Germany note the usage of Huppertz' music.
One should note, however, the problem of the fact not all Switzerland’s cantons appear to have had the exact same film prints released in them. For example It is certain that in Geneva and Zürich two different versions of Fritz Lang’s “Die Nibelungen” were shown.

Sources: Journal de Genève, 16/03/1927 and 19/03/1927

Sweden
Length: 2560m
Censorship/Classification: Feb. 1927, 15 years and above
Premiere: 04/04/1927, Stockholm, "Palladium"

Submitted at 2734m (Or 2717m?), it was cut by censorship to 2560m. Information is from the "Svenska Filminstitutet". Credit to Gottfried Huppertz and Konrad Elfers is naturally given in retrospect.

Source: http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-film/Filmdatabasen/?type=MOVIE&itemid=13489&ref=%2ftemplates%2fSwedishFilmSearchResult.aspx%3fid%3d1225%26epslanguage%3dsv%26searchword%3dMetropolis%26type%3dMovieTitle%26match%3dBegin%26page%3d1

Greece
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 04/04/1927?

Only information I could find of premiere date comes from the Internet Movie Database, which I do not trust too much. A search in Greek Language newspapers might suggest the film reached Thessaloniki on 13/04/1927, but further research is needed.

Spain
Length: 4189m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 09/05/1927, Barcelona, "Kursaal" and "Cataluña"

In Spain, as in the Netherlands, Metropolis was presented as a two part film. The second part premiered on 16/05/1927, although there is no clear naming separation between parts in newspaper ads. The film's complete title was: "Metrópolis: La Ciudad sobre las Ciudades" (Metropolis: the city over cities). From a film synopsis in the Film journal “Popular Film”, one can tells of Georgy's visit to Yoshiwara and Freder's visit to Josaphat. All plot elements are there, and only alternation is the (odd) naming of "Der Schmale" as "Perner". The film's Inter-titles were re-written locally by playwright Manuel Linares Rivas. The only review I found that addressed these titles was negative, saying they were too verbal, and stating the obvious. The film reached Madrid only on 23/01/1928 ("Real" Cinema), where it was shown in a cut version (unknown length). Laster on in April, the version shown In Barcelona was also shown in Madrid, but I could not find any information as for whether the film was shown there in two parts too. It was then noted that the film in the Barcelona edition was 14 acts, with titles by Linares-Rivas, and a female Sopran singer.

Sources: "La Vanguardia", 05/05/1927, Barcelona; "La Vanguardia", 10/05/1927, Barcelona; "La Vanguardia", 15/05/1927, Barcelona, and endless more.

Ireland
Length: 3050m?
Censorship: Unknown
Premiere: 15/05/1927

Release date from the “Irish Independent” newspaper. Most likely it was as the version shown in the U.K.

The Second Season: 1927/8

Germany (Second release)
Length: 3241m
Censorship/Classification: 05/08/1927, B.16285, Jugendverbot
Premiere: 25/08/1927, Munich, "Sendliger-Tor-Lichtspiele"; Stuttgart, "UFA Palast"

Berlin re-release 26/08/1927 at the "UFA Palast am Zoo", with music conducted by Otto Härzer. Accounting the review of Balthasar (Roland Schacht), the film, lasting only 80 minutes, must have been shown in 35 to 36 frames per second, which sounds illogical. It might be transcription error, and the length should be 100 minutes, giving a more "logical" speed of about 28 frames per second, as noted on a copy of Huppertz' music treated for the second release. Unlike the original release, this time the music featured only few motives from Gottfried Huppertz’ score, with the rest consisted of different musical pieces from the Kinothek Music-library. Screen credit was still given to Huppertz, but not only to him: According to the "Freiburger Zeitung" of 16/10/1927: "Der Zettel nennt noch Rollen und Namen, die in der jetzigen Fassung fehlen"; meaning the opening credits were simply left without change regardless of the cutouts and removals of complete sequences (and thus characters).

Canada
Length: 3120m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: August / September 1927

A print was imported from the U.S. sometime in June 1927 or afterwards, directly from Paramount. A possible date for the film’s release is 26/08/1927. Agreement papers of Paramount with the Canadian distributor can be found at the Cinémathèque Québécoises. Once a collector in Canada told me he has a 16mm tinted copy with the scenes from Yoshiwara and the titles of the Pollock version. I have no idea when and from what source the reduction was made, but as I understood, it was from before the Australian print was made available in the 80’s, probably the late 1960s or early 1970s.

Czechoslovakia (Now Czech Republic)
Length: 4189m
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 30/09/1927, Prague, “Avion” and “Kapitol”

Film is reported as 4200m and 14 acts. The “Avion” theater used Gottfried Huppertz’ music, while the “Kapitol” used a compilation score by the theater’s own Karl Hospodsky. The film was shown for two weeks at the “Kapitol”, four weeks at the “Avion”, and then an extra week at the “Wran-Urania-Kino”.

France
Length: 4189m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 14/10/1927, Paris, “L’Imperial”

Originally, “Metropolis” was scheduled to premiere on 16/03/1927 (See: Cinémagazine, Nr. 4, 28/01/1927), but that never happened. One screening took place either in late March or early April when Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou visited in Paris, and at that screening were several prominent people from the French film industry, most notably, director Abel Gance who reportedly praised Lang for his achievement. It was at that time decided to postpone the film’s release till autumn (Maybe to prevent a clash between “Metropolis” and “Napoleon”?). It should be noted, however, that such postponing of releases was not un-common: Fritz Lang's "Spione" had its Austrian screening on 16/04/1928 for the press, but was eventually released only on 28/08/1928, also without a clear reason.
The film was apparently shown With Huppertz' music, but further research is needed. Film Journals who gave plot synopsis usually discussed about Georgy's visit to Yoshiwara etc. The film was shown at the "L'Imperial" for 3 months, having a short one week revival at the same theater in March 1928.

Turkey
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 09/11/1927, Istanbul, “Alhambra”

The film was presented in two parts, with the second part premiering on the evening of 16/11/1927. A guess would say that if the film was divided into two parts than maybe it was at the length of the original version, but that is just a guess. A Communist terror attack that destroyed a factory happened on 20/11/1927, causing the film to be banned the day after on the ground of it being Communist propaganda. Not surprising as the second part of the film being shown at the time must have consisted of the workers’ uprising and destruction of machines.

Sources: "Türkische post", 09/11/1927; "Türkische post", 16/11/1927; "Türkische post", 22/11/1927; "Türkische post", 22/11/1927; "Scotsman", 29/11/1927

Belgium
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: November / December 1927

Released in Belgium by ACE.

Scotland
Length: 3050m?
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 15/02/1928? , Edinburgh

Was probably the same print as within the U.K.

Source: "Scotsman", 14/02/1928

Iceland
Length: less than 2700m
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 17/02/1928

Listed as 9 acts.

Source: "Morgunbladid" 17/02/1928

Portugal
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: February 1928, Lisbon, "Cine São Luiz"

Release date from newspaper clipping I found at the DIF, Frankfurt. Further Lookup on the internet brought up the name of the theater. A magazine report about the film from 01/02/1928, gives the plot line for roughly half the film, including notices of Hel, Georgy, the visit to Yoshiwara etc.

Sources: http://www.teatrosaoluiz.pt/gca/?id=21 ; "Ilustração", Nr. 51, 01/02/1928

Italy
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: February-March 1928

The film had a short run starting Late February or early March 1928, and then suddenly was banned without explanation (Unlike in Turkey, where official reason was given). The film was than re-released in Mid-April. In surviving Italian print, Freder is named Max.

Sources: "Prager Tagblatt" 02/03/1928; "Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant", 06/03/1928;"Scotsman", 07/03/1928; "Prager Tagblatt" 13/04/1928

Australia
Length: 3120m or less
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 07/04/1928, Melbourne

Release is based on the “Pollock” cut. I could not find if the print reached Australia from the U.S. or the U.K.

Luxemburg
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 14/04/1928

Source: "Luxemburger Tageblatt" 07/04/1928 and 14/04/1928

Argentina
Length: 4189m
Censorship/classification: Unknown
Premiere: 06/05/1928, Buenos Aires, “Callao” and “Paris”

An Argentinean ad for the premiere sold on E-bay two years ago was described as dating 25/11/1927, but the date appears to be either a planned premiere date or simply incorrect. Unlike some reports, it doesn’t seem like a special import as the distributor “Cinematográfica Terra”, headed by Adolfo Z. Wilson had been the official representatives of UFA in Argentina.

Sources: Motion-picture Almanac (1936); Metropolis Found by Fernando Martín Peña.

The Third Season: 1928/9

Singapore
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 28/11/1928

Sourece: "The Straits Times", 27/11/1928

Israel
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 08/12/1928, Tel-Aviv, “Eden”

It was shown for about a week, and then additional 3 days (due to “public demand”). Later in January 1929 it was shown for a few days in Haifa, and after that screening the print was shipped back abroad (No country of origin is named).

Source: "Davar", 07/12/1928

Japan
Length: 2267m
Censorship/Classification: February 1929
Premiere: 03/04/1929

As far as I could understand from a Japanese website (which unfortunately no longer exists) using automatic translation: The film was to premiere much earlier, but then UFA closed its Japanese branch. The film was eventually released in Japan by Paramount. According to a website, which I read but not located again, the film was presented with traditional Japanese music. I could not find if a Benshi was used. “Metropolis” must have been popular in Japan, which would explain why the 1934 film “Gold” (with Hans Albers and Brigitte Helm) was named in Japan “Cosmopolis” This is, as far as I can tell, the shortest print of Metropolis to be shown in the 1920’s.

Source was: www.kaibida.jp/metp/m_nenpyo.html

Korea
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: 15/04/1929

Unknown newspaperclipping

Mexico
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: June 1929

Unknown newspaperclipping

Unknown release dates:

Yugoslavia
Length: 4189m
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

According to an ad/poster that was sold on E-bay few years ago, which contains text in Croatian, the film was 14 acts and used Gottfried Huppertz’ music. Cast list also notes “The woman in the car” (Margarete Lanner).

New-Zealand
Length: 3120m or less
Censorship/classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

According to Michael Organ, who visited and saw a Nitrate copy of the film held in New-Zealand, the version shown there was based on the “Pollock cut”. Release date is uknown, but the film was shown, for example, on 01/11/1928 in the tiny town of Otautau.

Poland
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

Release date is unknown, but the film was shown in Grudziądz on November/December 1927.

Denmark
Length: 2700m or less
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

According to a Danish Film-Program, the film was 9 acts.

China
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

According to Forrest Ackerman, he heard from someone of a print in China that had footage of Chinese farmers spliced into the sequence showing the slaves of Babel. Heard nothing of the film in China other than that, so even if I assume this information to be true, I have no idea if this was done in the 1920’s or later.

Brazil
Length: Unknown
Censorship/classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

There is a release poster from the 1920’s. I also found a notice of a screening taking place in 1932.

Uruguay
Length: Unknown
Censorship/Classification: Unknown
Premiere: Unknown

“Cinematográfica Terra” which released "Metropolis" in Argentina, was apparently the distributor also in Uruguay.

Source: Duarte, Jacinto A., Dos siglos de publicidad en la historia del Uruguay: desde la fundación de Montevideo, 1726-1952, (Montevideo, 1952?)

Not released

U.S.S.R
Length: 3700m
Censorship/Classification: April 1929

According to conversation of Michael Organ with Vladimir Dmitriev of the Gosfilmofond, the film wasn’t shown in the U.S.S.R until the mid 1960’s. Additional information from the documentary "Die Reise nach Metropolis" (Artem Demenok, ARTE, 12/02/2010).

Last update: 06/11/2010

Copyright 2011, Aitam Bar-Sagi