Metropolis (script, magazine serialization)
I stumbled upon an odd Metropolis paperback accidentally on my bookshelf. I must have bought it from the "on sale" table at some bookstore somewhere along the line.
The byline is "Fritz Lang". Hmmm?
An introductory note states "Since the original screenplay for the film of Metropolis was unobtainable, the version published here has been built up from shot-by-shot view of the version of the film seen in Britain and the United States, with a transcript of the English titles. Extracts from the English translation of the original novel Metropolis by Thea von Harbou, printed in italics in the text, have been added to amplify the text..."
I assume that this "build up" was done by Paul M. Jensen who wrote a preface.
The idea to meld novel and script side-by-side seemed a good one. So I finally read this book after all of this time. I should have just re-read the Von Harbou novel.
This was a disappointing effort. Jensen does note in his preface major divergences between the Channing Pollock edited U.S. release of 10 reels and the original 17 reel masterpiece. (Most of his analysis is done based on the novel, in any event)
But the text makes no such comparison. Instead, some quotes from the literary version of the story are inserted merely to embellish his breakdown of the film. And since he uses the shortened film, obtainable for years, as a starting point very little value is added.
Well, in fairness, this was originally written in 1973 (I have an '89 reissue). Since '73 we have had the Moroder "rock music" rendition not to mention the more recent excellent KINO restoration. Finally, there * is * a copy of the Von Harbou drafted script now to be found as well as the original music score.
A slightly more interesting Metropolis piece comes from 3 weekly issues of the British magazine called "The Picture Goer". Beginning in the October 1, 1927 installment, this uncreditied condensed story gives a rough approximation of the truncated Americanization. Freder and Joh Fredersens becomes "Masterman's", Maria is "Mary", etc. An attempted explanation for the famous contrived ending is given. The elder Masterman, in his relief that his son survives battling Rotwang, experiences a surge of reconciliation.
The final paragraph smacks of Hollywood: "And as the crowd saw the look on Eric's face they knew that before long there would be a union of marriage...".
My Conclusion: it might be a good idea to take Jensen's concept and do it "right" based on source material available today. Possibilities range from an annotated novel to a translated copy of the script and anywhere in between. Or how about a Metropolis omnibus containing the novel, translated script, score, serialization and even some material on the Moroder and/or Pollock versions?
But about the film itself: What more needs to be said?
written: 12/2/2001
revised: 2/10/2003, 2/19/2004
