Whilst having seen the image in photos, I found myself utterly enchanted by the vision of The Machine Man / Maria in Fritz Lang's landmark Metropolis (1927). Having that lingering feeling of wanting to hear the voice of Maria,I was thrilled when a fellow IMDber told me of another Sci-Fi title starring the actress (Brigitte Helm) this led to me melting down the gold for a viewing.
View on the film:
Charged up over a 14 month long production just as the Nazis were starting (but yet to have a full grip on)to get in control of the film industry, the screenplay by Rolf E. Vanloo returns to the workers of Metropolis (1927) to slyly layer underneath the Sci-Fi a deep cynicism over promises made by the newly powerful scientists that the wealth from the new invention will trickle down to the humble worker. Tapping into nuclear fears incredibly early, Vanloo drills into the Sci-Fi with dripping with sweat fear over the explosive radioactivity machine which turns lead into gold falling into the wrong hands. Shutting down those who try to destroy the machine, Vanloo ties the Sci-Fi themes together with a jagged mystery Werner Holk peeling away the layers of deceit over the murder of inventor Prof. Achenbach.
Igniting the Sci-Fi atmosphere, director Karl Hartl takes great delight in displaying the powers of the machine with eye-catching overlapping special effects heating the impression of lead being turned into gold, all done with a lazor Hartl cuts across the screen to the sound of beeps and pops from the rumbling machine. Splashing the risk the machine posses with newspaper clippings and hectic crowds on the streets, Hartl has Holk's search for revenge over Achenbach be lit in shimmering close-ups capturing Holk's attempt to gain the trust of suspects. Returning to Sci-Fi,Brigitte Helm gives a very good, calculating performance as Florence Wills,whose doubts over how her dad got the device are gradually raised by Helm. Running on revenge for his friend, Hans Albers gives a terrific turn as Holk,thanks to Albers using Holk's calm, measured manner as to keep his true intentions out of sight. Burning up the screen with his cackling,Michael Bohnen gives a dastardly slippery performance as John Wills, who tries to get rid of all his problems with gold.
View on the film:
Charged up over a 14 month long production just as the Nazis were starting (but yet to have a full grip on)to get in control of the film industry, the screenplay by Rolf E. Vanloo returns to the workers of Metropolis (1927) to slyly layer underneath the Sci-Fi a deep cynicism over promises made by the newly powerful scientists that the wealth from the new invention will trickle down to the humble worker. Tapping into nuclear fears incredibly early, Vanloo drills into the Sci-Fi with dripping with sweat fear over the explosive radioactivity machine which turns lead into gold falling into the wrong hands. Shutting down those who try to destroy the machine, Vanloo ties the Sci-Fi themes together with a jagged mystery Werner Holk peeling away the layers of deceit over the murder of inventor Prof. Achenbach.
Igniting the Sci-Fi atmosphere, director Karl Hartl takes great delight in displaying the powers of the machine with eye-catching overlapping special effects heating the impression of lead being turned into gold, all done with a lazor Hartl cuts across the screen to the sound of beeps and pops from the rumbling machine. Splashing the risk the machine posses with newspaper clippings and hectic crowds on the streets, Hartl has Holk's search for revenge over Achenbach be lit in shimmering close-ups capturing Holk's attempt to gain the trust of suspects. Returning to Sci-Fi,Brigitte Helm gives a very good, calculating performance as Florence Wills,whose doubts over how her dad got the device are gradually raised by Helm. Running on revenge for his friend, Hans Albers gives a terrific turn as Holk,thanks to Albers using Holk's calm, measured manner as to keep his true intentions out of sight. Burning up the screen with his cackling,Michael Bohnen gives a dastardly slippery performance as John Wills, who tries to get rid of all his problems with gold.