Wells And Metropolis

[poliphilo]

In my last post I fleetingly referred to H.G. Wells's opinion of Metropolis. Since then sovay  has very kindly pointed me to the actual review. It's a hatchet job.

I haven't seen Metropolis in about 40 years, but it's one of those films that stay with you. I agree with Wells. Metropolis is a damn silly film- with its stupid plot and mash-up of elements plagiarised from Capek, Griffith, Mary Shelley and Wells himself- but it's silly the way that dreams are silly- and movies are allowed to be more like dreams than novels are; it matters less that they should make sense or have a coherent argument. The images- if they're strong enough- by-pass logic. Yes, every single point Wells makes is pretty much on the money- but there's no way- once you've seen them-  you get to scrub those images from your brain. 

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I saw Metropolis a month ago [the fully restored 150 minute version], in a special after-hours showing in the Wanamaker Grand Court. The Wanamaker organist, Peter Richard Conte, improvised based on the original score for all 2-1/2 hours without letup. He told me afterward he had a friend standing by with coconut milk, which he sipped through a straw periodically to keep up his energy.

He had to play a funeral the next day, which was very much on his mind so there was some serious Dies Irae in the improv.

I know the audio was recorded, but don't know if it will be available. His playing was so inspired that you could completely lose yourself in the film.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That sounds great.

As they keep reminding us, the silents never were silent.