Rewind @ www.dvdcompare.net - Metropolis (1927)

OVERALL: Draw

2010 Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung "Complete" restoration:
- The R2 German "3 Disc Special Edition" has the 2010 restored version of the film with the most extras. Though note it is not English friendly.
- The R1 US "Complete Metropolis" includes an exclusive interview, though note it doesn't include the original German Intertitles.
- The R2 UK "Complete Metropolis" includes an exclusive audio commentary.
2001 Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung restoration:
R0 SE Australian and R2 SE France/Germany/UK are proper transfers of the shorter 2002 restored version of the film, and come with significant extras. Among these note that the UK SE comes with a booklet.
R1 “Restored Authorized Edition” should be avoided since it is a PAL→NTSC conversion, and with everything on a single disc.

1984 Giorgio Moroder Version:
The US Kino Lorber "Giorgio Moroder Version" and the UK Eureka "Giorgio Moroder Version" releases are currently the only releases we have specs for. Only minor differences between the releases.

General film notes:

Metropolis has a very convoluted release and re-edit history, but for practical purposes there are only three versions worth considering and all are available on authorized home video:
- 2010 Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung "Complete" restoration (150 min, 24 fps) - with new recording of the original 1927 premiere Gottfried Huppertz orchestral score (The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Frank Strobel)
- 2001 Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung restoration (124 min, 24 fps) - with new recording of the original 1927 premiere Gottfried Huppertz orchestral score (The Rundfunksinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, conducted by Berndt Heller)
- 1984 Giorgio Moroder Version (83 min, 24 fps) - adds tinting, some special effects and a modern rock/pop soundtrack

The film has always been fully copyrighted worldwide except for the US, where it fell into the public domain between 1953-1995. Information on the copyright can be found on the "Metropolis" Wikipedia entry and this detailed article at Plagarism Today.

Warning!
There are many unauthorized poor quality DVD bootlegs and all should be avoided. These are from labels such as Alpha Video (US), Catcom Home Video (US), Classic Media Holdings (US), Delta Entertainment (US), Diamond Entertainment (US), Films sans Frontieres (France), Force Video (Australia), Front Row Entertainment (US), Madacy Entertainment (US), Navarre Corporation (US), Platinum Disc Corporation (US), St. Clair Vision (US), Synergy Entertainment (US), TGG Direct (US), Triad Productions (US) and others.

Information on differences between the 2001 restoration and the 2010 restoration can be found at Movie-Censorship.

Visual comparisons are available on ChiaroScuro, Caps-A-Holic and on DVDBeaver through the following link:
CUTS:
- R0 Special Edition Australia- Madman Entertainment - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:39 PAL).
- R1 Giorgio Moroder Version America- Kino Lorber - 1984 Giorgio Moroder version (82 min NTSC).
- R1 Restored Authorized Edition America- Kino Video - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:24 PAL->NTSC).
- R1 The Complete Metropolis America- Kino Lorber - 2010 complete version (149 min NTSC).
- R2 The Complete Metropolis Benelux- Living Colour Entertainment - 2010 complete version (144 min PAL).
- R2 Special Edition France- MK2 - No cuts – 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:32 PAL).
- R2 3 Disc Special Edition Germany- Warner Home Video - 2010 complete version (144:03 PAL).
- R2 Deluxe Edition Germany- UFA/ Universum Film - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:32 PAL).
- R2 Japan- Culture Publishers - Unidentified version.
- R2 Scandinavia- Atlantic Film - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:37 PAL).
- R2 United Kingdom- Eureka - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th aniversary restored version (118:32 PAL).
- R2 90th Anniversary Edition United Kingdom- Eureka - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th aniversary restored version (118:27 PAL).
- R2 Giorgio Moroder Version United Kingdom- Eureka - Giorgio Moroder Version (83:00 NTSC).
- R2 Special Edition United Kingdom- Eureka - 2001 Murnau Foundation 75th anniversary restored version (118:38 PAL).
- R2 The Complete Metropolis United Kingdom- Eureka - 2010 complete version (150:09 NTSC).
Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
Comparison added by Craig on 18/07/01
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 25/03/23

UPDATE LOG:

04/02/11: Comparison clean-up and addition of the "Complete Metropolis" US, Benelux and UK editions.
09/02/11: Typo correction.
13/12/11: Added R1 Kino release of the Moroder version.
09/03/12: Changed the R2 UK "Complete Metropolis" to NTSC.
27/07/12: Added R2 UK Giorgio Moroder Version.
30/08/13: Addition of the R2 Scandinavian edition.
10/03/16: Addition of German 3 disc, ASINs, minor runtime updates on UK MoC, US Restored.
05/11/18: Removed "No cuts", removed unauthorized editions, updated notes, capsaholic.
05/02/23: Updated notes with Movie-Censorship.
25/03/23: Added UK 90.
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Metropolis (1927)

OVERALL: Draw

CUTS:

UPDATE LOG: