Metropolis (1927) by German Expressionist film director Fritz Lang based on the novel by Thea von Harbou. Starring Brigette Helm, Alfred Helm, Rudolph Klein-Rogge & Gustav Fröhlich. Made in Germany over 17 months (between 1925-26) during the Weimar period, Metropolis initially met a mixed reception upon release. Critics found it visually beautiful and powerful, particularly the film's art direction and lauded its complex special effects, but accused its story of being naive. H. G. Wells describe