Fritz Lang: The Silent Films
12-Blu-Ray Set Review and Giveaway (below)
Yay! The contest is over and the winner is: Michael J Lyons! Congratulations!
I first became ‘acquainted’ with the silent films of Fritz Lang a few years back when I was lucky enough to see Metropolis on the Big Screen. I will never forget how intensely my heart was pounding throughout the film (I was literally on the edge of my seat) — and I just couldn’t stop talking about it to anyone who would listen. It left an indelible impression on me, and gave me a renewed and profound respect for the artistry of the classic Silents. So, imagine how happy I was when an unexpected package from Kino Lorber showed up at my door…Fritz Lang: The Silent Films… a 12-disc Blu-Ray set that contains all of Lang’s existing silent films, restored.
Now, I am certainly no expert in German Expressionism, or for that matter, in silent films, but I am a fan, and I know what I like. And I am thoroughly enjoying, and immersed in, this box set — these films are intense — riveting, heart-pounding, and thoroughly thought provoking, with lots of ‘aha’ and ‘oh no’ moments weaved in (what storytelling!). And – I almost have to laugh here – I became aware that, yes, once again I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat while watching (this time during Die Nibelungen, which I had never seen before). Wow.
Now in all honesty, I haven’t viewed all of the content in this set (yet), but it is certainly not from a lack of will. It is simply because, with over 30 hours of content, I just didn’t have enough time in a mere few days to do so, particularly because a number of these films are epic in scope. BUT, I really can’t wait to continue watching because these are exquisite and stinging films — with flawed characters and gripping themes — and they are visually beautiful with astonishing special effects.
This set is really quite beautiful in many respects, and I encourage you all to enter this contest, because this is a set of films worth owning!
That said, I want to thank my fine friends at Kino Lorber for sending me this incredible Set of films — and for also giving CMH a set to give away to one lucky winner!
And now for the giveaway contest…
…..
In order to qualify to win this prize via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, December 30 at 10PM EST. One lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced on twitter and/or this blog (depending how you entered) on Sunday Dec 31 at 10PM.
ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, December 30 at 10PM EST…
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message:
Just entered to win the “Fritz Lang: The Silent Films” 12-blu-ray box set #Giveaway courtesy of @KinoLorber and @ClassicMovieHub #CMHContest link: http://ow.ly/ef8830gZ6sh
THE QUESTION:
What is your favorite Fritz Lang film and why? And, if you’re not familiar with his work, why would you like to win this Blu-Ray Set?
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…
…..
Gustav Frohlich as Freder (Joh Fredersen’s Son) in Metropolis
You can visit Kino Lorber on their website, on Twitter at @KinoLorber or on Facebook.
Please note that only Continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico) entrants are eligible.
And — BlogHub members ARE eligible to win if they live within the Continental United States (as noted above).
Hanna Ralph as Brunhild in Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
About the Blu-Ray Set:
Fritz Lang made films for more than five decades in the two greatest film industries, Weimar Germany and Hollywood. Lang’s films drew on Expressionism, gritty semi-documentary realism, and mythical fantasy. He successfully moved from silent to sound film, producing acknowledged masterpieces in both forms, but his silent films forged his unique vision. This box set brings together all of Lang’s existing silent films in restored versions (including original tints), offering a chance to experience the unity of his work as never before possible. After WWI, silent cinema became a powerful narrative form and Lang was one of its key architects. During this ear Lang had unparalleled control over his films, engaged in every aspect from scripting, to design, to shooting, and editing. He gathered about him a talented team of collaborators, but Lang remained the authority and, by some accounts, the tyrant.
The Set includes 12 Blu-Rays in a beautiful digipak (nicely done), plus a 32 page booklet, and outer library case. There’s 30+ hours of content in all, including the 11 films (25+ hours), plus special features (about 4.5-5 hours from what I could count).
Woman in the Moon
The Films:
Metropolis (1927), Die Nibelungen (1924), Spies (1928), Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922), Destiny (1921), The Spiders (1919), Woman in the Moon (1929), Four Around the Woman (1921), Harakiri (1919), The Wandering Shadow (1920), The Plague of Florence (1919, Lang did not direct, but wrote the screenplay which was based on Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death).
Special Features:
- Destiny:
- audio commentary by film historian Tim Lucas
- restoration demonstration footage
- 2016 re-release trailer
- Dr. Mabuse the Gambler:
- The Story Behind Dr. Mabuse documentary (52 mins) exploring the musical score by Aljoscha Zimmermann, the career of novelist Norbert Jacques, and an analysis of the film
- Die Nibelungen:
- The Legacy of the Nibelungen documentary (68 mins) on the making and restoration of the film by Guido Altendorf and Anke Wilkening
- newsreel footage taken on the set
- Metropolis:
- Voyage to Metropolis documentary (50 mins) on the making and restoration of the film
- Interview with Paula Felix-Didier, curator of the Museo del Cine, Buenos Aires, where previously missing footage was discovered
- Spies:
- Spies: A Small Film With Lots of Action (72 min.) a documentary by Guido Altendorf and Anke Wilkening
- Original German theatrical trailer (5 min) courtesy of the Austrian Film Museum, Vienna
- Woman in the Moon:
- Woman in the Moon: The First Scientific Science Fiction Film documentary (14 mins) on the making of the film
…..
And if you can’t wait to win this Box Set click on the image below to purchase on amazon 
Good Luck!
–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
,
My favorite of Lang’s films is probably “M.” Peter Lorre’s incredible performance and the atmospheric direction is unbeatable. I haven’t seen much of the director’s silent work, beyond METROPOLIS, but I am very curious about SPIES and MABUSE.
I’d have to say DESTINY’s visuals beat METROPOLIS for my favorite Lang film.
Mabuse the Gambler, it’s an entertaining crime thriller
I’ve only ever seen Metropolis, and have always wanted to dig into more of Lang’s work. This set would be a great way to jump in!
Thank you for asking! I have a lot of favorites of Fritz Lang! Rats fling!
Moonfleet is an awesome story of childhood and not-coming-of-age. Ministry of Fear and Secret Beyond the Door great mysteries. House by the River is underrated. I love his war films Hangmen Also Die and Man Hunt – riveting stuff. I have never seen Destinyt or Woman in the Moon.
“The Spiders” is my favorite Fritz Lang film. It is a serial that never lets up for pure action. Certainly a precusor to the Indiana Jones films many years later. Not a great film but one of storytelling adventure. Great fun.
Hi Francis, I can’t seem to find your tweet. Could you please confirm that you tweeted, or just let me know here if you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks!
One of my all-time favorite films is Metropolis. I was also lucky enough to see it on the big screen! I was struck by how it still looked so fresh and modern. The special effects were miles ahead of their time and the cinematography truly was groundbreaking. Brigitte Helm was perfect in the role of Maria. Her eyes were so captivating and expressive. I also loved Gustav Fröhlich’s performance, and the social commentary of the film is interesting. All around, it’s a remarkable film.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Of the many Lang silent films that I love and admire, I am still most drawn to “Spies.” Thrillers were a genre in which Lang was a master, and this one is one of his best. The 2+ hours fly by seemingly in minutes. Performances are excellent as was usual in a Lang film.
I have to say, I am mesmerized by Lang’s films… I haven’t seen one that disappointed me yet! Thank you so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
By default my favorite Fritz Lang film is FURY (1936), as it is the one with which I am most familiar. I’ve seen this near-perfect movie multiple times. I’ve enjoyed lots of his other sound pictures but only short fuzzy clips of his silents, so I’d love the chance to watch these movies in restored full-length versions.
I do very much enjoy Lang’s sound films as well, but I am just so mesmerized by his silents… such artistry! Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
My favorite Fritz Lang movie is Metropolis because even to this day, it’s rare for a movie to have as big of a scope and production as Metropolis. It’s still as thrilling as it was upon release. I’ve only seen two other Lang movies (M and The Big Heat) so this set will help me dive into the rest of his films which excites me!
My favorite Fritz Lang film is probably M, if for no other reason than that it is one of the few films of his I have been able to see so far. I would love the chance to see more from this contest!
The only Fritz Lang film that I have actually “seen” was “Metropolis.” I still remember the first time I saw the film; it was at the Music Box in Chicago back in 2010. I remember “Metropolis” astounding me back then and it still does today, not just with all the fancy visuals and effects, but also with its powerful and still-relevant message about how society as a whole should be unified. (By the way, isn’t it ironic that “Metropolis” was Hitler’s favorite movie? You think he would’ve learned something from watching it.)
My favorite Lang film is ‘M’. Peter Lorre’s portrayal of a child killer is chilling, as is Lang’s depiction of the Berlin’s underside.
I recently read a biography of Lang (The Nature of the Beast). That sparked my interest in Lang’s silent films, including Mabuse and Woman in the Moon.
My favorite Fritz Lang film is also probably the most unlikely: You and Me. I mean… a lightly comedic quasi-musical that even the director disowned entirely? But I can’t help myself. I find the film enthralling, puckishly funny, and exquisitely charming. I love its skeptical romanticism and the utter strangeness of its enmeshing of breezy screwball comedy with darker Langian obsessions. And that final scene, where Sylvia Sidney delivers one of cinema’s most subversive anti-crime lectures, is really quite something to behold.
Metropolis is my favorite of the only three Lang films I have been able to see. The imagery, the scope, the story are superb. You can see the art form of film being stretched by an absolute master of storytelling. I would love to have the set of Lang films because I will probably never be able to see his others without it.
I am anxious to experience Fritz’s films, starting with Metropolis, legendary silent film about the class system; workers vs the elite. It would be an honor to own this set and an absolute pleasure to dive in and live in the world of Fritz Lang!
disclaimer: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I am just so amazed by his work… his silents in particular really make me think, not to mention the fact that they’re so suspenseful! Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
I gotta go with M!
M is my favorite of his movies – but I really enjoy all his movies and would love to have this set.
Favorite Lang film: M!
It remains the roots of so many genres, but it has never been topped. It oozes with shadowy style. It was my first foreign language film and remains my favorite.
Although I love Metropolis, my favorite Lang film is the strange crime film Dr. Mabuse the Gambler. I can just get lost in all the characters and especially the evil of the title character!
Though Metropolis was my first, and the full version may wrest the title back, at this time, I think Spies is my favorite Lang film. If for no other reason, Fritz Rasp! But also, it’s got some really cool sequences and a good story. It’s a really solid movie.
Metropolis is the only one I’ve seen and it’s incredible.
Hi Page, I can’t seem to find your tweet. Could you please confirm that you tweeted, or just let me know here if you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks!
SPIES! Absolutely, unequivocally SPIES. Gerda Maurus is amazing, you can’t take your eyes off of her. So glad to see the love here in comments for SPIES, too — for years I felt like the only one who considered it a fave.
I love Lang’s work, but my favorite is easily Metropolis. Such an amazing vision that was expertly transferred to film…it’s so inspiring! This looks like an absolutely awesome set!
My favorite would be Metropolis. I cannot say that I am a scholar of silent films, but I’ve become much more interested in the last years.
Hi Jeanelle, Please don’t forget to tweet the message 🙂
So I haven’t watched all of his films, but I love Metropolis. It is such a great showing of what you can do with silent film. it is such a thought out world, and government. Obviously most people in the comments, know about the film, so I wont say more.
It’s a bit of a toss-up for me between Dr. Mabuse The Gambler and Metropolis, but I’ll probably go with Metropolis. It’s always awe-inspiring to go back to that film and realize the incredible achievement that it is. I also love to keep finding every aspect of the film that so many other filmmakers throughout the years have taken from. James Cameron used quite a few almost verbatim. Without Lang’s contributions, the medium would not be what it is today. I am a film student and having this collection would be an ultimate course!
@Dahlialien on Twitter
I’m fascinated by the long history of the shortening (and restoration!) of Metropolis. The capsule description here leaves me wondering just what iteration of the film is included here. Winning the set is one way to find out…
Metropolis, I’m a Be-Bop Deluxe fan, And they used the Robot from “Metropolis” for their album cover! Later purchased “Metropolis” on VHS! Have been a Fritz Lang fan ever since!
Having a chance to own these films is amazing, the beginning of the entertainment era is all but forgotten and these films will (atleast in my eyes) be a great way to show others and to enjoy for years to come
My favorite German language Lang film is M. Simply one of the most influential films of all time with a career best performance from Peter Lorre. My favorite Hollywood Lang is Scarlet Street. Great noir in the German Expressionist style.
METROPOLIS. The screening of the restoration at first TCM Classic Film Festival in 2010 remains my greatest moviegoing experience ever.
Never met a Fritz Lang I didn’t like, but I think my favourite is probably Die Nibelungen. You have to take a run at it – set time aside to utterly wallow in the atmosphere and the sheer unbridled “ooomph” of it. It’s not a casual viewing by any means, but it’s richly rewarding and utterly absorbing. I think I disappear into it each time I watch.
I have only a seen a few Lang movies and would use this blu-ray set to learn and watch his movies.
Hi Allison, I can’t seem to find your tweet. Could you please confirm that you tweeted, or let me know by commenting here that you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks!
This is a difficult question. In Lang’s German period I really love M because it makes us sympathize with a child killer at the end showing the character isn’t evil but has a real sickness. That’s extremely difficult to do. And it’s such a fantastic performance by Peter Lorre. I also really love how Lorre demonstrates mob rule here (which he will later do in Fury) but it especially works well here because at we the audience hate Lorre to and maybe even agree with the mob at first. I think the film dies a great job of changing the audience perspective making you think about what justice is.
In his Hollywood period I always really loved the Big Heat. It’s such a terrific Noir and that coffee scene always gets me (anyone who has scene the film will know what I am talking about) .
My favorite Fritz Lang film is Scarlet Street. It has very interesting things to say about masculinity and morality. Edward G. Robinson’s performance is among his very best. The cinematography is astounding. My Twitter handle is @Filmguy1997
My favorite remains Metropolis, so I’m in the enviable position of having a favorite for which they keep finding lost footage! It was such a presence in my early childhood, constantly cropping up in Famous Monsters of Filmland – then I finally got to see it in my adult years, and it was so much more than I expected.
Though I love “Fury,” I have to go with “M” as my favorite. The claustrophobia of having both the police and the underworld against one man who is also being torn from the inside is palpable.
Hi, found your post! It was lost in spam. All you need to do now is to tweet the message to officially enter. Thanks!
Due to my love of the James Bond films, I have to call SPIES (1928) my favorite Fritz Lang film. Lang’s silent masterpiece influenced all subsequent cinematic espionage, perhaps most notably in the ways that the James Bond franchise characterizes megalomaniacal villainy.
Metropolis, just a fantastic film
I’ve only seen Metropolis and his “talkies” so would love to see his other silent movies.
I have just started watching and collecting silent movies so this boxset would make a great addition to my collection.
Wow – you couldn’t have come up with a harder question! I can narrow it to three (maybe)… Dr Mabuse (or does that count as three itself? 🙂 ), Metropolis and M.
If forced to chose one, I will go with Metropolis, because one of the most thrilling theater experiences I have ever had was seeing the restored version’s North America Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood in 2010, as the closing event of the first TCM Classic Film Festival, with the Alloy Orchestra doing a live musical accompaniment. It blew me away. I even bought the music later on CD. Such a great event.
And I’d love to get this set, for the films of course, but would love to see all the special features.
Shockingly, I’ve never seen any of his films but have always wanted to. Many times I intended to watch “Metropolis” but didn’t get to do so. That is the first one I intend to watch. It looks gorgeous and the story is intriguing.
I’m a huge Fritz Lang fan and would love to win this. My favorite Lang of all time is Metropolis. It’s hard to pick because I’m also in love with Fury, Man Hunt, Big Heat, Woman in the Window and so many others. Hi silents are magnificent! Thanks for the opportunity.
Metropolis is my favorite Fritz Lang film. Without it, Blade Runner wouldn’t look the same. Of course, I just live dystopian films in general. Spies would be a close second. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and just plain fun. This boxed set would be a prized part of my collection.
M,for no other reason than it’s depiction of a troubled individual. Mob mentality runs amok in Lang’s perennial serial killer morality play. It’s also a great example of early, innovative sound design.
The Last Laugh. Heartbreaking but never depressing because Lang’s direction redeems any sadness. It is also one of the only silent films I can think of that doesnt have intertitles and carries a certain purity to it that is astonishing. What a character at the center!
I’ve seen bits of Lang’s films, but was always afraid to try them because I didn’t want to spoil the experience with an incomplete or cruddy print online. If I won, I’d use the box set as a sort of film course. How does Lang grow as a director? How does he feed off of, and feed into German expressionism? What were his directorial ticks? This thing seems to be criterion on steroids, and would greatly aid my understanding of the craft for my Art History degree.
My favorite Lang film is Man Hunt. He made it not just a movie about love and loss, in war time, but a stark look at all of the things that Americans seemed to be then denying the Nazis were doing. They were not only killing people, but innocence, free expression, art, and everything that makes the human experience so unique and fulfilling.
I’ve only been privileged enough to see 3 of Fritz Lang’s movies—-all starring Joan Bennett, and produced by Diana Productions. The Woman in the Window, Scarlet Street, and The Secret Beyond the Door. This last one is my favorite because of the suspense and the visuals. Fritz even directed Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave to walk as close as humanly possible next to a huge raging fire! I would be so happy to win this collection, because I want to see these films so badly, and I just cannot afford a $100 expenditure at this time. Fritz Lang was a genius!!
So many great films to choose from, so many different periods from a career that spanned four-plus decades. So many film tropes began with this man, whom Hitchcock studied meticulously. With his first sound film, M, he created one of the cinema’s most famous musical cues. FURY was the best Warner Brothers films MGM ever made. And he virtually invented the screen super-villain with DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER. But my favorite will always be the first Fritz Lang film I ever saw, from early in my single digits, a best-available print of METROPOLIS airing on PBS. I was awestruck then and remain so, as it’s been reworked by Giorgio Moroder, restored by Kino in 2002, and finally reassembled by the same company in 2010. Upon hearing of the discovery of 45 missing minutes of the film in 2008, I raved about the news to anyone who’d listen, and a few who wouldn’t! When it finally arrived at Film Forum, I gazed in wonder at footage I’d never seen, maybe would never had seen had it not been for that lucky, accidental discovery. It was miraculous, one of the cinematic memories I cherish most. It would be a privilege to own it along with the rest of the classics in this set.
Metropolis. I was mesmerized the first time I saw it, one of the greatest Sci Fi films of all time.
My favorite Lang is definitely “M”! The way an entire community (including criminals) comes together to take down a child murderer is amazing!
My favorite is Destiny because this beautiful & unforgettable metaphorical tale about life, death and love was my first Lang movie, and it blew my mind.
Hi Guerorgul, I can’t seem to find your tweet. If you are entering the contest, please let me know if you tweeted, or if you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks so much.
My favorite Lang movie is probably “Metropolis,” but at the same time, one of my favorite film-watching experiences is watching his “M.” Watched it on day on a whim probably like half a decade ago, when I was 14-15 and still a budding cinephile; I might’ve not even known Lang directed it until I saw his name in the credits. I was enthralled. It was then I knew I needed to see everything.
SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR. Because why wouldn’t it be?!
“M”
There was an innate repulsion for Peter Lorre’s character yet, his abilities as an actor brought sympathy and an almost tenderness. It was a fine blend of drama, suspense and character study. Some of the techniques used, were far ahead of their time and are still in use today. A must see for every actor and/or film-maker.
My Fav Fritz Lang movie is Metropolis! It’s the Best! Thanks! Love the silent era!
My favorite Fritz Land movie is Metropolis. This film influenced a whole range of sound pictures, starting with 1931’s Frankenstein. I would enjoy seeing the other films of Lang if I would win the set, as silents don’t make their way to the TV screen as often as they should.
I am not very familiar with his work and just discovering these great films and would love to win this set to accelerate that experience.
It really is an amazing box set! Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
Lang can be found at the beginning of several cinema genres, from science fiction to crime thrillers. He flawlessly combined the exciting adventures that the public desired and the art of German Expressionism. I would have to say that my favorite Lang film is M. This serial killer movie introduced the world to Peter Lorre, established the police procedural, and was a pre-cursor to film noir. This looks like an amazing set! I have always wanted to see Die Nibelungen.
Thanks for entering Daniel, and Good Luck 🙂
“Metropolis” is the only one I’ve seen, but am very interested in film history.
As a young filmmaker, my first viewing of Lang’s Metropolis blew my mind. I rented it on VHS from my library after school one day because I felt ashamed to have never experienced it. The power of Lang’s silent storytelling is incredible and has profoundly influenced my own works. The visuals of the film also remind me of the tangible love of filmmaking Lang represented to me. Every set felt hand built and perfect. That love and care for the craft is what really spoke to me as a kid when I first watched it. To have the chance to study a larger collection of his films would be amazing.
My favorite Fritz Lang movie is Metropolis.
When I trace back a lot of the movies and tv I love it leads me back to that groundbreaking film. A true Scifi landmark.
While I’m familiar with his work in general I don’t think I’ve seen an entire film of his. Most interested in Metropolis from his silent era.
My favorite Fritz Lang film is M. I stumbled upon M when I was in elementary school in the early 80s. It was fairly soon after my family got cable. I was gobsmacked by how powerful the movie was. Even at that age, I could see it was a masterpiece in storytelling. It, also, made me want to see more of Peter Lorre in films since he could make such an unsympathetic character gain momentary sympathy.
Metropolis is my favorite; it’s one of the most visually stunning films I have seen.
Oh gosh, tough question. I think I will have to go with Due Nibelungen. It is a fable told with amazing artistry and art direction. Once seen on the big screen it is bever forgotten
Unfortunately, I’ve only seen M and Metropolis but I loved both. Metropolis was so visually arresting. I also love M and especially Peter Lorre. I would love to win so I can explore more of his films 🙂
Hi Angela, I can’t seem to find your tweet. If you are entering the contest, please let me know if you tweeted, or if you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks so much.
Hi I’m so sorry. I tweeted it from @AnthonyBest66
Thanks! I see it now!
To not be cliche and choose Metropolis, I would have to say that Scarlet Street is my favorite picture of his. Such a great story with great direction. Even Lang himself thinks it’s one of his best.
The only silent film I’ve seen is Metropolis. His movies were thought-provoking, albeit it a bit disturbing in some instances. Living through what he did, I can understand why he sometimes viewed the world the way he did. For the times, the special effects are masterful and new movie makers could learn much from him.
I actually haven’t spent time with Lang yet, and I really want to dig into him and his artistry. Early cinema is still a blind spot for me, and I want to correct it.
My favorite Fritz Lang film has to be The Testament of Dr. Mabuse. It is the film the introduced me to The Criterion Collection, as well, so not only is it mesmerizing in its own right, but it was the my doorway to the world of international cinema. I love it because it is so powerful and so far ahead of its time. It introduced cinema to its first super criminal and the images of Mabuse psychically projecting himself beyond his cell walls still haunt me! The final car chase is as action packed as anything you will find in contemporary blockbusters and, on top of all that, it is a timely warning to not fall under the spell of psychotic madmen bent on world domination. Highly recommended!
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
“The Woman In The Window”, without question, is my favourite Lang film. Because it’s unlike what we expect of Lang when we approach him from his best known work. It shows a versatility, a sensitivity, a softer side that people don’t usually associate with his body of work.
I have to say that, the more I watch Lang’s films, the more I can’t decide which are my favorites! Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck!
Thank you! Fingers crossed.
While it’s hard to pick a favorite Lang, I’d have to go with M. It was the first film of his that I saw, and it has always stuck with me. Love Peter Lorre’s performance, of course…and that sound design!
My favorite Fritz Lang film is The Woman in the window.
I love everything about this film. The performances of EGR, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea are amazing just as they are in Scarlet Street!
I’ll always love Metropolis for the amazing art direction, but I’m fascinated by the Mabuse films, which create a nice chart of Lang’s development as a filmmaker.
I got a ‘too many redirects’ message when I tried to post, so I’ll reiterate that my favorite Lang is the Dr. Mabuse series, as an overview of his career.
Hi Craig… sorry you had trouble posting… and thanks for taking the time to contact me… you’re officially entered now… Good Luck 🙂
Metropolis, followed by Spies and Dr. Mabuse in a close tie for second. Metropolis wins because it invented the Mad Scientist.
My favourite is definitely ‘Metropolis’ – the incredible techniques used to achieve the effects in the film like the glowing rings around Maria, the beauty of the cityscape and how it invokes not only a sense of the classically-Gothic but also the futuristic is always awe-inspiring whenever I watch it. This is one of those rare films that fully rose to match the ambitions of the creative minds that conceived it and it essentially catapulted the entire sci-fi genre in film.
So yeah, I’ve got a lot of love for this film – and Fritz Lang as a whole.
My favorite Fritz Lang film is M because of Peter Lorre’s deeply searching final monologue. Lang refuses to let the mob carry out justice, even when the victim “deserves” it. I’d love to see what else early Lang has to offer!
My favorite Fritz Lang is “M.” I first saw it in college, borrowed the VHS from the school library, having read a lot about the film. It didn’t disappoint. Every time I’ve gone back to it since, it never, ever disappoints.
I’m only just beginning to study Lang and I believe I might find my favorite in this set
Hi, I don’t see your tweet yet. Please tweet the message from the blog post, or let me know if you don’t have an active Twitter account. Thanks so much 🙂
I enjoy “M”. Peter Lorre’s performance, the gorgeous visiuals, and the story which is years ahead of its time in its examination of relative morality make it endlessly rewarding to watch.
“You Only Live Once” with Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney is my favorite. It’s one of the first “true crime” inspired movies. Of course, Henry Fonda is always wonderful to watch…he’s one of the most underrated actors of his day.
My favorite movie is ‘Metropolis’. It’s not just the story, it’s the visual intensity of the designs and themes of Rich vs Working class. I saw this film in the theater with a live orchestra which really brought the silent film to life. It’s also a love story for a lost wife and a husband who never gives up to recreate his Beloved Hel. I have seen it in the Art theater many times and always something new to give.
Hi Denice, I can’t seem to find you tweet. Could you please let me know if you don’t have a twitter account. Thanks 🙂
Hands down my favorite Lang is M. The way Lang created such menace around the character using the whistled “Hall of the Mountain King,” and really sounds throughout the entire film, was genius.
Also, cannot say enough about how Lang tackled urban alienation, paranoia, making the city itself another character.
Then of course there are the performances: Peter Lorre’s primal hellish screams throughout and constant torture from his own actions – blood curdling and chilling down to one’s soul.
Overall M is an eloquent and profoundly deep study of evil: its genesis and how society should and should not combat it. M’s psychological and philosophical probing in cinematic form have never been equaled and will never be equaled.
Fav Lang is definitely Metropolis—Helm’s performance remains one of the best.
The only Lang film I’m really accustomed to is both Metropolis and M. I would love to win this just to expand my horizon’s on his silent work and get a better understanding for German expressionism.
There are better Fritz Lang films, but my favorite is probably Spies. Espionage, romance, a great Rudolf Klein-Rogge super villain performance, a stunning train crash set piece…it’s peak silent era entertainment.
Choosing between Lang’s films is really hard.
As much as an influence Metropolis has been on me, artistically, my favorite overall has to be The Testament of Dr. Mabuse.
It is frantic. Its view of influence, crime, madness and love are just so well told. Plus it’s just another film with the fantastic combo of Lang and Rudolf Klein Rogge.
Love it.