Cleveland Museum of Art Hosts Cleveland Premiere of The Complete Metropolis

CLEVELAND (April 19, 2010) – Renowned by film buffs and science fiction fans alike, Fritz Lang's silent movie masterpiece Metropolis will be screened in a definitive new version at the Cleveland Museum of Art this May. The film will be shown on Friday, May 21, at 6:15 p.m.; Saturday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Sunday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the large screen in the museum's newly renovated Gartner Auditorium.

In 2008, a 16 mm copy of the original version of Lang's visionary 1927 silent epic — 25 minutes longer than other extant copies of the movie — was discovered in Argentina. Now, that extra footage has been cleaned up, restored and assembled into what is likely to become the authoritative edition of this futuristic classic.

The added minutes clarify subplots in the complex fable, which takes place in a gleaming futuristic city where the wealthy lead lives of privilege above ground while workers toil underground on the machinery that powers the metropolis — until a robot-led revolt threatens this balance.

Metropolis was the most expensive silent film ever made and is said to have featured a cast of 36,000. The film is viewed to be a primary influence on the modern-day science fiction genre and an inspiration to contemporary filmmakers ranging from Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick to George Lucas.

With a new recording of the movie's original Gottfried Huppertz orchestral score on the soundtrack, the black and white film will be shown from high-definition video. More information about the restoration of the film and details about the added scenes can be found on the film site.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is located at 11150 East Boulevard in University Circle. Admission to The Complete Metropolis is $10 for the general public and $8 for CMA members, seniors age 65 and over and students. No passes or vouchers will be accepted for this special screening. The film is approximately 150 minutes long.

Tickets are available through the online box office at www.ClevelandArt.org, in person or via telephone at 888-CMA-0033. Parking is available in the CMA parking garage.

About The Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Currently undergoing a multi-phase renovation and expansion project, it is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, performing arts and art education. Admission to the museum has been free since its founding charter.

The Cleveland Museum of Art has a membership of nearly 25,000 households and is supported by a broad range of individuals, foundations and businesses in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. The museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional support comes from the Ohio Arts Council, which helps fund the museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. For more information about the museum, its holdings, programs and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit www.ClevelandArt.org.