FILMUSIK ORGAN GRINDERS presents METROPOLIS w/ BENT KNEE

Portland's own Filmusik is reaching outside our town's borders to enlist Boston's Bent Knee ensemble for a live music presentation of their score for Fritz Lang's Metropolis at the Hollywood Theatre this Friday.

I don't really have much to add to what I said about the film when it last played in PDX, except that when a Fritz Lang film, especially Metropolis, plays on a big screen in your town, you'd better get your ass in a seat for it.  A world class filmmaker's (arguably) greatest work matched with a live original score is an occasion worth leaving the house for, friends.

Here's the trailer:

And, as a bonus, a fascinating, 50 minute-long interview with Lang conducted by director William Friedkin:

Filmusik Organ Grinders presents Metropolis with Bent Knee at the Hollywood Theatre on Friday, August 17th at 8pm.  More info available here.
 

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NW FILM CENTER presents METROPOLIS with THE ALLOY ORCHESTRA

What once was lost is now found: this coming Thursday night, the NW Film Center hosts the 2010 restored edition of Fritz Lang's epic sci-fi classic Metropolis.  Yes, this is the version containing the missing sequences discovered at the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires.  What's more, the Film Center's program will feature a live accompaniment by the world famous (at least to rabid silent film buffs) music collective the Alloy Orchestra, who have modified their 1991 score for Lang's futurist tale to accommodate its newly extended running time.

At nearly 2 1/2 hours, this version of Metropolis comes about as close to the original 1927 release as we're likely to see in our lifetime.  For those interested in the various versions and restoration efforts over the years, there's a concise timeline available here.

While the silent film event of the year was undoubtably last month's limited run of Abel Gance's Napoleon in Oakland, Thursday's event is likely to be the best that Portland has on offer in 2012.  Tickets will likely be sold out before Thursday night; they can be purchased here.

Metropolis with live musical score by the Alloy Orchestra plays one night only at the NW Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium (in the Portland Art Museum) on Thurs., April 12th at 7pm.


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