What version of 'Metropolis' would Lucas have watched?

Nearly incomprehensible, sure. Inferior, definitely. But it would be interesting to think about. Well, for me anyway.

I know the editing history of this film is insane, but is there any version available which would represent what inspired Lucas? You know, that television version which became a part of his ‘concept reel’?

That’s an interesting question! I don’t know, but I’d sure as heck like to find out.

Hmm… According to the Complete Metropolis Blu-Ray, the East German Staatliches Filmarchiv der DDR made a rudimentary restoration in 1972. Wonder if that was widely circulated, or if it was like that attempted reconstruction of The Passion of Joan of Arc, where only certain film students or archivists were allowed to see it?

EDIT: It could have also been some derivative the 1927 Pollock edit, since that one was apparently pretty widely circulated until Moroder’s version.

pittrek said:

Well we’re talking about an American seeing the movie in the early 70’s. So there are not too many options.

Well, GL did attend USC film school, so presumably he knew people who had connections to film archives and such.