4143 - Film Photography

Film Photography Brigitte Helm as the "Maschinenmensch" in the film *Metropolis*. 1926. Vintage ferrotyped gelatin silver print. 12 x 16.5 cm. Annotated in ink and pencil; "Historia-Photo" agency stamp and layout marks in pencil on the reverse. Fritz Lang’s *Metropolis*, released in 1927, was a commercial disappointment despite an elaborate publicity campaign, which included painting the façade of the Ufa Pavilion at Nollendorfplatz in Berlin silver for the film’s screening. Nevertheless, its groundbreaking special effects and futuristic visual design established it as a landmark in cinema history. This photograph depicts Brigitte Helm as the “Maschinenmensch” (Machine-Man), a robot modeled after Maria, the workers’ leader, whom Helm also portrayed. The robot’s distinctive appearance became one of the film’s most recognizable images and featured prominently in its promotional material. – Some indentations and pressure marks, a few light surface scratches, and age-related discoloration along the edges on the reverse; otherwise in good condition.