Fritz Lang's Metropolis : Cinematic Views of Technology and Fear (Studies in German Literature, Linguistics, and Culture)

Book Description

The volume provides a broad range of materials and resources for the study of Fritz Lang's classic 1927 film Metropolis, including both well-known, previously-published critical essays and contributions appearing for the first time here. Lang's film has justifiably become an icon for the complexities of Weimar culture. Among the important general issues it also raises are the relation between ideology and art, the status and authorship of the film text in the entertainment market, the city, the construction of gender, the relation between the human body and the machine in modernity, and the relation between mass and high culture. Minden and Bachmann provide a two-part introduction which provides a context for what follows: Bachmann's part deals with the genesis, production, and contemporary reception of the film, while Minden's defines the problems posed by the text and reviews the solutions to these problems as proposed by later generations of critics. The first part of the book proper then provides selected contemporary reviews, commentary by Fritz Lang and others involved in the making of the film, and extracts from Thea von Harbou's original novel. In the second part, eight modern scholars provide fresh essays on the genesis, promotion, and reception of the film. Approximately half of the material in the volume has never before appeared in print. The volume will appeal to students of German, film, cultural and intellectual history, and social theory.Michael Minden is University Lecturer in German at Cambridge University and a fellow of Jesus College. Holger Bachmann received his Ph.D. from Cambridge on Arthur Schnitzler and film.

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A DISAPPOINTMENT
The essential companion to the film!
Improved Scans and printing
An opportunity wasted

Metropolis
Thea Von Harbou , Fritz Lang , and Forrest J. Ackerman
Manufacturer: James A. Rock & Company Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Metropolis
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ASIN: 0918736358

Book Description

The 75th Anniverary edition of Thea von Harbou's classic, the basis for van Harbou's screenplay for Fritz Lang's ground-breaking 1926 Science Fiction Epic of the same name. This edition of the novel is "stillustrated" with scenes from the Fritz Lang film classic as will as behind the scenes photos photos. Theis edition also includes poster art work, film advertisements, and more including pieces from Forrest J Ackerman's extensive collection of "Metropolis" related artifacts.

Customer Reviews:

A DISAPPOINTMENT.......2005-03-23

I was very disappointed to open this book and find very bad quality illustrations. For $24 I would expect better than this. The illustrations, which are mostly stills from the movie, are about the same quality as newspaper photos from 40 years ago---very low contrast, mostly gray tones. This ruins what should have been (and sounded like) a good book. I take issue with the previous reviewer who said it has "improved scans". If this is the improvement, I'd hate to see what they looked like before. Any book about movies that features Metropolis will have far better quality stills from the movie than this book.
Metropolis is one of my favorite films, and its influence can still be discerned today. Moreover, it is a political metaphor for class divisions that grow ever deeper in America. As long as there is a ruling class and an underclass this movie will stay relevant. Your money would be better spent on the excellent DVD of the fully restored film than for this disappointing book.

The essential companion to the film!.......2003-04-29

Thea von Harbou's book is the indispensable companion to Fritz Lang's immortal film. As most people know, Lang's film was butchered by German and American editors-we have lost about 25% of the film. Essential scenes and many of the subplots were deleted to make it fit within a small time frame. Reality Check: The shorter the film, the more times they can show it, and the more money they collect. Consequently, with the best of restorations, we are seeing a film with as many gaps as a hockey player's smile.

This book, which was serially published before the film's release, fills in the gaps. You get a better sense of the story that Lang and von Harbou are trying the tell. The book allows you to get inside the heads of Freder and co. in a way that the film does not allow. You get a stronger feel for the dystopic milieu that Freder fixes.

This story is essentially mythic, so devotees of Joseph Campbell, George Lucas, and James N. Frey will devour the book and the film. You see the messianic and redemptive elements that makes this story so enduring. This story is one of my favorites, and rates with anything C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkein wrote, although not with the same level of craftsmanship.

This particular edition is the 75th anniversary edition. It includes an introductory essay by Forrest J. Ackerman, a Metropolis aficionado. It is illustrated with a few movie sills, and several movie posters from German and American screenings. These illustration selection could have been better, and for crying out loud, next time please do not put the pictures in sideways!

The only drawback with this book is the size-it is 8 ½ by 11, as opposed to the normal novel-book size of 7 by 4. It is awkward to read and hold. It feels in my hands more like a coffee-table picture book than a novel. So it is a little hard to read in this fashion. The translation, however, is readable, and doesn't have an "Germanisms."

I'm not sure if this book "stands alone" apart from the film. It wasn't conceived as such, but was more of a segway for the film. However, the story or the "feel" of the times and perplexities of the dystopic Metropolis. In this sense, the book achieves it's purpous.

Anything that lasts 75 years is worth investigating. I love film and am glad that I own the novel so doubles my cinematic pleasure.

Improved Scans and printing.......2002-10-25

This 75th Anniversary edition of Metropolis had been completely re-scanned and the book reprinted on improved presses (as of 10/2002) so that the interior illustrations and quality are much improved. A very nice present for the holidays and a fitting companion to the recently released digital version of the original film.

An opportunity wasted.......2002-07-30

While it is good to have the novel METROPOLIS available once again, it is a pity the presentation couldn't have been better and more professional. The stills from the film are badly reproduced and look like they went through a poor fax. The posters are in poor black & white instead of color.
In addition, since METROPOLIS is a short novel, it would have been quite easy to add a couple of chapters. One excellent one would have been a reprint of the "Famous Monsters" articles of several decades ago that dealth with the film's special effects. Another article of interest would've been a discussion of the restortation efforts on this film, especially with another restoration to come out this year and, I believe, to be released by Kino Video on DVD next year.

Book Description

Fritz Lang's classic 1927 film Metropolis has justifiably become an icon for the complexities of Weimar culture. Among the important general issues it also raises are the relation between ideology and art, the status and authorship of the film text in the entertainment market, the city, the construction of gender, the relation between the human body and the machine in modernity, and the relation between mass and high culture. This volume provides a broad range of materials and resources for the study of Lang's film, including both well-known, previously published critical essays and contributions appearing for the first time here. The editors provide a two-part introduction that furnishes context for what follows: Bachmann's part deals with thegenesis, production, and contemporary reception of the film, while Minden's defines the problems posed by the text and reviews thesolutions to these problems as proposed by later generations of critics.The first part of the book proper includes selected contemporaryreviews, commentary by Fritz Lang and others involved in the making ofthe film, and extracts from Thea von Harbou's original novel. In thesecond part, eight modern scholars provide fresh essays on the genesis,promotion, and reception of the film. Approximately half of the materialin the volume has never before appeared in print. The volume will appealto students of German, film, cultural and intellectual history, andsocial theory.Michael Minden is University Lecturer in German atCambridge University and a fellow of Jesus College. Holger Bachmannreceived his Ph.D. from Cambridge on Arthur Schnitzler and film.

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Fritz Lang, Die Stimme Von Metropolis
Fred Gehler , and Ullrich Kasten
Manufacturer: Henschel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 3362005225

Average customer rating:

Worth it for the still pictures alone.

Metropolis
Fritz Lang , and Thea von Harbou
Manufacturer: Lorrimer Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0900855835

Customer Reviews:

Worth it for the still pictures alone........2001-12-27

The Classic Film Scripts series or screen play series is a must for any serious videophile. These books separate the video into its basic constituencies and allow one to understand what the subliminal shots are supposed to portray. Even the background sounds are described.
Contents

A note on this edition
Metropolis: the film and the book by Paul M. Jensen
Industrialism and totalitarianism, by Siegfried Kracauer
Credits and cast

"Metropolis"
The section on Film and book give some insight to the UFA studios and their way of thinking.
Siegfried Kracauer also wrote the book "From Caligari to Hitler" see my review (ISBN: 0691025053) "A psychological history of The German film, December 17, 2001"

More than just a reference you will become intrigued as you are reading. This book is worth it for the still pictures alone.

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Metropolis (Classic Screenplay Series)
Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0571126014

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Metropolis (Photo Copies)
Fritz Lang , and Hans Von Harbou
Manufacturer: Centre D/L Photograp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Metropolis a Film by Fritz Lang
Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Simon And Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RKZSXM

Metropolis/ Metropolis (Peliculas/Films)

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Metropolis/ Metropolis (Peliculas/Films)
Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Ediciones Paidos Iberica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis': Cinematic Visions of Technology and Fear.(Book Review): An article from: The Modern Language Review

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Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis': Cinematic Visions of Technology and Fear.(Book Review): An article from: The Modern Language Review
Sean Allan
Manufacturer: Modern Humanities Research Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Modern Language Review, published by Modern Humanities Research Association on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 648 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis': Cinematic Visions of Technology and Fear.(Book Review)
Author: Sean Allan
Publication: The Modern Language Review (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: Modern Humanities Research Association
Volume: 98 Issue: 3 Page: 782(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

With General Grant in the east
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With General Grant in the east
John M Keating
Manufacturer: J.B. Lippincott
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00087YVIW

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With General Grant in the East [microform]
Keating John M. (John Marie)
Manufacturer: Lippincott
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Color and Design for Embroidery: A Practical Handbook for the Daring Embroiderer and Adventurous Textile Artist
Average customer rating:

Very useful book for any embroiderer

Open your embroidery to new dimensions

Color and Design for Embroidery: A Practical Handbook for the Daring Embroiderer and Adventurous Textile Artist
Richard Box
Manufacturer: Brassey's Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Very useful book for any embroiderer.......2002-05-28

The title of this book is rather deceptive in that you certainly don't need to be adventurous or daring to find this book helpful. I do sedate landscapes and found his book an excellent guide. Basically, if you do the least bit of original design in your work - altering an element or two, changing colors around - or if you do whole original works (but haven't actually gone to art school) this book is extremely useful. It covers the basics of design and color with a focus on the embroiderer or fiber artist. You can do all the suggested activities in the book in order as a complete design course, or pick and choose sections as needed. If you wonder why some of your works look great and others look, well, not as great, this book is for you.

Open your embroidery to new dimensions.......2000-10-19

I have been lucky enough to get a copy of this book to review for BellOnline Embroidery site.

What a deceptive book this is! It is beautifully presented and one tends to think that it is merely another coffee-table book that can be flipped through whilst watching TV.

Not so: this is a very in-depth look at how to design your own embroideries. So in depth, in fact, that I am actually sitting down just to study it, with no distractions!

Richard Box has written a very informative book that looks at all aspects in design of embroidery and needlework, with both practical and observing exercises in each section.

At the end of the book, you will be able to confidently sit down and design an embroidery by yourself, and may be hooked on doing so.

The author puts his aims best himself in the Introduction when he says"

"Your exclaimation `I feel happer with a needle in my hand' may become `I now feel happy with a pencil in my hand too'."

The book is full of pictures of embroidery, and other textile arts, with a technical look at the elements of the design that they have in them.

Well done Richard, I say.

Color and design for embroidery: a practical handbook for the daring embroiderer and adventurous textile artist.
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Color and design for embroidery: a practical handbook for the daring embroiderer and adventurous textile artist.
Richard Box
Manufacturer: Washington, D.C., Brassey's, [
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Book Description

An innovative way to see through a company's published numbers to discover its true investment potential

This book gives you a blueprint for finding a great growth stock for the next decade without taking on a lot of risk in the process. Inspired by the writings of Benjamin Graham, It's Earnings That Count examines a firm’s earnings quality from the perspective of a “defensive” investor who wants to avoid committing ruinous mistakes as well as the “enterprising” investor who seeks Wall Street’s next great opportunities. Unfortunately, as recent market history has shown, the traditional income statement is ill-suited to meeting the needs of these sometimes opposing viewpoints. As a result, investors can buy shares of a seemingly profitable company that, in fact, has poor earnings quality.

However, the author’s trademarked Earnings Power Chart combines Graham’s two personalities to reveal, in picture form, whether a company possesses authentic earnings power for long-term growth. Using the world-famous William Wrigley Jr. Company gum-maker as a case study, you will learn how to build these two alternate profit-and-loss statements to protect yourself. Since this book is written in plain English, you do not need to be an MBA or accountant to follow these step-by-step instructions.

Giving investors the tools they need to turn the tables in their favor, It's Earnings That Count covers:

The four limitations of the income statement found in every annual report, 10-K, and 10-Q
A quick-hitting, five minute test to sift out the obvious losers so you can save time and focus on analyzing potential winners
How to spot when a company is forging an Earnings Power Staircase—that’s your hallmark of a low-risk growth stock like Microsoft and Paychex
Why the charts of Lucent Technologies, WorldCom, Enron, and Tyco signaled trouble ahead of traditional income statement.
The 2 earnings power ratios you need before making your next investment
12 ways to check whether management’s interests are aligned with yours
A list of 15 items to check for to make sure the companies in your stock portfolio have a competitive advantage. (Hint: Great growth stocks always have competitive advantages.)
16 kinds of companies to avoid
20 indicators that it may be time to sell

“Well-written, intellectually sound, "accessible" to those who take the time to understand, and a poke in the eye to those who abused our capitalistic system and those (pros) who let them get away with it." -John C. Bogle, the founder and former CEO of The Vanguard Group

"In a single, easy to use index, Hewitt Heiserman captures the essence of growth and value—a most insightful approach to stock picking." -Charles W. Mulford, co-author, The Financial Numbers Game, Director, DuPree Financial Analysis Lab and professor of Accounting, Georgia Institute of Technology.

"Clear and engaging, Heiserman shows how to easily evaluate a growth company's investment potential for both conservative and aggressive investors. The result? The 'cautiously greedy' investor wins." -Tom Jacobs, Senior Analyst, The Motley Fool

“Heiserman’s unique and thorough analysis not only provides methods for avoiding companies with suspect earnings, but also uncovering the true gems that are able to grow well into the future.” -Timothy M. Mulligan, J.D., LL.M., CPA., CEO, Forensic Advisors, Inc.

“Hewitt Heiserman's innovative financial analysis techniques goes a long way towards providing an investor with an extra edge in identifying the growth stocks of tomorrow without being unduly exposed to excessive investment risk today.” -Thornton L. Oglove, Founder, Quality of Earnings Report

"This book lays the groundwork for becoming a successful long-term investor.” -Mark Sellers, Equities Strategist & Portfolio Manager, Morningstar, Inc.

"As an avid reader of investment books, I recommend this book wholeheartedly." -Arne Alsin, Real Money.com and The Turnaround Fund

“In a clear, sound and practical way, Heiserman provides an investment road map that enhances the odds of your becoming a successful long-term investor.” -Robert L. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer, First Pacific Advisors and two-time recipient of Morningstar Mutual Fund’s Manager of the Year

"You really do have to understand 'earnings' if you are to succeed long term in investing." -Jim Rogers, author, Adventure Capitalist and Investment Biker

"Heiserman shows investors how to uncover Wall Street earnings quackery and frauds. A must read." -Kenneth Lee, author, Trouncing the Dow

"Like a professional athlete, Hewitt Heiserman Jr. brings intensity and brainpower to the world of investing. You need the graduate school that It's Earnings That Count can provide. Buy the book and do your homework." -John D. Spooner, Director-Investments SmithBarney Citigroup and author of Confessions of a Stockbroker, Sex and Money, and Do You Want to Make Money or Would You Rather Fool Around?

"Great addition to the literature! Hewitt Heiserman has crafted an easy read, basic tutorial on avoiding the most common mistakes caused by accounting phony baloney-combined with some age old investment wisdom. Mandatory for the intermediate investor!" -Kenneth L. Fisher, CEO of Fisher Investments Inc. and Forbes' "Portfolio Strategy" columnist

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2007-03-29

I am surprised that more investors have not read this book.

This book sets forth an excellent, step-by-step methodology to analyzing stocks that should be of interest to most fundamental investors. The author is a professional writer, and consequently the book is well-written and relatively easy to read even though it also covers some fairly complicated topics. The methods he describes are well thought-out and explained, and I honestly believe they can be of tremendous use to fundamental investors seeking to make investment decisions with respect to particular companies.

Heiserman's main point is that GAAP accounting means that the accrual income statement may not properly reflect the position of a particular company. In this way, he is similar to Marty Whitman (see "Value Investing" and "The Aggressive Conservative Investor") although he is certainly not a traditional value investor. Instead of focusing on book value like Whitman, Heiserman has created a means to adjust the income statement to overcome shortcomings in GAAP to identify companies that are financially sound with strong growth prospects.

His method is to create two new income statements for each potential investment - a "defensive" income statement that will reveal the company's need for outside capital and determine what the company's risk of going bankrupt is, and an "enterprising" income statement that will analyze how effective the company is at earning a return on its capital investment. In this way, Heiserman details a step-by-step methodology to find financially stable companies with strong growth prospects.

Heiserman eschews formulaic investing, meaning that applying his methods takes some time and effort. However, he also sets forth a helpful "five minute test" to enable investors to quickly assess whether it is worthwhile to dig deeper into a company's financials. He also provides good information regarding how to conduct competitive analysis and assess management (although some of the latter information may be dated due to recent SEC disclosure developments). Lastly, because the methods Heiserman has created rely on past financial statements, his methods minimize the possibility that an investor will make overly optimistic assumptions about a company's future prospects.

In all, I would highly recommend this book to intermediate-level investors who are willing to work to uncover individual stocks with sound growth prospects at reasonable prices.

Yes It's Hard Work.......2006-01-30

Calculating the real value of an investment and its potential takes a lot of detective work.

Fortunately for us all Mr. Heiserman has written the gold standard for "The Standard Operating Procedures to Probable Investment Success." Certainly it cannot guarantee it. In most cases it will keep you out of trouble and guide you considerably closer to your goal. Was it Voltaire who once said, "Common Sense is uncommon."

In conjunction with services such as Value Line it offers far better odds at success.

I believe Warren Buffet was once asked, why not do something else and to paraphrase he replied, "Why bother when investing is so simple." If you read the book and apply it you will understand why he said that; simple yes, easy no, hard work yes.

Happily most people will not wish to do the hard work and will continue to purchase investment advisory services hoping that they, with little effort, will be blessed with magnificent returns.

So read the book, work at applying it and you will be amazed; I was. I have a library full of investment books and this is the only one on investments I would take to a desert island.

Good Book - needs revising.......2005-09-20

The concept taught in this book (of the methods used to evaluate a company) is very good.
It's an extra tool to use in evaluating a company - a very sensible tool. The only reason I gave this book 3 stars is because a lot of the figures in the examples are wrong. They refer to the Financial Statements of Wriggley at the beginning of the book, but then they transpose the wrong amounts in the examples.

This is a must read!!!.......2005-06-14

If you are an individual investor serious about developing an indepth approach to stock analysis, this book is a must read.

Instead of following the advice of "gurus" on CNBC with short-term time horizons, this book provides a methodolgy you can use to buy and monitor high-quality stocks. Your stock selections will no longer be shots in the dark. Mr. Heiserman walks you through how to determine the true earnings quality of a company. Also, he discusses the equally important areas of competitive advantage and valuation.

I've follow this methodolgy since 2002 and added it to the investment process I use to select securities for my clients. It has been a tremendous help in avoiding high risk stocks and enhancing the quality of client portfolios.

Please note that you should visit the "About the Book" section of his website (www.earningspower.com) after purchasing the book. Download the .pdf file that includes a few corrections that will help in understanding the examples he provides.

Terrific read!.......2005-05-24

I read this book last fall when it came out, and found it to be a quick, engaging read. Mr. Heiserman is able to bring clarity to what can sometimes be dense subject matter. For an intermediate level investor such as myself, I find it rare to find such insight in a style that allowed me to finish the book in two nights.

The best thing about his approach is that not only does it yield market beating returns, but it does so with the type of sound investments that allow one to sleep soundly.

As with some of the earlier posters, I'd like to thank the author for his generosity in sharing his time and insight. I've exchanged a few emails with him, and he's always been gracious in sharing his insights. In an April 12, 2004 Business Week article (full disclosure: I work for McGraw-Hill), the author picked six stocks which eleven months later were up an average of 37% vs. 5% for the S&P and 3% for the Russell 2000. Will he continue to have that kind of awe-inspiring success? Probably not. Will his methods continue to beat the market over the long run? I'm betting on it.

By sharing some of his picks, Mr. Heiserman has at times given me a fish to eat. By writing this book, he's taught me how to fish. Highly recommended!

It's Earnings That Count : Finding Stocks with Earnings Power for Long-term Profits

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It's Earnings That Count : Finding Stocks with Earnings Power for Long-term Profits
Hewitt Heiserman Jr.
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OG5924

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