FRITZ Lang’s masterpiece was astonishingly ahead of its time, visually and conceptually.

The 1927 science-fiction film creates a believable futuristic city-scape with flying traffic, dizzyingly high bridges and an evil robot woman years before the likes of Ridley Scott, George Lucas or Steven Spielberg had a crack at it.

And it can now be seen, for the first time in 83 years, as the German director originally intended.

Shortly after Metropolis’ release, a quarter of Lang’s original version was cut by Paramount for the US release and by Ufa in Germany, against the director’s wishes.

The excised footage was believed lost until 2008, when several dusty reels were found in a museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A team of experts painstakingly reconstructed and restored Lang’s silent film, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.

Metropolis is a society segregated into uniformed, numbered workers, who sweat and toil deep underground to operate the machines that keep the city running, while the privileged live a life of luxury above.

The city is run by the merciless Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel) and the story follows Fredersen’s son Freder (Gustav Froehlich).

He falls in love at first sight with Maria (Brigitte Helm) and upon following her down to the depths he begins to see the injustices of the system.

He ultimately becomes the “heart” that unites the “head” of his father with the “hands” of his workers, via an exciting series of adventures, including a revolution and a flood all set to Gottfried Huppertz’s emotive score.

Metropolis explores many themes, such as the dangers of scientific advances, and is laden with religious undertones.

It is a must for any true cinefile and will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray in November. More information can be found at metropolis1927.com.