Fritz Lang's work has been highly influential over the years. Since his beginnings in German silent film, Lang mastered a variety of genres, from mythical sagas and mysteries, to science fiction, action films and film noir. His films are characterized by the primacy of the cinematic image, where the mise-en-scene overcomes mere narrative purposes to achieve expressional eloquence and autonomy as a universal statement. In films saturated with poignant socio-political commentary, Lang often explores dark aspects of the human psychology through an array of super-villains, conspirators, murderers or even common folk. The camera unfolds richly textured and geometrically majestic spaces, exposing in carefully crafted shots their interaction with narrative and characters. In the end, despite the tragedy or horror, the images immortalize the perseverance of the human spirit.

Suggested Reading

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The Films of Fritz Lang: Allegories of Vision and Modernity
by Tom Gunning

Director - Feature filmography and DVDBeaver links:

The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960), The Indian Tomb (1959), The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959), Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956), While the City Sleeps (1956), Moonfleet (1955), Human Desire (1954), The Big Heat (1953), The Blue Gardenia (1953), Clash by Night (1952), Rancho Notorious (1952), American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1950), House by the River (1950), Secret Beyond the Door... (1948), Cloak and Dagger (1946), Scarlet Street (1945), The Woman in the Window (1945), Ministry of Fear (1944), Hangmen Also Die (1943), Man Hunt (1941), Western Union (1941), The Return of Frank James (1940), You and Me (1938), You Only Live Once (1937), Fury (1936), Liliom (1934), The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933), M (1931), Woman in the Moon (1929), Spione (1928), Metropolis (1927), Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache (1924), Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924), Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler (1922), Between Two Worlds(1921), Destiny aka "Der made Tod" (1921), The Spiders, Part 2: The Diamond Ship (1920), Harakiri (1919), The Spiders, Part 1: The Golden Lake (1919)