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Classic documentaries

Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis

Year1927
Running time65 min
Directed byWalter Ruttmann
Made inGermany
See it on en.wikipedia.org

At a glance

Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis is a 1927 documentary and silent film directed by Walter Ruttmann. Also known as Berlin: Symphony of a Great City, it runs for 65 minutes and is associated with Germany. The film is classified as a city symphony film as well as a documentary. Its movement and many transitions are built around trains and streetcars, giving the city’s transport a structural role in the film. Carl Mayer and Karl Freund co-wrote it, and Karl Freund is listed as producer. With no dialogue language listed, its silent-film classification is central for viewers choosing how to present or study it. The short runtime makes it a compact entry point for exploring early documentary approaches to representing a city through motion and scene changes.

Who it is for

It suits viewers, students, and teachers interested in silent cinema, city films, or early documentary form. Its 65-minute runtime may also suit a focused screening.

What is good

  • Silent film with documentary classification
  • Runs for 65 minutes
  • Uses trains and streetcars in movement and transitions
  • Directed by Walter Ruttmann

What to know first

  • No dialogue language is listed
  • Released in 1927

Verdict

Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis offers a city-focused silent documentary shaped in part by trains and streetcars. Its concise runtime and historical release date are useful context for a screening or study.

Details

Year
1927wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Runtime
65 minwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Director
Walter Ruttmannwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Country
Germanywikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
IMDb
tt0017668wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026

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