Maps of Movies

Metropolis (1927)

Where Metropolis says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

The city is made up, but the studio halls and a Berlin airship hangar that built it are real

Scenes and places

The Pleasure Garden

Freder passes his days at sports and games among the city's rich young men. Maria bursts in with a group of workers' children, and he is instantly fascinated by her.

Set in Eternal Gardens / Club of the Sons — A walled garden of the city's elite, kept far from the machines below.

A walled garden of the city's elite, kept far from the machines below.

The Machine Hall

Against the city's rules, Freder goes down to the lower levels looking for Maria. In the machine halls he sees a huge machine explode and workers fall, a sight that sends him running to his father.

Set in The Heart Machine hall — A hall of great machines where underground workers keep the city powered.

A hall of great machines where underground workers keep the city powered.

Filmed at Berlin-Staaken airship hangar (converted film studio) — Per German Wikipedia, shots of the huge machine that later explodes were filmed in the Staaken airship hangar; the hangar's exact position is not given, the coordinate is the Staaken airfield. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Fredersen's Tower

Freder tells his father about the accident and meets only indifference. Fredersen even fires his assistant Josaphat for being late with the news, and Freder decides to side with the workers.

Set in Joh Fredersen's office — The high seat of the city's master, far above the workers.

The high seat of the city's master, far above the workers.

The Workers' City

Freder returns to the machine halls and takes the place of a worker who has collapsed from exhaustion. For the first time he feels the work that keeps the upper city running.

Set in The underground workers' city — The underground district where the workers live and work.

The underground district where the workers live and work.

Rotwang's House

Fredersen brings the dead workers' maps to the inventor Rotwang. Rotwang shows him a robot built to "resurrect" Hel, a woman they both loved.

Set in Rotwang's house — The home of the city's greatest inventor.

The home of the city's greatest inventor.

The Catacombs

Fredersen and Rotwang follow the maps into the catacombs and secretly watch a gathering of workers, Freder among them. Maria speaks of a coming mediator who can bring the working and ruling classes together.

Set in The catacombs beneath Metropolis — A network of catacombs beneath the city, where the workers meet.

A network of catacombs beneath the city, where the workers meet.

The Yoshiwara Club

Rotwang's robot, made in Maria's likeness, dances at the Yoshiwara club. The wealthy men do not realise she is a machine, and chaos follows.

Set in The Yoshiwara club — A nightclub where the city's rich men go for entertainment.

A nightclub where the city's rich men go for entertainment.

The Cathedral

Rotwang, now convinced that Maria is Hel, chases her up to the cathedral roof while Freder follows. Fredersen and the workers watch from the street below.

Set in The cathedral — The city's great Gothic cathedral, shown with towers and bells.

The city's great Gothic cathedral, shown with towers and bells.

Filmed at Studio Babelsberg, Potsdam — Studio sets (individual scenes not identified) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Wienerberger brickworks, Vienna — Some exterior shots (scene not identified) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Freder — Joh Fredersen's son, who leaves the pleasure garden to search for Maria.
• Maria — A young woman who brings workers' children to see the rich city.
• Joh Fredersen — The master of Metropolis.
• Rotwang — The city's greatest inventor.
• Josaphat — Fredersen's assistant and Freder's friend.
• Grot — Guardian of the Heart Machine.