The history of film dates back several centuries to the time when people used shadow patterns to tell stories. However, it was only in the twentieth century that it became possible to store films for multiple screenings. The development of the photographic film made the production of moving pictures possible. This was an innovative application of still photography. The technologies used in still photography were the basis for the development of the first motion picture films. Motion pictures did not have sound. One of the effects of the sound gap was that the original motion pictures were comedies. Producers soon adopted live music to compensate for lack of sound. Some directors opted to use live actors to voice words in the silent films. This paper focuses on a silent film called Metropolis released in 1927. The film is very significant in the history of film because it represents the golden age of the silent film era. Production of the Film The production process of a film plays an important part in the critical appraisal of the film. Critics try to match their expectations to the efforts made to produce a film. Therefore, the critical appraisal of Metropolis requires a review of its plot, cast, filming, releases, and restoration history. Plot The setting of the silent film is a futuristic city ruled by the elite from tall towers (Brooke, 2011). A lower class of residents worked in the city’s dungeons to generate the power needed to run the city. The ruler of the city was a ruthless man named Joh Fredersen. He was one of the few people who know of the existence of the dungeons. In one of the opening scenes, Fredersen’s son, named Freder was whiling his time away with the children of other wealthy people. A woman named Maria barged in with poor children from the city’s dungeon. Her intention was to show the poor children how the rich lived. The guards quickly whisked Maria and the children away. Her courage impressed Freder, who then decided to go and find her in the city’s dungeons. Freder had never visited the dungeons before. Life in the Dungeons shocked Freder. He went and switched places with a city worker to get a better idea of the life the workers led. In the process, he witnessed an explosion that killed some of the workers. This shocked him profoundly. He then rushed off to tell his father about the explosion. His father became very furious because his aide failed to notify him of the accident. Freder then went to find Maria after hearing of prophesies about a future mediator who would unite the two classes of the city. The two groups did not interact and they are oblivious of each other’s existence. He convinced himself that he could fulfill this role. Through this, Freder found his purpose by trying to unite the city’s elite with the workers. As this story plays out, Frederson tried to destroy Maria’s reputation by abducting Maria and releasing her double. Maria’s double went round the city causing mayhem, mainly by seduction. She caused the death of many people who lusted after her, and became willing to die for her. The story ends when Maria and Freder meet at a Cathedral, and Freder is able to fill the role of mediator in Metropolis. Cast Most of the cast in the film were novices and first timers in the film industry. It is unclear why the director chose