The Maschinenmensch (literally “machine-human” in German) is a fictional robot featured in Fritz Lang’s film Metropolis. It/she was played by German actress Brigitte Helm both as a robot and in human guise. A gynoid (female robot or android), she was created by the scientist Rotwang. Maschinenmensch was one of the first fictional robots ever depicted in cinema and still one of the most famous. The robot is usually—and erroneously—referred to as “Maria”, after the human original which, for much of the film, she impersonates. She was never named in the film, though her “official” name is Futura. The opening credits refer to her as “the Robot”. She was named “Futura” in Thea von Harbou’s novel version. She has been given several names through the decades: Parody (the name Rotwang calls her in the novel), Ultima, Machina, Robotrix, False Maria, Robot Maria, Roboria and Hel. The intertitles of the 2010 restoration of Metropolis quote Rotwang, the robot’s creator, referring to his gynoid Maschinenmensch, literally translated as “Machine human”. In the novel, the Maschinenmensch is destroyed. Though mention is made of Rotwang’s former lover, Hel, they are never directly associated with each other. The film version is different due to limitations of the practical special effects available at the time. The Maschinenmensch is a metallic automaton shaped like a woman. In the film version Rotwang proudly proclaims that Hel, his former lover, is not dead but alive in the form of the automaton. Hel had chosen Fredersen over Rotwang, who never forgave his rival. The Maschinenmensch is ultimately destroyed when the city’s rioting workers burn it at the stake.
Description The Maschinenmensch (literally “machine-human” in German) is a fictional robot featured in Fritz Lang’s film Metropolis. It/she was played by German actress Brigitte Helm both as a robot and in human guise. A gynoid (female robot or android), she was created by the scientist Rotwang. Maschinenmensch was one of the first fictional robots ever depicted in cinema and still one of the most famous. The robot is usually—and erroneously—referred to as “Maria”, after the human original which, for much of the film, she impersonates. She was never named in the film, though her “official” name is Futura. The opening credits refer to her as “the Robot”. She was named “Futura” in Thea von Harbou’s novel version. She has been given several names through the decades: Parody (the name Rotwang calls her in the novel), Ultima, Machina, Robotrix, False Maria, Robot Maria, Roboria and Hel. The intertitles of the 2010 restoration of Metropolis quote Rotwang, the robot’s creator, referring to his gynoid Maschinenmensch, literally translated as “Machine human”. In the novel, the Maschinenmensch is destroyed. Though mention is made of Rotwang’s former lover, Hel, they are never directly associated with each other. The film version is different due to limitations of the practical special effects available at the time. The Maschinenmensch is a metallic automaton shaped like a woman. In the film version Rotwang proudly proclaims that Hel, his former lover, is not dead but alive in the form of the automaton. Hel had chosen Fredersen over Rotwang, who never forgave his rival. The Maschinenmensch is ultimately destroyed when the city’s rioting workers burn it at the stake.
