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Fritz Lang

Directing Born Dec 5, 1890 Died Aug 2, 1976 Vienna, Austria 112 credits

Biography

Friedrich Christian Anton Fritz Lang was an Austrian-German film director, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. Born on December 5, 1890, he lived until August 2, 1976. Lang was a prominent figure from Germany's school of Expressionism and was referred to as the Master of Darkness by the British Film Institute. Critic Andrew Sarris included Lang in his pantheon of the fourteen greatest film directors who worked in the United States. His most famous works include the science-fiction film Metropolis, released in 1927. At the time of its release, Metropolis held the distinction of being the most expensive silent film ever produced.

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Known for

Film

Paparazzi

as Self
Film

Contempt

as Fritz Lang
Film

The Indian Tomb

1959
Film

The Indian Tomb

1959
Film

While the City Sleeps

1956
Film

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

1956
Film

Moonfleet

1955
Film

Human Desire

1954
Film

The Big Heat

1953
Film

The Blue Gardenia

1953
Film

Clash by Night

1952
Film

Rancho Notorious

1952

Frequent co-stars

Brigitte Bardot 2 shared titles
Michel Piccoli 2 shared titles
Jack Palance 2 shared titles
Giorgia Moll 2 shared titles
Jean-Luc Godard 2 shared titles
Raoul Coutard 1 shared title
Linda Veras 1 shared title
Jean Lescot 1 shared title
David Tonelli 1 shared title

Career timeline

Sibyl
Mimosa Tank: A Prologue for a Film
From Caligari to Hitler
Voyage to 'Metropolis'
The Word According to Whoopi · Sound Mixer
Fritz Lang, le cercle du destin - Les films allemands
Das Jahrhundert des Theaters
Fritz Lang
The Exiles
M the Damned · Original Film Writer
Film Emigration from Nazi GermanyConversation with Fritz Lang
For Example Fritz Lang
The Dinosaur and the Baby
PaparazziEncounter with Fritz LangBardot et Godard
Contempt
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse · DirectorThe Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse · ScreenplayThe Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse · ProducerJourney to the Lost City · ScreenplayJourney to the Lost City · Director
The Indian Tomb · WriterThe Indian Tomb · DirectorThe Tiger of Eschnapur · DirectorThe Tiger of Eschnapur · Writer
While the City Sleeps · DirectorBeyond a Reasonable Doubt · Director
Moonfleet · Director
Human Desire · Director
The Big Heat · DirectorThe Blue Gardenia · DirectorThe Black Vampire · Original Film Writer
Clash by Night · DirectorRancho Notorious · Director
German Film AwardM · Original Story
House by the River · DirectorAmerican Guerrilla in the Philippines · Director
Secret Beyond the Door · DirectorSecret Beyond the Door · Producer
Cloak and Dagger · Director
Scarlet Street · DirectorScarlet Street · Producer
The Woman in the Window · DirectorMinistry of Fear · Director
Hangmen Also Die! · Original StoryHangmen Also Die! · ProducerHangmen Also Die! · AdaptationHangmen Also Die! · Director
Moontide · Co-Director

Full filmography

  • Sibyl (2025) as (Archive footage)
  • Mimosa Tank: A Prologue for a Film (2017) as Self
  • From Caligari to Hitler (2015) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • Voyage to 'Metropolis' (2010) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Word According to Whoopi (2007) Sound Mixer
  • Fritz Lang, le cercle du destin - Les films allemands (2004) as Self (archive footage)
  • Das Jahrhundert des Theaters (2002) as Self (archive footage)
  • Fritz Lang (1990)
  • The Exiles (1989) as Self
  • M the Damned (1982) Original Film Writer
  • Film Emigration from Nazi Germany (1975) as Self
  • Conversation with Fritz Lang (1975) as Self
  • For Example Fritz Lang (1968)
  • The Dinosaur and the Baby (1967) as Self
  • Paparazzi (1964) as Self
  • Encounter with Fritz Lang (1964) as Self - Interviewee
  • Bardot et Godard (1964) as Self
  • Contempt (1963) as Fritz Lang
  • The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960) Director
  • The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960) Screenplay
  • The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960) Producer
  • Journey to the Lost City (1960) Screenplay
  • Journey to the Lost City (1960) Director
  • The Indian Tomb (1959) Writer
  • The Indian Tomb (1959) Director
  • The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959) Director
  • The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959) Writer
  • While the City Sleeps (1956) Director
  • Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956) Director
  • Moonfleet (1955) Director
  • Human Desire (1954) Director
  • The Big Heat (1953) Director
  • The Blue Gardenia (1953) Director
  • The Black Vampire (1953) Original Film Writer
  • Clash by Night (1952) Director
  • Rancho Notorious (1952) Director
  • German Film Award (1951) as Self
  • M (1951) Original Story
  • House by the River (1950) Director
  • American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1950) Director
  • Secret Beyond the Door (1947) Director
  • Secret Beyond the Door (1947) Producer
  • Cloak and Dagger (1946) Director
  • Scarlet Street (1945) Director
  • Scarlet Street (1945) Producer
  • The Woman in the Window (1944) Director
  • Ministry of Fear (1944) Director
  • Hangmen Also Die! (1943) Original Story
  • Hangmen Also Die! (1943) Producer
  • Hangmen Also Die! (1943) Adaptation
  • Hangmen Also Die! (1943) Director
  • Moontide (1942) Co-Director
  • Western Union (1941) Director
  • Man Hunt (1941) Director
  • Confirm or Deny (1941) Co-Director
  • The Return of Frank James (1940) Director
  • You and Me (1938) Director
  • You and Me (1938) Producer
  • You Only Live Once (1937) Director
  • Fury (1936) Screenplay
  • Fury (1936) Director
  • Liliom (1934) Director
  • Liliom (1934) Writer
  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) Director
  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) Screenplay
  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) Producer
  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) Director
  • M (1931) Director
  • M (1931) Screenplay
  • Woman in the Moon (1929) Director
  • Woman in the Moon (1929) Screenplay
  • Woman in the Moon (1929) Producer
  • Spies (1928) Director
  • Spies (1928) Writer
  • Metropolis (1927) Director
  • Metropolis (1927) Editor
  • Metropolis (1927) Screenplay
  • Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924) Director
  • Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924) Screenplay
  • Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge (1924) Director
  • The Film in the Film (1924) as Self
  • Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) Screenplay
  • Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) Director
  • Destiny (1921) Writer
  • Destiny (1921) Director
  • The Indian Tomb, Part I: The Mission of the Yoghi (1921) Writer
  • Four Around the Woman (1921) Director
  • Four Around the Woman (1921) Screenplay
  • The Indian Tomb, Part II: The Tiger of Eschnapur (1921) Writer
  • The Wandering Image (1920) Director
  • The Wandering Image (1920) Writer
  • The Spiders: Part 2 - The Diamond Ship (1920) Director
  • The Spiders: Part 2 - The Diamond Ship (1920) Writer
  • The Mistress of the World, Part VIII: The Revenge of Maud Fergusson (1920) Writer
  • Harakiri (1919) Director
  • The Dance of Death (1919) Screenplay
  • Die Frau mit den Orchideen (1919) Writer
  • Lilith and Ly (1919) Writer
  • Bettler GmbH (1919) Writer
  • Die Rache ist mein (1919) Writer
  • The Spiders: Part 1 - The Golden Sea (1919) Writer
  • The Spiders: Part 1 - The Golden Sea (1919) Director
  • The Plague in Florence (1919) Screenplay
  • Master of Love (1919)
  • Master of Love (1919) Director
  • Half-Blood (1919) Director
  • Half-Blood (1919) Screenplay
  • Wolkenbau und Flimmerstern (1919) Writer
  • Die Hochzeit im Excentricclub (1917) Screenplay
  • Hilde Warren and Death (1917)
  • Hilde Warren and Death (1917) Writer
  • Die Peitsche (1916) Screenplay