Fritz Lang was a German-Austrian filmmaker who is widely considered one of the most important figures in the history of cinema. He is best known for his 1927 silent film 'METROPOLIS' and his 1931 thriller 'M', both of which are considered masterpieces of the genre. Lang's other works include 'The Testament of Dr. Mabuse' (1933), 'The Big Heat' (1953), and 'The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse' (1960). He was also an accomplished screenwriter, having written the scripts for many of his films. Lang was a pioneer in the use of special effects and sound design, and his influence on the development of film as an art form is undeniable.