Movie posters of any kind from the original 1927 release of Fritz Lang’s legendary, revolutionary sci-fi classic Metropolis are notoriously scarce. As a result, when an original 14” x 36” Metropolis insert movie poster from the collection of heavy metal guitarist Kirk Hammett, of the band Metallica, comes up for sale as part of Heritage Auctions March 19-20, 2010 Signature Movie Poster Auction, the company said it expects top level collector to pay close attention. Its pre-auction estimate is in excess of $50,000.

“With the release in 1927 of Metropolis, director Fritz Lang set the standard for all epic science fiction films,” said Grey Smith, Director of Movie Posters at Heritage Auctions. “Following its premiere in Germany in 1927, Metropolis was released in a truncated version in America, which essentially cut the heart out of the film. Audiences did not understand it and it was not popular here. The posters from this film are the rarest of rare and it is especially true of U.S. material. No one sheets or three sheets have ever surfaced, and offered here is an extremely attractive insert poster for this ground-breaking film.”

Also from the Kirk Hammett Collection comes a Swedish oversized poster for RKO’s 1933 epic King Kong. Estimated to top $30,000, this gem out of Hollywood’s Golden Age represents what many consider to be the single greatest horror/fantasy film ever made.

“This rare oversized Swedish poster, reminiscent of the U.S. three sheet with its striking image of Kong atop the EmpireStateBuilding, is just a brilliant piece,” said Smith. “It displays vibrant color, classic graphics and impeccable condition, everything a collector could want in such a superb poster from one of the greatest films ever.”

“We also have a great selection of Hitchcock posters,” said Smith, “always an area that has a significant following in our Signature auctions.”

A three-sheet poster for The 39 Steps (1935), the first film in Hitchcock’s celebrated “Spy” trilogy, represents one of the director’s first major international major successes, and is estimated to top $15,000.

A 1936 one sheet for Secret Agent, the second in the trilogy, starring a young and dashing John Gielgud as British novelist Edgar Brodie, is also estimated to climb above $15,000.

The one sheet movie poster for The Woman Alone, the U.S. release of Hitchcock’s English Sabotage, represents the third part of his “Spy” trilogy and is expected to bring more than $7,000.

Rounding out the Hitchcock offerings is a one sheet for his 1940 MGM release Rebecca, the Best Picture Oscar winner of that year and the first in a long line of successful collaborations between Hitchcock and legendary producer David. O. Selznick. It is estimated at over $6,000.

There are, of course, many other offerings in the event. For more information, visit www.ha.com.