Movielogr

Rating: 8.5 stars

Tags

Criterion black and white serial killer child killer child abduction Germany investigation manhunt criminals police

All movies seen on 07/26/2020

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M (1931)

Directed by Fritz Lang

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Most recently watched by floydrmd, sleestakk

Overview

In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert’s heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

Rated PG-13 | Length 111 minutes

Actors

Peter Lorre | Ellen Widmann | Inge Landgut | Otto Wernicke | Theodor Loos | Gustaf Gründgens | Friedrich Gnaß | Fritz Odemar | Paul Kemp | Theo Lingen | Rudolf Blümner | Georg John | Franz Stein | Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur | Gerhard Bienert | Karl Platen | Rosa Valetti | Hertha von Walther | Carl Ballhaus | Paul Mederow | Hadrian Maria Netto | Lucie Rhoden | Karl Hannemann

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

Hard to believe but first time watch. Peter Lorre is excellent as the killer. His facial expressions are masterful, especially when he’s captured in the attic and during the trial scenes. The cinematography is gorgeous with some interesting angles and movements, the stairway scenes in particular, as well as the shot of the policeman from under his desk.

The edits in the scene comparing the police and criminals’ respective meetings is great; and I loved the overlaying of the next scene’s sound on top of the current scene before visually cutting over. That’s used all the time now but this was in the very early days of talkies.

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