M
Who is the murderer?
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.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Produced during the rise of Nazi propaganda in Germany, 'M' was one of the last films made by Fritz Lang before he fled the country due to increasing political pressure. The film was a subtle critique of fascist tendencies, with the mob's hunt for the child murderer mirroring emerging societal intolerance.
- Remarkable performances by a star-studded cast, including Peter Lorre in his breakout role as the child murderer. The film's groundbreaking narrative structure, combining elements of drama and expressionism, is still influential today. The thought-provoking exploration of mob mentality and vigilantism remains relevant in modern discussions about justice.
Fun Facts
- The title 'M' represents the German word for 'murder.' Interestingly, this is never actually spoken in the film. Peter Lorre, who played the child murderer Hans Beckert, initially struggled with the role but later based his performance on a real-life child killer, Eduard Heimann. The film was initially banned in several countries due to its graphic depiction of violence.
Available Languages
English
US
Title: M
"Who is the murderer?"
Deutsch
DE
Title:
"Wer ist der Mörder?"
Italiano
IT
Title: M - Il mostro di Düsseldorf
"Chi è l'assassino?"
Français
FR
Title: M le maudit
"Qui est le meurtrier ?"
Português
PT
Title: Matou
""
Pусский
RU
Title: М убийца
"Кто убийца?"
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
The movie is classic and yet this is my first time watching this.
Peter Lorre alone is worth seeing this movie as he always played such the great villain. No music keeps your focus on the image and dialogue throughout the movie. Camera work looks pretty awesome especially when they start doing the manhunt.
This movie clocks in at almost two hours so there will be a lot of pacing and dialogue to go through. It will feel a bit dragging when Lorre isn't on the screen but it is well worth going through the film to see how it all plays out.
So you say you want to enroll in film school? Don't bother. Just watch Fritz Lang's M and Metropolis.
Random person: Nobody knows him (The murderer). Woman who lives with the murderer: Am I a joke to you?
Stone cold classic. Certainly one of the best time films about orange peels being littered.
**One of the masterpieces of classic German cinema.**
There isn't much that can be said about this film that almost everyone hasn't already said or written. It is one of the great films of German cinema, one of the best productions that were made before the Second World War and one of the best films in the career of the renowned director Fritz Lang, who shortly afterward would leave Germany due to the rise of Nazism, refusing to deal with that political regime.
The film is inspired by real events, namely the murderous path of Peter Kürten, the “Vampire of Düsseldorf”, who terrorized people at the same time and also had young teenagers as his victims. The film manages to capture very well the feeling of fear that existed among the people of the city and the attempts that the police made to find this merciless killer.
The cinematography, in black and white, still shows signs of the influence of German expressionism without, however, giving up the realism that the entire film demanded. In fact, I can't say whether the film was inspired by “noir” or came to inspire “noir” later, but I could see the aesthetic and style similarities. Peter Lorre is the only actor who stands out: he brought the main role to life and shines without almost having to say anything. It's an excellent work by the actor and has undoubtedly opened many doors for him.
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Trailer
M (1931) Original Trailer [FHD]
Clip
Clip
Trailer
Trailer