Written by Fritz Lang and his wife, the child murderer in M (1931) was supposedly a composite of several different serial killers that had terrorized Germany in the early 20th Century. Although Lang was already a veteran director, with a dozen Silent Films to his credit, M was his first talkie and the technical experimentation needed for the new medium required much improvisation on his part. The chilling, atmospheric quality of the film's cinematography is unparalleled. Peter Lorre is absolutely riveting as the killer, and the tense anxiety felt throughout is gloriously disturbing. M is a cinematic masterpiece, and even Lang himself considered it to be his finest film.
Citizens in Germany are on edge, mindful of their children's whereabouts, after a string of child abductions and murders committed by a deranged man (Peter Lorre)...
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| M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre |
The killer lures the children with candy and presents, then kills them in a gruesome fashion...
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| M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre |
The whole City is alert, especially the Police, who have greatly increased their presence in the streets. The larger quantity of Police around has put a damper on the business dealings of the Criminal Underworld element in the City. Their business is being hurt, and their actions examined and hindered. They will not stand for it...
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| M. 1931. Fritz Lang |
It is decided amongst the criminal group, that they must catch and dispose of the child murderer themselves, delivering their own brand of justice, so that they might return to business as usual...
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| M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre |
The murderer is a marked man, about to receive what he has coming to him. He is understandably terrified...
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| M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre |
