House by the River (1950): Fritz Lang

     Directed by Fritz Lang, House by the River (1950) was panned by critics upon it's initial release, but has seen a resurgence of admiration in recent years. The story concerns an author who strangles his pretty young maid after she turns down his advance, and then attempts to hide the body by dumping it in the river. Full of Victorian period detail, the the cinematography is stark, dramatic and brilliant. The cast is great, including Lois Hayward, Lee Bowman and Jane Wyatt.

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

House by the River. 1950. Fritz Lang

Metropolis (1927): Fritz Lang

     Technically innovative and stylistically unique, German director Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) is an undeniable masterpiece, and one of the most important films of the Silent Era. Pioneering in it's approach to Science Fiction and in it's portrayal of a "dystopia", Metropolis still holds eerily relevance when compared in relation to the class divisions fought by the present day "99%" and "Occupy" movements. An expensive film for it's day, Lang employed hoards of extras, costly sets and intricate miniature models to get the proper futuristic look. The film certainly pushed the envelope. European standards were less prudish than American policies, otherwise Brigitte Helm's nearly-nude dancing scene (in which she is only wearing pasties), would never have passed. Full of interesting camera tricks, double-exposures and negative manipulation, Metropolis is an astounding achievement and a marvel to watch, even 85 years later.   

     A futuristic city is divided between the upper class people who live above ground and enjoy the comforts and benefits of the metropolis... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     and the workers, who live in squalor and slave below ground, maintaining the machines that keep the city running above... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     The city master's son falls in love with Maria (Brigitte Helm), a beautiful civil liberties fighter living below. Maria is respected amongst the disgruntled laborers. Fearful of an uprising, the master gets the idea to have a crazy inventor use his skills to make a robot double of Maria to go down below, and corrupt the worker's morale... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     But the inventor has ulterior motives and wants to see the master destroyed. The robot double is sent, and she does a sexy, provocative dance (nearly nude) to distract and control the workers... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     and the ideas she plants with the workers... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     creates chaos... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     and a violent revolt... 

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

     Can these two different groups within the society learn to get along...

Metropolis. 1927. Fritz Lang

M (1931): Fritz Lang and Peter Lorre

     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)... 

M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre

     The killer lures the children with candy and presents, then kills them in a gruesome fashion... 

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... 

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... 

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...

M. 1931. Fritz Lang: Peter Lorre

The Woman in the Window (1944): Fritz Lang, Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett

     Directed by Fritz Lang, The Woman in the Window (1944) was one of the films that caused the genre to be labeled "Film Noir." The story concerns a psychology professor who gets mixed up with a Femme Fatale, and an escalating situation begat by murder. Fritz Lang's surprise twist ending is Classic.  Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett are great in the lead roles. The supporting cast is wonderful as well, including Raymond Massey and Dan Duryea.

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Edward G. Robinson

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Edward G. Robinson

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Joan Bennett

The Woman in the Window. 1944: Joan Bennett

You Only Live Once (1937): Fritz Lang, Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda

     Directed by Fritz Lang, You Only Live Once (1937) was both his second American film and a precursor to the Film Noir genre. The story concerns an ex-convict who can't seem to catch a break... repeatedly accused of crimes he didn't commit and finding himself in trouble again, his loyal wife by his side. Gritty for it's time, the dramatic action is palpable. Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney are great in the lead roles.

You Only Live Once. 1937: Sylvia Sidney

You Only Live Once. 1937: Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda

You Only Live Once. 1937: Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda

Fury (1936): Fritz Lang, Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney

     In the mid 1930s, Fritz Lang, Germany's most celebrated film director, bravely refused Adolf Hitler's request that he become the head of movies for the Third Reich. Lang fled to America and wound up in Hollywood, hired by MGM. His first American film was Fury (1936), starring Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney, touching on the issue of mob violence. It still holds up well today, but benefits greatly from repeated viewings.

     Joe and Kate are in love, but lack the financial stability they deem necessary for marriage. So Kate moves away for a better job, while Joe stays behind to work and save money so that they can wed upon their reunion. When that day comes, Joe drives out to meet Kate but is stopped by the police and is accused of a crime he didn't commit (kidnapping). He maintains his innocence through the questioning...

Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney

     Meanwhile, Kate is concerned that Joe has not arrived...

Fury. 1936: Sylvia Sidney

      While he is being held, the angry townspeople form a mob, hell-bent on instant justice... 

Fury. 1936

     They set fire to the jail and everyone assumes Joe is killed in the fiery explosion... 

Fury. 1936

     Joe survives, however, and escapes unnoticed. As a result of the horrific behavior of the mob, Joe is determined to get revenge on those responsible for his "death." He wants them to suffer as he suffered. Twenty-two people in the mob are put on trial for Joe's murder (it was later discovered he was an innocent man), while Joe awaits their inevitable executions. It's up to Kate to talk some sense into him before it goes too far...

Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney

Fury. 1936: Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney