M (1931)

Directed by: Fritz Lang
Format: DVD (German w/English subtitles)
DVD Features:
Starring: Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke, Friedrich Gnaß, Georg John, Gustaf Gründgens

I had heard of M years and years before I rented it. It’s a legendary bit of cinema and one that film connoisseurs hold in high regard. Yet, once I finally received it in the mail, it sat around for at least a month before I decided to sit down and watch it. I imagined the movie as excessively drawn out and serious and to watch something like that, especially in German, I have to be in a certain type of mood. So last night, faced with the option of trodding out in the freezing weather to search for some suitable viewing matter or rewatching something in my collection that I’ve probably seen a million times, I decided that M was the best choice. However, it certainly wasn’t what I expected.

A murderer is on the loose. Not only a murderer, but a killer of children. Little Elsie Beckman is on her way home, amusing herself with a ball, when she meets a stranger. That night, her dinner plate goes unattended. Since she is only the most recent victim in a string of serial murders, the police are frantic to find the culprit. They begin searching door to door and methodically combing the parks and neighborhoods. It’s when they empty out a local gambling hall that the underground element of the city decides it has had enough. To stop the police from interfering with their operations, the crime boss decides, they must catch the killer themselves and bring him to their version of justice.

The most notable actor in the film is, of course, Peter Lorre. He plays the disturbed killer, who is by far the character with the most personality. I had thought Lorre was creepy when I saw him in Casablanca. His performance at the culmination of M is what many hail as one of the greatest onscreen performances in cinema. None of the other characters in the film are really very remarkable. The gang of criminals is certainly more colorful than the police force and have their individual identities to a degree, but the central focus is clearly on Lorre.

From an artistic standpoint, M is Film Noir to it’s core. The movie isn’t just black and white, but effectively uses shadow and form to convey an atmosphere of menace. The echoing, strangely clean streets hold a creepy uneasiness that’s hard to deny. While none of the actual murder is shown onscreen, Elsie’s ball, rolling to a stop alone in the grass is eerie enough. I think that showing the gorey details may have actually detracted from the mood of the film. There’s something to be said about the use of sound as well. M was Fritz Lang’s first “talkie” and as such, there isn’t a great deal of sound involved. In fact, there are several periods during which there is no sound at all. But, that actually adds to the eerie effect as well.

It was interesting to see how many elements of M, made way back in 1931, are still in use. For instance, the note that the killer sends in to the press is analyzed by the police investigators. They scrutinize his handwriting, identify the texture of the paper and writing utensil, and try to pull prints. They also pour over lists of hospital releases and stacks of addresses. It was very much like the crime dramas currently on television, like CSI and Cold Case. I wonder if this movie is where Son of Sam got the idea to send his letters to the newspaper. The door to door police searches reminded me a little of the Gestapo and their hunt for hidden Jews.

One of the best elements of the movie was the criminal underground. They tracked down the killer more effectively than the authorities and their plan (although I won’t spoil it for you) was so simple, it was genius. They even decide to hold a trial for the killer, complete with defense counsel. Not what you’d expect from your average hoodlum, but these guys are organized. Each specialty has its own division. There are the pickpockets, the burglers, the beggars and the prostitutes, who almost seem unionized. But, they all cooperate when their own idea of morality is violated and their way of life threatened by an outsider.

M is a movie that truly surprised me. I had wanted to see it simply because it is so widely respected and I felt that it was a requisite for my own personal “film education”. My expectations were for something dry, slow and hard to appreciate. Fritz Lang also directed the silent film Metropolis, which, although also highly regarded, bored me to tears (I much prefer the animated version that it inspired). However, M was an amazing film! There were times when I was at the edge of my seat, biting my nails because the suspense was so palpable. There are a few moments at the beginning that lag a bit, but most of the film moves at a gratifying pace. The overall atmosphere, accentuated by the simplicity of such early cinema, was eerie and absorbing, without feeling forced or contrived.

If you like a suspenseful crime drama, with a bit of classic style, definitely see M. Even if you’re the type of person who feels daunted by subtitles and black and white film, I encourage you to at least give it a chance. The film isn’t so artsy and high-brow that you have to be a movie guru to enjoy, but don’t expect Hollywood explosives, big breasted women and cheesy romance (or any romance at all) either.

Overall Rating: 5
Hottie Rating: 0

Alternate recommendation: Wait Until Dark
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