M (1931)
Grade: 78
Fritz Lang's first sound film was "M", a crime drama that also made Peter Lorre a star. The film was made in Germany shortly before the Nazis came to full power. Both Lang and Lorre had Jewish family connections, and would soon emigrate to America where their respective careers would continue successfully.
The story has Lorre playing a pathetic, tormented murderer of little girls. As the list of his victims grow, Berlin falls into a state of panic. Citizens begin accusing each other of being the child killer. In their frustrated search for the murderer, the police crack down heavily on criminal activity. Organized crime figures decide that they must find the killer themselves, to return to business as usual. Soon, both the cops and the crooks are closing in on Lorre.
Lang takes pains to show the similarities between the police captains and the crimelords. Both meet seperately to decide how to stop the killer, and Lang switches back and forth between the two meetings. While the two groups may have different methods, the end result is the same: Lorre is to be identified, captured, tried, and executed.
Lorre was well cast as the killer. His nasal voice and unsettling manner and appearance played to stereotypes of what a child killer would be like. Once he becomes hunted, his wide eyes and furtive behavior express fear and desperation. Once in Hollywood, he would overcome this early stereotype in a series of Mr. Moto films, and was later best known for his supporting roles in "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca".
Hollywood would remake "M" in 1951, using none of the original crew or cast.
briankoller@usa.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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