Title: M: The Criterion Collection Year: 1931
Director: Fritz Lang
Rating: NR
Length: 110 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: German: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English
Stars:Peter Lorre
Ellen Widmann
Inge Landgut
Otto Wernicke
Theodor Loos
Plot:A simple, haunting phrase whistled off-screen tells us that a young girl will be killed. “Who is the murderer?” pleads a nearby placard as serial killer Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) closes in on little Elsie Beckmann. In his harrowing masterwork M, Fritz Lang merges trenchant social commentary with chilling suspense, creating a panorama of private madness and public hysteria that to this day remains the blueprint for the psychological thriller. The Criterion Collection is proud to present a new restoration of this landmark film.
Extras:Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Featurettes
Gallery
Production Notes
Claude Chabrol’s "M le maudit"
My Thoughts:
This is a suspense thriller about a child serial killer that eerily portends a future where this behavior becomes all too common, and the debate over the insanity plea is far ahead of its time.
This movie was riveting from beginning to end and used some interesting techniques where a narrator recited parts of the story while the camera showed “clips” of action being described. There was also an interesting section with no sound, but just a series of video clips giving the observer a glimpse of what the city was going through.
Peter Lorre gives an extremely powerful performance during the “citizen’s trial”.
A poignant movie with a closing message that is just as true, if not truer, today than it was when it was given in 1931
Rating: