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M (1931)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
31 August 1931 (Sweden) morePlot:
When the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt. full summary | full synopsisNewsDesk:
The Cyber-Horror Elite's Top 50 Horror Films of All Time (A Response)(From Fangoria. 29 November 2008, 3:08 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Far Ahead Of Its Time And May Always Will Be moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Peter Lorre | ... | Hans Beckert | |
| Ellen Widmann | ... | Frau Beckmann | |
| Inge Landgut | ... | Elsie Beckmann | |
| Otto Wernicke | ... | Inspector Karl Lohmann | |
| Theodor Loos | ... | Inspector Groeber | |
| Gustaf Gründgens | ... | Schränker | |
| Friedrich Gnaß | ... | Franz, the burglar | |
| Fritz Odemar | ... | The cheater | |
| Paul Kemp | ... | Pickpocket with six watches | |
| Theo Lingen | ... | Bauernfänger | |
| Rudolf Blümner | ... | Beckert's defender | |
| Georg John | ... | Blind panhandler | |
| Franz Stein | ... | Minister | |
| Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur | ... | Police chief | |
| Gerhard Bienert | ... | Criminal secretary |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Fritz Lang's M (Australia)M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (Germany)
M - Mörder unter uns (Germany) (working title)
Murderers Among Us
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Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
117 min | 110 min (2004 Criterion DVD edition) | France:118 min | Germany:105 min (2000 restored version) | Germany:108 min (re-release) | USA:99 minCountry:
GermanyLanguage:
GermanColour:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Finland:K-12 (1995) | Finland:K-16 (1960) | Germany:(Banned) (1933-1945) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Germany:12 (re-rating 2006) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Germany:16 (video rating) | West Germany:16 (bw) (nf) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1933) | Portugal:17 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Not Rated | Norway:15 (1995) | Portugal:M/12 (re-rating)Filming Locations:
Staaken, Spandau, Berlin, GermanyFun Stuff
Trivia:
Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 25 Most Dangerous Movies". moreQuotes:
Hans Beckert: I can't help what I do! I can't help it, I can't...Criminal: The old story! We never can help it in court!
Hans Beckert: What do you know about it? Who are you anyway? Who are you? Criminals? Are you proud of yourselves? Proud of breaking safes or cheating at cards? Things you could just as well keep your fingers off. You wouldn't need to do all that if you'd learn a proper trade or if you'd work. If you weren't a bunch of lazy bastards. But I... I can't help myself! I have no control over this, this evil thing inside of me, the fire, the voices, the torment!
[...]
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Soundtrack:
Le Halle du Roi de la Montagne moreFAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersIs this movie based on a real person?
Is it true that there is a comic book based on "M"?
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M is a monumental film and seriously should be watched by all. For a film like this to be made in 1931 is just shocking. Even if the film was released today it would still be nothing like we have seen before. In our modern age of film making there has been a considerable rise in the production of films about serial killers, their complexities and particularly about pathological ones. Yet, M is the first movie that comes to my mind when I think of the themes that have been in Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, Seven and not to mention countless more.
The film is lead by Peter Lorre in a transcending performance who plays the serial killer and rapist in which the film is centered around. In this performance Lorre is successful in something that at the very least is rare to see in any kind of film, compassion for a child killer and rapist. Lorre makes the viewer see, that he is not a criminal by choice but by a sickness of compulsion. Too often then not is our perception of a psychotic killer having that look that puts fear into his or hers victims' eyes. Lorre doesn't do that but rather displays a frightened man, a scared man. One in which his desperation leads to his hazardous behavior. His portrayal of a killer is not of a fearless one but of one consumed by fear. Something that even today we as a people cannot understand, let alone in 1931.
The direction and writing of Fritz Lang is beyond comprehensible as he taps into the mind of a serial killer and his complexities. He does so in such that we get an empathetic and compassionate illustration of all sides of the story. This in which by then end of the film all points of view are more then well delivered to the audience. Fritz Lang here, has simply created here a timeless masterpiece. One that excels in its technical aspects and enlightens the audience on a topic that other films still have not yet to match M in.
I highly recommend this film for many obvious reasons and conclusions. This film was created by one of the all time great directors in Fritz Lang, Lang's command for the screen is mesmerizing and a joy to witness and so on and so forth. Yet much of this is mostly superficial and a waste of time to continuously state. M, as I mentioned before takes a strong and original stance on an issue that we as a society yet have not fully resolved. This film may not give you THE answer on this issue but it may sway that moral compass of yours that lies inside of all of us.