M (1931)

Abstract

Based on the grisly exploits of the Dusseldorf child- murderer, Peter Kurten, Fritz Lang s most famous film is a brilliant study of the psychopathic child murderer who is hunted by the criminal underworld as well as by the police. Lang uses sound for the first time, adding intensity to the powerful expression of the torment of a suffering human being who cannot help himself. As a social criticism, M stabbed deep into the German conscience. Murderer Peter Lorre is portrayed as a victim of a kangaroo court -- a chilling paradigm for the individual s fate at the hands of Nazi strong-arm tactics. Lorre is astounding in the role that launched his career and M remains one of the greatest suspense thrillers ever made. [description taken from cassette box] [German with subtitles]