M (1931)

Cast

• 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
• Fritz Odemar The Cheater
• Paul Kemp Pickpocket with Six Watches
• Theo Lingen Bauernfänger
• Rudolf Blümner Becker's 'Attorney'
• Georg John Blind Panhandler
• Franz Stein Minister
• Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur Police Chief
• Gerhard Bienert Criminal Secretary
• Karl Platen Damowitz
• Rosa Valetti Bartender
• Hertha von Walther Prostitute
• Lucie Rhoden Secretary in the Police Archives
• Joseph Almas (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Fritz Lang

Director of Photography

Fritz Arno Wagner

Editor

Paul Falkenberg

Producer

Seymour Nebenzal

Screenplay

Fritz Lang

Screenplay

Thea von Harbou

Details

Revenue

$35,274

IMDb

tt0022100

TMDB

832

Keywords

• berlin, germany
• black and white
• child murder
• crime
• criminal
• detective inspector
• direct
• expressionism
• film noir
• german expressionism
• germany
• investigation
• organized crime
• powerful
• pre-code
• psycho
• psychopath
• serial killer

Videos

• Clip Clip
• M (1931) Original Trailer [FHD] Trailer
• Trailer Trailer

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto · ★ 9 · 2023-10-28

**One of the masterpieces of classic German cinema.** There isn't much that can be said about this film that almost everyone hasn't already said or written. It is one of the great films of German cinema, one of the best productions that were made before the Second World War and one of the best films in the career of the renowned director Fritz Lang, who shortly afterward would leave Germany due to the rise of Nazism, refusing to deal with that political regime. The film is inspired by real events, namely the murderous path of Peter Kürten, the “Vampire of Düsseldorf”, who terrorized people at the same time and also had young teenagers as his victims. The film manages to capture very well the feeling of fear that existed among the people of the city and the attempts that the police made to find this merciless killer. The cinematography, in black and white, still shows signs of the influence of German expressionism without, however, giving up the realism that the entire film demanded. In fact, I can't say whether the film was inspired by “noir” or came to inspire “noir” later, but I could see the aesthetic and style similarities. Peter Lorre is the only actor who stands out: he brought the main role to life and shines without almost having to say anything. It's an excellent work by the actor and has undoubtedly opened many doors for him.

James · ★ 7 · 2023-10-20

Stone cold classic. Certainly one of the best time films about orange peels being littered.

James · ★ 7 · 2023-10-20

Random person: Nobody knows him (The murderer). Woman who lives with the murderer: Am I a joke to you?

badelf · ★ 10 · 2023-05-31

So you say you want to enroll in film school? Don't bother. Just watch Fritz Lang's M and Metropolis.

Wiccaburr · ★ 8 · 2020-10-07

The movie is classic and yet this is my first time watching this. Peter Lorre alone is worth seeing this movie as he always played such the great villain. No music keeps your focus on the image and dialogue throughout the movie. Camera work looks pretty awesome especially when they start doing the manhunt. This movie clocks in at almost two hours so there will be a lot of pacing and dialogue to go through. It will feel a bit dragging when Lorre isn't on the screen but it is well worth going through the film to see how it all plays out.

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