In this Dark Corners Classic we look at Fritz Lang’s first sound movie, the crime thriller M.
Select films mentioned in this video available to buy.
M USA: UK:
The Lodger USA: UK:
Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler: USA UK:
Metropolis USA: UK:
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse USA: UK:
Fury USA: UK:
Tiger of Bengal USA: UK:
Seven USA: UK:
Silence of the Lambs USA: UK:
Peeping Tom USA: UK:
Summary of M: There have been a rash of child abductions and murders in Berlin. The murderer lures the children into his confidence by candy and other such child friendly items. Everyone is on edge because the murderer has not been caught. The most substantial pieces of evidence the police have are hand written letters by the murderer which he sent to the newspaper for publication. Unknown even to himself, a blind beggar, who sold the murderer a balloon for one of the child victims, may have key information as to the murderer’s identity. The murder squad’s work is made even more difficult with the large number of tips they receive from the paranoid public, who are quick to accuse anyone of suspicious activity solely for their own piece of mind that someone – anyone – is apprehended for the heinous crimes. Conversely, many want to take the case into their own hands, including the town’s leading criminals since the increased police presence has placed a strain on their ability to conduct criminal activity. Although they both have the same end goal of capturing the murderer, the police and the criminals seem to be working at cross purposes, which may provide an edge to the murderer in getting away.
Dark Corners Classics: M: the First Serial Killer Film
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Caligari predates the lodger
thoughtful review, thank you. Easily as good as the books I've read on Lang in a short time.
What a movie!
M is such a gorgeous film! Perfect in every way!!
langs command of sound is indeed astounding, as if he had always done sound films. the whole picture is so utterly naturalistic it almost hurts. i especially love Otto Wernicke's performance as Inspector Lohmann, who also appears in The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, brilliant in both films.
Ngl I find myself rooting for the "villain" in movies like this
Lorre's preformance in the german version of M is absolutely amazing. I had seenLlorre in dozens of films and always enjoyed his work, but his confession speech here is truly next level.
As a subject of the U. K. I would believe that you would know of the judicial "black cap" that a judge would don to pronounce a death sentence. We see the judges do exactly that at the end of M. He was for the chop. Plus, how can you call THE BIG HEAT "lackluster"? Ridiculous.
M isn't the first serial killer film. Hitchcock's The Lodger predates this by 5 years.
12:42 the clock rolls back?
this is also a rare film where a minor unnamed character could affect highly in the film
the poster, the hand, belongs to an unnamed beggar, and that beggar is the one that spotted beckert in action
Never seen it but I’ll check it out, thanks great video.
The Woodsman (2004).
It might be called the first, or at least one of the first, examples of film noir. At the very least it inspired many of the major tropes of the genre, and of course the tropes of the police procedural
This movies great moms cooking dinner and i just got from my doctors ampointment im taking theese 'Diziam pills' What could possibly go wrong!
Incredible film with great use of sound!
Am I the only one who wanted him getting caught?
Absolutely love this channel.. Forgive for the possible oversight, but have you considered covering "L'Argent"?
Would be tremendous to see and hear your insights on Bresson's final film!
Here's a little addition to this worthy and well-made review:
the whole movie "M" provides also an unique view on pre-Nazi Berlin, its vernacular, its people, the dirt, the modernity and the history of the place. For a German, this is still a must-see film to realize how much was lost before the propaganda minister took over entertainment of the Reich. For non-Germans, this still is – beside the story and the acting – a perfect view of everyday Berlin with the unique faces of hungry and poor people.
Personally, I never feared for or sympathized with Hans. I didn’t see fear in that reflection scene, but something more….disturbing. I was still never full on the gangster’s side, but that was because the police had managed to track him down by this point (without torture), so I was well aware how unnecessary their actions were.
The feeling Hans Beckert expressed when hunting and finding his child prey was not fear but rather ecstasy. The same person that brutalized children took great delight in writing the newspapers and taunting the police and terrifying the populace? Fritz Lang was able manipulate the audience and create sympathy for a child predator by intimating Hans Beckert's actions are a result of illness absolving Beckert of agency and minimizing the cruelty and depravity of his conduct? Medicalizing Beckert's behavior creates a false dichotomy between backers and the criminals and allows Beckert to view the criminals that save a little girl and foil his 9th attack with contempt and scorn?
It was well ahead of its time.
Not true!! Alfred Hitchcock's The Lodger, based on Jack the Ripper.
"Hey doc."
I heard this was the first Noir film, and that it also greatly influenced Hitchcock.
zombiedate– a new song/video to creep on ya'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIaGrM_u55c
It's a belter of a film
Good one, Robin.
3:27–3:55 Civ V music/ost? Just curious I recognize the background score I am pretty surel
This films is amazing, it still is amazing even in comparison with future films.
crazy how albert fish was killing when this movie was in theaters….
The irony. Decades later, Peter Lorre's daughter narrowly escaped being a victim of two serial murderers dressed in police uniform
This was the oldest serial killer movie I've found: "Os Crimes de Diogo Alves" (The Crimes of Diogo Alves) – 1911 – about murders committed in Portugal around 1840.
This movie remindes me of the Albert Fish case.
Hoping the child murderer will escape?? Who was rooting for him lol
Never felt for the murderer… not once
Such thorough and engaging analysis- didn't want to miss a word!
When I first bought the Criterion DVD in the late 90's I was astounded by this one. And hearing Lorre speak German is still a wonder to me somehow.
A great great movie.
Truly a classic, excellent episode Dark Corners, thank you!!!🙏👌👻❣️
I watched this film over a year ago and it still haunts me in the best way possible.
Recommended this rec0 to a friend with a warning that its very dark look into humanity
Uruguayan-Argentine director Román Viñoly Barreto's 1953 film, The Black Vampire, is a revisionist, "feminist" reworking of Lang's M. Until recently it was a little known film that was rarely, if ever, seen in the USA. A blu-ray of the film was released last November.
Stunningly superb film. And it may be approaching 100 years old, but it's still as powerful & enthralling as the day it was released. About 10 years ago, my police-officer partner was hosting their monthly team-building movie night for his shift. I talked him into showing "M". The reaction was INCREDIBLE. 15 police officers were hooked from the first moments (that opening scene is INTENSE, and if you're a parent, doubly so). The word of mouth was so positive the Chief came over & watched it. To this day, it is shown to all officers on their force. I don't call many films masterpieces, but this is the dictionary description of one. There's horror, there's humour, there is a portrayal of people as they really are, the police aren't shown as either totally crooked or totally perfect – and the rarity is, neither are the criminals. From my observation when watching it with seasoned cops, the one that has them clapping & going "YES!" or "That's absolutely how things get out of control" is the bus scene (no spoilers, watch the film). If you've never seen "M", WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???