Fritz Lang's M

[krestofre]

There are a handful of comments here about Lang and even fewer comments about M. I watched this film last night for the first time and was completely mystified by it. Within the first five minutes Lang creates one of the most tense sequences I've ever seen in a lifetime of movie watching.

****Spoilers**** (assuming I'm not the last person in the world to see it)

In the opening five minutes Lang connects the audience at such a core emotional level with the mother waiting for her daughter to come home from school. There is very little time here to pack in so much character development. I completely knew what was going to happen to the little girl, but I've never sat in a film and wanted the events to NOT happen so much as I did with the opening of M. To see the little girl bouncing a ball on the poster warning people about the murderer on the loose is harrowing, and then to have the sillouetted figure appear over the poster. My gosh! I've got chills just thinking about it! And then the panic that ensues and the final, too quite shot of the ball rolling down a hill. :crybaby:

Lang's use of silence in the film is also inspiring. M was the first film Lang ever made with sound and to use a new component to filmmaking so masterfully right out of the gate is pretty amazing. Some of the most engaging sequences of the film are played out in complete silence.

Anyway, I was very impressed with this film.

Thoughts?

 

[Matthew B. Moore]

Thoughts?
Dude, It's amazing. Lang is amazing. His life story and how he got into filmmaking is amazing.
He was the first of the Gilliam breed.
M's influence shows up all over the place in modern work. Sound was new, but he pulled it in like an old friend. A masterpiece that may very well be one of the top 5 films of all time. Damned if I don't put it higher up on the shelf than Citizen Kane.

The city council smoking sceen is a piece of true art.

 

[CineMischief]

Yep yep. Peter Lore pulled off some magic here too, actually making you care about him and loathe him at the same time. Agree with a top 5 ranking.

I know we're so attuned to the quick cuts and fast pace of most movies made now, but this film makes me miss the good ol days of actually taking your time (and being skilled enough to pull it off).

 

[krestofre]

Peter Lore pulled off some magic here too, actually making you care about him and loathe him at the same time.

Lorre is amazing in the film. Up until the end I've never despised a movie villan as much as Lorre in this film, but then when he gives his big speech you do feel compassion for him, and then you remember he's a sick SOB again.

I also love the way Lang tackled the hysteria that the murders caused. The scenes at the beginning when the public crowds are accusing everyone and anyone of being the murderer are some of the most frightening portrayals of mob mentality that I've ever seen.

The city council smoking sceen is a piece of true art.

LOL. When I was watching that scene I just kept thinking "eventually I'm not going to be able to see any of these people for all the smoke." But you're right, that scene is fantastic. I love the juxtaposition of the police meeting and the criminal meeting and, how really through editing their goals are compared and contrasted and ultimatly brought together. I'm also a sucker for the "honor among theives" motif.

It always blows my mind how a film made 70+ years ago that helped define the technique of the craft can still be so relevant.

 

[JFReyes]

"M" started the film noir genre, and as y'all mentioned its use of sound is amazing, particularly because for the first time the music score was composed specifically for the film, to convey the different moods of the scenes.

If you liked "M", check out "Metropolis" (1925 - also by Lang), maybe the best example of the German expressionism movement.

 

[jpeck]

I would say The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is the best example of German expressionism.

I think the most notable thing about M is the story, even today, how often do we see a film about a child murderer, especially one that requires no sympathy but understanding.

Great film.

 

[mjmcneese]

Lang was a few decades ahead of his time. IMHO, his movies were the first to offer the full experience of cinema, including his use of audio...particularly in M. And quite a touchy topic for a movie during that period ya think?