Plot: What’s it about?
The streets of Berlin have been hunting grounds of late, both for a mad killer and the forces that seek to end his reign of terror. A man (Peter Lorre) has been murdering small children and the violent path has no end in sight, which means the police force has been working around the clock. But this extended search proves to be too little, as the paranoid public masses scream for an arrest, so that the streets can be safe once again. The exhaustive search has caused other ramifications also, with the normal criminals being hounded like never before, which of course, doesn’t please them in the least. In an effort to take the heat off themselves, the hoods form their own vigilante teams, to hunt down the killer and allow the police to return to normal routines. But they also despise the actions taken by this killer, as even by criminal standards, he is a sick man and a total disgrace. But even with both sides of the law after him, will anyone be able to stop this madman before he adds more bodies to his totals?
If you’re a lover of suspense films and you’ve never seen Fritz Lang’s M, then stop reading this review and go rent this disc. This movie is that good, so good that in truth all film fans should view it, but at the least, suspense junkies can’t afford to miss. All the elements seem to come together in M, from the superb performances to stunning cinematography to Lang’s masterful direction, it all forms an excellent overall motion picture. Peter Lorre gives the performance of his career here, but the supporting cast also sports some memorable turns, which adds a lot to the flick. Also memorable are the film’s visuals and total atmosphere, which ensure the eerie and unnerving traits of the movie surface in effective means. I admit that the storyline seems rather overdone by now, but back in 1931, this was a shocker and still holds up very well nonetheless. Whether you’re a classic cinema lover, suspense junkie, or just want to watch a masterpiece, M is a wise choice and comes highly recommended, especially in this Criterion Collection edition.
At the helm of this suspense classic was Fritz Lang, who proved time and again how skilled he was behind the camera. I consider Lang to be one of the finest directors of all time and as such, I suppose I am a little biased, but I think most cinema buffs would give him a nod of respect. I do prefer his less known works most of the time, but M is simply a masterpiece and as such, I can’t help but sing the praises it deserves. Much like Metropolis in the sci/fi realm, M has influenced the suspense genre in permanent ways and so, I think it more than deserves a little credit in that respect. Lang’s stylish direction provides a unique visual presence and eerie atmosphere, which are vital to the film’s success. Other films directed by Lang include Metropolis, Hangmen Also Die, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Spies, and a favorite of mine, Destiny. The cast of M includes Peter Lorre (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Casablanca), Ellen Widmann (The Molestors, White Hell), Inge Landgut (Help I’m Invisible), Otto Wernicke (Tempest, Master of the World), and Theodor Loos (Final Accord, Circus Girl).
Video: How does it look?
M is presented in a full frame transfer, which is the film’s intended aspect ratio. This film was made in 1931 and as such, I doubt a pristine or even better than average version of the film will ever surface. This transfer comes better than previous versions, but still seems a lot like a film made in 1931, with a lot of print wear and debris to talk about. A few harsh jumps and damage spots also lower the fun here, but again, think of the age and condition of the source materials. So no, this is not a flawless visual presentation, but if you’ve seen this before, you’ll detect a nice improvement.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is an early sound picture and as such, there’s no need for dynamic audio in this case. The included mono track has some problems, but given the age of the materials and equipment used, I think this is a decent enough presentation. The audio varies from decent to shrill to harsh to decent again, but again, this is due to the age of the materials, not flaws within this release. If you’ve viewed this movie before, then you’ll note a slight improvement, but not a world of difference by any means. All things considered, this is more than acceptable and I don’t think fans will be let down. This track is of course in the original German form, with optional English subtitles packed in, should you need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
