Review 2009-02-15T22:03:52-08:00 38 A movie review of M (1931), a psychological crime drama by Fritz Lang movie,film,review,M,1931,psychological,crime,drama,Fritz,Lang,talkie,noir 2009-02-16T00:00:00-08:00 [i]M[/i] might not be shot in New York or LA, and it might not feature a tough guy or a femme fatale, but it is definitely a progenitor to film noir. Lang's masterpiece is shot with dark scenes and harsh shadows. It tracks the search, capture and trial of a child murderer. The plot is simple but the social themes and commentary are not. Noir aspects include murder, a police investigation, the underworld, and psychological darkness - in both the perpetrator and society at large.[img size="300x257"]/images/articles/reviews/m.jpg[/img][capt]A scene from [i]M[/i] by Fritz Lang[/capt] In the opening scene, a child chooses among playmates with a rhythmic song about the child killer. This dark "eenie meanie minie moe" shows children coping with fear. After yet another murder, friends accuse friends, fights break out, no one is trusted, and a mob mentality develops. Police respond by finding and following clues, but only arrive at dead ends. In response to the public outcry, the authorities enact raids, random searches, and paper checks - all written and filmed before the Nazi Party took power. Little heed is paid to human rights, but the police are victims too - working long hours, sleeping little, and being ridiculed for not catching their man. The police presence hurts small businesses - legitimate and not. In response, underworld leaders gather to set their strategy. They decide to catch the murderer themselves. They employ the beggars union to form a network of eyes and ears. Both the discovery and the tracking of Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) are brilliant. The beggars corner him in an office building, and thieves use their skills to break in and track him down. Once caught, Beckert is confronted by a kangaroo court, which is terrifying with its large seated mob and initial silence. Lorre's impassioned plea is one of the greatest performances in cinema.[img size="256x192"]/images/articles/reviews/m2.png[/img][capt]Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert[/capt] In the end, the police track down the murderer and Beckert is tried in a court of law. The premise of the film is clearly stated in the last line: "One has to keep closer watch over the children. All of you." For the child and family are not the only victims. The ensuing fear, hatred and outrage harm every member of society. [i]M[/i] was released just four years after the first picture with sound, [i]The Jazz Singer[/i]. It pioneered the use of leitmotif, with the murderer whistling [i]In the Hall of the Mountain King[/i] as his theme. The sound is still a bit primitive though, with some scenes lacking sound altogether. There is no score, per se; it's all source music (music that would actually be heard by the characters.) This proto-noir film is certainly dated. The timing isn't as crisp as in the better films of later decades, some of the acting reminds us of the silent era, and there are holes in the soundtrack. Regardless, the plot is creative, Lorre's performance is brilliant, and the social commentary is much deeper than that of most Hollywood films released today. The film haunts us with questions about the resilience of society and the human soul. Considering the state of film in 1931, this film scores a perfect ten. 2009-02-15T23:18:46-08:00 1