19318.1 / 101h 50mDramaThrillerCrime

M

"Who is the murderer?"

In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

Quick Stats
8.1
TMDB Rating
2,499
Votes
1h 50m
Runtime
Budget
$35K
Box Office
Return
Key Crew
DirectorFritz Lang
WriterThea von Harbou
CinematographyFritz Arno Wagner
ComposerAdolf Jansen
EditorPaul Falkenberg
Production DesignEmil Hasler
Produced by
Nero-Film AG

Where to Watch

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Critics & Reviews

5 featured
Wiccaburr
8/10

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.

Written Oct 7, 2020 · read original
badelf
10/10

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

Written May 31, 2023 · read original
James
7/10

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

Written Oct 20, 2023 · read original
James
7/10

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

Written Oct 20, 2023 · read original
Filipe Manuel Neto
9/10

**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.

Written Oct 28, 2023 · read original

Cast

Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Hans Beckert
Ellen Widmann
Ellen Widmann
Frau Beckmann
Inge Landgut
Inge Landgut
Elsie Beckmann
Otto Wernicke
Otto Wernicke
Inspector Karl Lohmann
Theodor Loos
Theodor Loos
Inspector Groeber
Gustaf Gründgens
Gustaf Gründgens
Schränker
F
Friedrich Gnaß
Franz
Fritz Odemar
Fritz Odemar
The Cheater
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp
Pickpocket with Six Watches
Theo Lingen
Theo Lingen
Bauernfänger
Rudolf Blümner
Rudolf Blümner
Becker's 'Attorney'
Georg John
Georg John
Blind Panhandler
F
Franz Stein
Minister
Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
Police Chief
Gerhard Bienert
Gerhard Bienert
Criminal Secretary

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