M 2 Disc Special Edition Criterion Collection Deals on Fritz Lang

M - 2 Disc Special Edition - Criterion Collection

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30 new, starting at $23.89

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Editorial Reviews

On moratorium since the end of March, Fritz Lang's serial killer thriller starring Peter Lorre returns to DVD in a fully restored, special edition double-disc set. A simple, haunting musical phrase whistled off-screen tells us that a young girl will be killed. "Who is the murderer?" pleads a nearby placard as serial killer Hans Beckert (Lorre) closes in on little Elsie Beckmann... In his harrowing masterwork, Lang merged trenchant social commentary with chilling suspense, creating a panorama of private madness and public hysteria that to this day remains the blueprint for the psychological thriller. The Criterion Collection is proud to present a new restoration of this landmark film in an all-new two-disc set, also including audio commentary by two German film scholars; an interview film Conversation with Fritz Lang, directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection); a short film inspired by M by director Claude Chabrol (La Ceremonie, Les Biches); classroom tapes of M's editor discussing the film and its history; and much more.

Peter Lorre made film history with his startling performance as a psychotic murderer of children. Too elusive for the Berlin police, the killer is sought and marked by underworld criminals who are feeling the official fallout for his crimes. This riveting, 1931 German drama by Fritz Lang--an early talkie--unfolds against a breathtakingly expressionistic backdrop of shadows and clutter, an atmosphere of predestination that seems to be closing in on Lorre's terrified villain. M is an important piece of cinema's past along with a number of Lang's early German works, including Metropolis and Spies. (Lang eventually brought his influence directly to the American cinema in such films as Fury, They Clash by Night, and The Big Heat.) M shouldn't be missed. This original 111-minute version is a little different from what most people have seen in theaters. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Intriguing and suspenseful

Reviewed by Viva, 2010-03-02

spoilers.

This is a great story of an entire city going crazy with fear over a child killer, played well by Peter Lorre, and in the end, a group of vigilantes tries to dispense justice in their own fashion.

It's fascinating to watch the accused insist on his own dark compulsion and claim that he does not remember committing the murders. Apparently the insanity plea goes back a long way.

He even begs to get the police involved so that he can at least get a fair trial, which the criminals were not willing to give him.

There is certainly some over-emoting on the part of the actors, but this was quite common in the early days of talkies, when people were still in the habit of exaggerating everything for silent film work.

Good stuff!

Hasn't Aged A Day

Reviewed by Elias L. Blondeau, 2010-02-19

"M" was German film auteur Fritz Lang's first film that featured spoken dialogue. While many silent film directors
(and actors) stumbled during the transition from silents to talkies, Lang came out with arguably his best work (my
personal favorite remains to be "Metropolis"), a thought-provoking psychological study of a very damaged man.

The film's protagonist, and simultaneous antagonist, Hans Beckert, is a child-murderer and suggested pedophile.
Throughout the course of the film, viewers are given a glimpse into the mind of Beckert; not only do we
get to understand what makes him tick, but it is also made clear that he realizes himself just how sick he
is. By no means is Beckert presented as the typical remorseless murderer/rapist. Quite the opposite, actually:
Lang (and screenwriter, then-wife Thea von Harbou) try to show us that Hans feels remorse for his crimes, but is
so sick that what he does is not done for sheer pleasure, but is a psychological and physical need which cannot
be cured.

This idea is really most clear during the film's tense climax, which I will not spoil for people who have not seen
it. I will say, though, that it's one of the best endings I've ever seen or read in a fictional work, and one that
will have you thinking and questioning your own morals for days after watching it.

But the plot is not the only thing that impresses here. From a visual standpoint, "M" is a feast for the eyes.
Laced with Lang's trick camerawork, the very thing that made his expressionist works so notable, the film
requires the viewer's constant attention to even the most unimportant-seeming of shots.

Also notable here is Peter Lorre as the lead. His portrayal of Beckert helped propel him into international superstardom, which led to his eventual fame in America. That's right, without this film, the amusing
portrayals of Lorre in "Looney Tunes" would've most likely never existed ^_^

As a writer, "M" was one of the most influential films I had the pleasure of viewing during my film course at school. This release has eleven extra minutes of footage from the version I first saw, though, which makes the film a bit more concise. Criterion has always had a high standard of DVD releases (their treatment of Akira Kurosawa's filmography is amazing), and they do not disappoint here.

To put it simply, "M" is a must-buy for anybody who wants to see an old-school film that still has the bite and impact
that it did all those years ago.

Peter Lorre - A actor to be remembered

Reviewed by Ethan Hall, 2009-12-30

Oh my god, a friend of mine told me about this film and I eventually looked it up on amazon and purchased this DVD version of "M." Now, I have never seen a foreign film before and this was quite the experience, for one thing Germany didn't have government censers like the United States did, but that said, I loved this film. Its recommended.

Great Film and Peter Lorre

Reviewed by Lynn Ellingwood, 2009-10-02

This is a chilling film about a child murderer who terrifies a Berlin neighborhood. The police seem to focus on the lowly criminals and prostitutes in the area and seem more interested in making a show of the hunt at least in the beginning. The community members are terrified and numb at first then become activist in hunting for the killer. Police eventually bring in skilled investigators who come close to catching the killer. The people use a blind possible witness for better effect. What happens to the killer, who captures him and his explanation form the essential thought provoking finale. Capital punishment, evil deeds and uncontrollable compulsions are discussed and become part of the story. The psychological background of the killer, the police and the community were ground breaking at the time. The DVD comes with a story booklet, several interesting documentaries and quite a lot of information on Fritz Lang and German film-making at the time. I found all very interesting. Loved them.

Lorre's Little Secret

Reviewed by A. Gyurisin, 2009-08-04

From the elongated opening scene of "M", you know you are in for more than a simple film could ever imagine. The elongated lunch scene as a mother waits for her daughter to return, as we, audience members watch the daughter stray from her journey home with a stranger with a sharpened whistle. It is foreboding, it is depressing, it is mesmerizing. It has been a very long time since a film, especially one made 78 years ago, seemed so delicate, so thought provoking, so timeless as "M" does. From these opening shots, Lang let's us know that this isn't going to be your happy utopia where criminals are caught the next day by the police and our world goes back to liquorish and lollipops, but instead a world where the locals collect like a mob and trust is thrown violently out of the window. With excellent cinematography and a strong balance between humor and honesty, Lang creates this visceral world where the line between truth and justice get blurred, where good and evil are similar, and a man defines his actions as "uncontrollable". This merely scratches the surface of "M", a masterful film that ranks amongst the best this world has offered.

What makes "M" shoot ahead of anything modern, anything by cult directors, anything close to popular? It begins with the actors, goes to the man behind the camera, and finally the skillful craftsmanship of the story. Each of these elements never lack, never fall behind, and constantly build upon each other until that final breath that encourages you to repetitively rewatch. To begin, Peter Lorre. How could you not talk about "M" without mentioning this doe-eyed murderer. From the beginning, we know his role in this film, yet Lang pulls every emotion out of us as we follow his route. We feel sympathy for Lorre when he is tried, we feel scared when he is trapped in the attic, we feel hatred when he voyeuristically looks at the children - and yet, he isn't the only character in this film. Lang introduces us to other well placed personas throughout. The infamous Inspector Lohmann (not to mention that great floor-up shot) is the perfect example of Lang's impressions on the local German police. The fact that Lohmann whistles, counter productive to what Lorre represents, only solidifies that idea. To add to these already dynamic people, we have the background criminals that decide to take the matter into their own hands in hopes to eliminate the looming police presence. The "Safecracker" is idealistic of what Germany was to become, the classic SS look, with the idea of eliminating the opportunity to be tried in a true court of law. Each one of these characters provide humor, excitement, and full-blown emotion to the screen, adding to the overall impact to this film.

With Lorre already bedazzling us with his range and taut emotion, it is up to Fritz Lang himself to ensure that edits, angles, and direction doesn't hinder the power of his actors. Lang steps up to the plate and delivers with his avant-garde film making. I use the words avant-garde because the techniques used in this film are far beyond 1931. Lang incorporates powerful close-ups, amazing track following, and shots nearly unseen at this time. The overhead shots, the ability to make the crowds look ravenous, the camera puns adds just as much as another lead would. If you were impressed by his ability in "Metropolis", "M" is only going to solidify that idea of Lang. A favorite is the raid on the office complex by a group of criminals. Every shot, every detail is directed with ease, but complexity. It is easy to be in awe of this film, but to take the time to see Lang's ability behind the camera will take "M" to a whole new level. Personally, it is my belief, that he announces himself with this film. A pioneer of the camera, a grandfather of what cinema is today - one cannot watch anything released today and not see Lang's influences. See Fincher's "Zodiac", a nearly identical film in themes to what Lang was trying to produce here.

Finally, we have acting and direction, but one must also credit the story for being not just creative and unflinchingly original, but for supporting a strong message. The idea of being more careful was impressive to watch due to the time being 1931, a time well thought of that children could be anywhere without any worry. The story brings evil into an American thought that good guys always prevail, that suburbia is always safe, and that the police actually do keep the streets safe. The story of "M" challenges you as a viewer even today, one could argue even more so today than in 1931. With crimes continually on the rise in this country, with the idea that pleading insanity cures the disease of murder (or is an easy innocence) the idea of "M", especially that final dialogue seems more important today. The fascination also arises with the concept of the mob within this story - the horror that simple events, kindness even, could turn on anyone in a moment of panic. Police arresting anyone that even looks at children in a peculiar way - a fascinating concept that Lang is not afraid to develop. Imagine if this film were made two years later, what a different theme Lang would have tackled.

To conclude, I loved, perhaps loved is a soft word, I worship this film. It is intensely powerful and timelessly accurate for a 78-year old film. I cannot wait to watch it again - not only to bath in Lang's glory, but to really see if the "true" killer was caught. There is plenty left unknown, and I just want to ensure that points connect. This is a slice of cinema that could be watched again and again, knowing that something new would be encountered each time. A deeply enticing film, Fritz Lang proves that he was a ground breaker in his field. Not only could he handle Science Fiction, but nearly every other genre imaginable. "M" is no exception to his skill. If you have not seen this film, watch it - experience it - know what it means to be marked like Lorre.

Grade: ***** out of *****