Probably the first sound masterpiece. Though it's one of the first to use the new technology, it doesn't feel like it, as the camera is fluid and expressive and the sound effects are utilized perfectly and are even essential to the story. Lang's direction is superb, amping up the suspense and terror by using the cinematography, lighting, and sound together to create a very tense and distinctive atmosphere. Peter Lorre is fantastic in what is really the lead role of the film, making us feel sympathy and pity for a horrific child-murderer. The combination of German expressionism, film-noir tendencies, and social commentary that Lang injects into the film makes for a brilliant and gripping work. Simply a terrific film all-around.

wait is this the same movie as The Third Man?

Not at all.

WILL NICHT, MUSS ZEHN PUNKTE GEBEN.

what are you talking about? they both aim to depict broken cities (albeit, a nation or two away from each other) following the destruction of either World War focusing on the rise of organized crimes, corrupt law enforcement and paranoia of the masses. okay, so the plots are different, but they both set out to do nearly exactly the same thing, to serve as a documents of the isolation of civility from urban societies in post-war ages.

M is probably more important, but I prefer The Third Man.

So does every other film noir.

If you want to say anything, say that M is the grandaddy of the whole noir genre. But don't single out one film and say they're the same when they only share characteristics of the genre.

I love The Third Man too. But it's no more similar to this than The Big Heat or Kiss Me Deadly or any other noir classic.

to an extent, yes. but for most noir's, post-war devastation --> corruption/moral ambiguity is the setting. but for both of these, it's the point.

anyways, I love them both a whole lot. just saying they're similar.

Wosahs. Absolutely and completely blew me away. I was expecting a lot, but not nearly enough. I am truly shocked at just how incredible this film was. Even though it was made in 1931 it is easily one of the most well constructed and intense horror flicks I have ever seen. I agree mostly with what trixster has said in his review, although I will add that I did not find any sympathy for the killer, but rather a sense of understanding. The film instills no compassion or sympathy but rather a disorienting comprehension of the behavior of the killer. It's truly insightful, not only in the illumination of a horribly distorted mind, but in every aspect it addresses (the law, mob mentality, hypocricy, the paranoia of society, criminal behavior, and the effects one small thing can have on the rest of the world.) Easily one of the greatest films I have ever seen, a masterpiece from top to bottom.

a perfect ten

It's Raining Tens! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Tens! Amen!
I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet!

that was actually funny, a rare thing for you, congratulations.

In fact rather the reverse is true.

A fantastic crime piece that stands up against the competition over 80 years later. One of my only complaints is that the film really should of ended once the cop lays his hand on M's shoulder. That entire interrogation scene between M and the community is pure gold.

um false advertising

Yikes, I found this to be VERY disappointing and overrated. I liked the Lorre scenes and all and the courtroom speech is brilliant, but the like 75% portion of this film of police and mob guys sitting around talking about catching him, was unwatchable for me. None of them are established as characters enough to care, nor do they have a direction individually. Barely knew what was happening with that other suspect aiding him (?). Not to mention the scenes had virtually no emotion or personality. Getting bogged down in long, turgid dialog scenes like this instead of getting the storytelling wheels moving, is exactly the type of struggles you’d fear filmmakers to have transitioning to the sound era. The cinematography is good, but in the other parts of filmmaking I thought this had huge flaws.