The twenties were a time of poverty and politic unrest in the Weimar Republic. But this meant also the creation of a complete different art movement which was decadent, ironic, exuberant and also a criticism of the situation in which the country was headed.
A simple, haunting musical phrase whistled offscreen tells us that a young girl will be killed. “Who Is the Murderer?” pleads a nearby placard as serial killer Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) closes in on little Elsie Beckmann . . .( Criterion)
Fritz Lang (“Metropolis”, “The Woman in the Window”) had the ability to create a dark, thrilling world in his films. “M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder“ was Lang’s first sound film. He used the technology to his advantage, he played with it to create the suspense. Fritz Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou collaborated on the screenplay. According to Lang, the couple wanted to create a film based on “the ugliest, most utterly loathsome crime.” The film depicts a society in turmoil and on the brink of destruction. A society without a soul where no one is really a hero.
Lang was a horrible guy to work with. He was often accused of sadism toward his actors. Lorre refused to work with after the making of this film.
Director Fritz Lang said this is his favourite of all of his films. In Germany, the Nazis banned the movie in July 1934. In 1931 the Nazis weren’t yet in power but already very influential and the film is a social critic on the political situation in his country. Fritz Lang’s wife, Thea von Harbou, became a party member while Lang fled to the USA like main actor Peter Lorre. This film launched the career of Peter Lorre, who was by then only known as a comedian. He became a star, mostly known as the villain, and had a great career: “The Maltese Falcon”, “The Man who knew too much” “Casablanca and “Arsenic and Old Lace”.
