M (1931 film)
1931 film by Fritz Lang / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about M (1931 film)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
M is a 1931 German mystery suspense thriller film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Peter Lorre (in his third screen role) as Hans Beckert, a serial killer who targets children. An early example of a procedural drama, the film centers on the manhunt for Lorre's character, conducted by both the police and the criminal underworld.[2]
This article has an unclear citation style. (October 2023) |
M | |
---|---|
Directed by | Fritz Lang |
Written by | Fritz Lang Thea von Harbou |
Produced by | Seymour Nebenzal |
Starring | Peter Lorre Otto Wernicke Gustaf Gründgens |
Cinematography | Fritz Arno Wagner |
Edited by | Paul Falkenberg |
Production company | Nero-Film A.G. |
Distributed by | Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes[1] |
Country | Germany |
Language | German |
The film's screenplay was written by Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou, and it was Lang's first sound film.[3] It features many cinematic innovations, including the use of long, fluid tracking shots, and a musical leitmotif in the form of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" whistled by Lorre's character. Now considered classic, Lang regarded the film as his magnum opus.[4] It is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time, and an indispensable influence on modern crime and thriller fiction.[5][6][7]
A remake under the same title, directed by Joseph Losey, came out in 1951.