M (1931 film)

M (original title: M- Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (translation: M- a city in search of a murderer)) is a 1931 German film noir directed by Fritz Lang and written by Thea von Harbou in which a serial killer, played by Peter Lorre, preys on children; the police and criminal underground of Berlin both work to stop him. M was the first starring role for Peter Lorre, and it boosted his career, even though he was typecast as a villain for years after.

Related Topics:
1931 - German - Film noir - Fritz Lang - Thea von Harbou - Serial killer - Peter Lorre - Berlin - Villain

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Peter Lorre's character whistles the tune "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg in the movie; however, Peter Lorre himself could not whistle - it is actually Fritz Lang who is heard.

Related Topics:
"In the Hall of the Mountain King" - Peer Gynt - Edvard Grieg

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The film was based in part on the stories of Jack the Ripper and the Vampire of Düsseldorf and consistently ranks among the top 50 of the Internet Movie Database's top 250 films.

Related Topics:
Jack the Ripper - Vampire of Düsseldorf - Internet Movie Database

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Lorre's future stardom and reputation as an actor was cemented in the film's climax, in which the killer, facing certain death at the hands of an underworld kangaroo court, makes an impassioned speech declaring that he can't control his violent urges. The monologue ends with the famous line (delivered by Lorre in a near scream) "Who knows what it's like to be me?"

Related Topics:
Kangaroo court - Monologue

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Later, Peter Lorre's speech was appropriated by Joseph Goebbels for the Nazi propaganda film The Eternal Jew, a Holocaust apologist film that blamed Jews for trashing the culture with degenerate art. After showing black entertainers to exemplify the lowest in cultural obscenity, The Eternal Jew uses Peter Lorre's "M" finale to claim that Jews favor child-murderers and criminal scum over justice and morality.

Related Topics:
Goebbels - The Eternal Jew - Holocaust - Apologist - Peter Lorre

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The movie was remade in 1951 (see M (1951 film)) shifting the action from Berlin to Los Angeles. The remake, directed by Joseph Losey with David Wayne playing Lorre's role, was not well received by critics or audiences.

Related Topics:
1951 - M (1951 film) - Berlin - Los Angeles - Joseph Losey

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