"M" Directed by Fritz Lang, Starring Peter Lorre (1931)

In this amazing film from 1931, a German city hunts down a serial child murderer.

But this is more than a crime/suspense film. Indeed, to some extent, it reminds me of Tolstoy's novel "Resurrection."  The theme of that novel is that we are all, basically, criminals and that we do not have the moral right to judge other criminals.  If judgement occurs, it is for practical and economic reasons, not moral reasons.

In this film we see that, basically, lower-level criminals are the prime 'hunters' of this child murderer.  They hunt this murderer down not because they are appalled by the murders, but because their underground illegal economy is being harmed by the murders.  The police are everywhere and it is impossible for this informal syndicate of criminals to function while the murderer is loose.

At the end of the film the syndicate captures the murderer and puts him on trial.  So you literally have criminals judging a criminal.  (Actually this scene of criminals judging another criminal reminded me a lot of the Illinois Legislature judging Governor Rod Blagojevich a few years ago :P).

We also have the impassioned monologue by the child murderer who claims that he is helpless against the inner demons that drive him.  This is an amazing job of acting by Peter Lorre.

Fritz Lang created some masterpieces while in Germany - Dr. Mabuse, Metropolis, M...

He fled Nazi Germany when he was approached by Josef Goebbels about possibly doing propaganda films for the Nazis.  The story goes that immediately after Goebbels spoke to him he got on a plane and escaped to England.  In Hollywood Lang helped develop film noir.

Kudos must go to Thea von Harbou for writing this amazing screenplay. She has never received full credit for the great and thoughtful work she did. 

Please enjoy "M"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM0w1dTNAH0