Manhunt by Fritz Lang 1941

Fritz Lang used Geoffrey Householder's (really fun) novel 'Rogue Male' to make this film.

This is such a great film to watch - an English big-game hunter tracks Hitler to see whether he might be able to kill the 'ultimate' animal.  The film is set just before the world begins to fully realize what a monster Hitler is.

What I liked about this film and novel is that the hero is a member of the upper class who has not been taught how to be a real moral actor in the world. Everything to members of his social class is a 'game'. So although he knows Hitler is evil, his attempt to kill Hitler is not completely serious and therefore he fails.

Throughout the film he develops a true moral character and becomes capable of entering the war against Hitler.

Walter Pidgeon does a great job of acting in this film.

Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLA2lKcR-2k

Metropolis by Fritz Lang 1927

Remember, the mediator between the head and the hand is the heart...

Here's the movie on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za2ALUI97EA

Here's an article on how this film keeps influencing fashion.
http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2012/feb/27/metropolis-inspires-the-fashion-world

Here is a good article about the woman who wrote the novel and screenplay for this amazing film:
http://www.williamahearn.com/thea.html

Dr. Mabuse by Fritz Lang 1922

Fritz Lang has always been one of my favorite film directors.  I also have "M" on this log somewhere.  Please enjoy Dr. Mabuse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MulihI2Mx80

Metropolis by Fritz Lang (1927)

Take a journey with Freder as he seeks the mysterious, kind-hearted woman who has rejected everything he had lived for.

In order to get the English subtitles, you have to click on the little 'cc' button under the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j92E9J8uafc

"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