M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Review

It was a tough decision to shell out .00 for M on BLU-RAY when I already owned the excellent Criterion edition on DVD. The deciding factor was that I just had to see the english language version, anticipating, above all else, a different version of Lorre's remarkable performance in the kangaroo court. Well, I don't regret the splurge, but the english version isn't anything to write home about. It is almost entirely the same material that is in the german language version but large parts have been cut up and then reassembled badly. Almost every scene is dubbed, as opposed to re-filmed in english, and some of the dubbing is very poorly done. Very few of the dry, brittish voice actors manage to match the energy of the german actors they are voicing for. The only scenes I spotted as being re-filmed were a very few in the kangaroo court in which Lorre was the only person on the screen. Any scenes in which he interacts with other actors are dubbed. (Although I wasn't sure about some of the scenes with he and his lawyer.) And sadly, the new, english scenes of Lorre's amazing monologues seemed shorter and more poorly written than their german equivilents and his performances not nearly so affecting or believable. (There is also a new scene tacked on to the end of the film. The german version ends with the mothers of some of Lorre's victims admonishing us all to keep close watch over our children. This is cut from the english and replaced with a new scene of children in a circle around a little girl, which mirrors the opening scene of the film. In the opening scene the girl is sing-chanting a song about serial killers. In the new, english ending the girl is now chanting "Eenie meenie minie moe, catch a n***** by the toe.", which is rather baffling and kind of funny.)
Other than these problems, many of which are typical of any but the most skillfully dubbed films, it is rather self defeating to cut up the soundtrack of a film in which the sound plays such an important role. It was the first german talkie, and Lang's use of the new medium was innovative and unique even by today's standards. In many places, environmental sounds which are vital aspects of the narrative, are completely cut out so that english words can be added. Lang's use of sound in this film is, in fact, so very calculated, (sometimes minimalist) that even small changes can greatly diminish the effect. I am however, glad to have this version as I always gain something from seeing alternate versions of great films. But if Criterion wanted to give us a real treat, they would include the rarely seen, 1951 remake with David Wayne and Raymond Burr which is surprisingly good, as remakes go. Maybe they could get me to shell out again for a comprehensive M box set.

M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Overview

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, played by Peter Lorre (Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon), closes in on little Elsie Beckmann. In his harrowing masterwork M, Fritz Lang (Metropolis, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse) merges trenchant social commentary with chilling suspense, creating a panorama of private madness and public hysteria that to this day remains the blueprint for the psychological thriller.

M (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Specifications

Peter Lorre made film history with his startling performance as a psychotic murderer of children. Too elusive for the Berlin police, the killer is sought and marked by underworld criminals who are feeling the official fallout for his crimes. This riveting, 1931 German drama by Fritz Lang--an early talkie--unfolds against a breathtakingly expressionistic backdrop of shadows and clutter, an atmosphere of predestination that seems to be closing in on Lorre's terrified villain. M is an important piece of cinema's past along with a number of Lang's early German works, including Metropolis and Spies. (Lang eventually brought his influence directly to the American cinema in such films as Fury, They Clash by Night, and The Big Heat.) M shouldn't be missed. This original 111-minute version is a little different from what most people have seen in theaters. --Tom Keogh

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