Review of M (1931) by Patrick R — 24 Feb 2009

After nearly 70 years, this movie still packs a punch. An early talkie, it shows the influence of the silent film era, being willing to let a scene unfold without dialogue. The best scene is when the Peter Lorre character is dragged into the basement of the abandoned brewery and finds himself confronted by a huge grim-faced crowd of underworld figures, looking like a hanging jury.

This is a film that has been copied over and over again by later directors.