Principal cast
Peter Lorre, Ellen Widmann, Inge Landgut, Otto Wernicke and Theodor Loos
Film 127 of 498 on the Screen Path
M
Who is the murderer?
About the film
M at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1931 film at stop 127 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.
Key craft credits
Fritz Arno Wagner (director of photography), Paul Falkenberg (editor), Fritz Lang (screenplay), Thea von Harbou (screenplay) and Emil Hasler (art direction)
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Release
- 1931-05-11
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Genres
- Drama, Thriller and Crime
- Country
- Germany
- Quiz
- 40 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 40 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
40 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Peter LorreCharacter: Hans Beckert
- Ellen WidmannCharacter: Frau Beckmann
- Inge LandgutCharacter: Elsie Beckmann
- Otto WernickeCharacter: Inspector Karl Lohmann
- Theodor LoosCharacter: Inspector Groeber
- Gustaf GründgensCharacter: Schränker
- Friedrich GnaßCharacter: Franz
- Fritz OdemarCharacter: The Cheater
- Paul KempCharacter: Pickpocket with Six Watches
- Theo LingenCharacter: Bauernfänger
- Rudolf BlümnerCharacter: Becker's 'Attorney'
- Georg JohnCharacter: Blind Panhandler
Full crew
Full crew
- Fritz LangCredits: Director, Screenplay
- Emil HaslerCredits: Art Direction
- Thea von HarbouCredits: Screenplay
- Paul FalkenbergCredits: Editor, Sound Editor
- Fritz Arno WagnerCredits: Director of Photography
- Adolf JansenCredits: Sound Designer
- Karl VollbrechtCredits: Art Direction
- Wilhelm WeberCredits: Makeup Artist
- Ernst WolffCredits: Production Manager
- Seymour NebenzalCredits: Producer
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.