tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post1755948882828656153..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: 1931: M (Fritz Lang)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-24475439689685384002010-03-27T12:44:41.715-04:002010-03-27T12:44:41.715-04:00A truly frightening movie. It is nearly eighty yea...A truly frightening movie. It is nearly eighty years old, but it is decades ahead of its' time.<br />The themes are still the same, evil will always continue to exist. <br /><br />Next time,some person mentions the "good old days", a showing of this film will put them straight.<br /><br />Peter Lorre never ever matched his performance.<br />How could he ? Fritz Lang was at the height of his powers, so I would imagine that the 50s remake featuring Dana Andrews by him wouldn't even be in the same league. Even so, this is<br />utterly essential viewing for any film buff.Rob Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-15500771866604336592009-10-09T20:56:19.561-04:002009-10-09T20:56:19.561-04:00You're right, MovieMan, I don't feel a who...You're right, MovieMan, I don't feel a whole lot of sympathy either... it's more of a questioning of what drives a man to do this. But, really, the reason that this movie stands as such a masterpiece for me is that it's just a virtuoso performance from Lang. It's an example of watching a guy who is so good, it's like he can do anything he wants.Davehttp://goodfellamovies.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-13470929860265342302009-10-09T20:55:01.903-04:002009-10-09T20:55:01.903-04:00There is one: The Struggle, D.W. Griffith's ma...There is one: The Struggle, D.W. Griffith's masterful final film about alcoholism, a complete flop which, ironically, led to the disgraced and ruined Griffith becoming an alcoholic (or at least further indulging the vice if he was already hooked at this time).<br /><br />It probably can't give City Lights a run for its money, but it is a surprisingly great film and one while worth discovering - it just came out on DVD last November, which could be the first time it's been available for 75 years - I'm not sure of its history. The few who took notice were as impressed as I was - I saw it pretty much by accident because I was wrapping up a Griffith series on my blog, and the DVD came out right at the same time. (it's on a split disc with the more well-known but inferior Abraham Lincoln)Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-68633640194516009772009-10-09T20:47:23.327-04:002009-10-09T20:47:23.327-04:00M is definitely impressive, and I need to see it a...M is definitely impressive, and I need to see it again. It strikes me that it may be one of Lang's leanest, most driving works - he was a master of mise en scene but not always the most kinetic filmmaker. I saw it years ago and felt no sympathy for Lorre whatsoever. It's a great performance, but as for the character himself - the corruption of his persecutors strikes me as a rather flimsy argument against his despicable actions.<br /><br />#1 film of 1931 would be, I guess, City Lights - unless there's something else I'm not thinking of.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-27376570822200273392009-06-06T02:17:59.549-04:002009-06-06T02:17:59.549-04:001931 is a rich year, with M, Frankenstein, The Pub...1931 is a rich year, with M, Frankenstein, The Public Enemy, City Lights and Lewis Milestone's The Front Page all worthy of consideration.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-77537110209192696372009-06-01T09:37:57.289-04:002009-06-01T09:37:57.289-04:00Thanks, John! You really can't go wrong with eith...Thanks, John! You really can't go wrong with either "M" or "City Lights." I will check out your review of "Stranger on the Third Floor," as I actually haven't seen it.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-50541897482741373612009-06-01T08:03:49.352-04:002009-06-01T08:03:49.352-04:00Dave,
What a magnificent review! It makes my own ...Dave,<br /><br />What a magnificent review! It makes my own short review pale in comparison. The parallel story technique Lang uses enhances the film’s level of tension twofold. Lang does a wonderful job of showing how Hans Beckert is a pariah even in the criminal world. Peter Lorre is excellent. I just posted a review of “Stranger on the Third Floor” with Peter Lorre on Tweny Four Frames. The only reason I mention it is there is a bit of a similarity in the characters Lorre plays in both films. Of course, the other tie-in between the two films is “M” is one of the precursors of film noir and “Stranger on the Third Floor” is generally considered the first film noir. Don’t get me wrong, I am not comparing the two films in terms of greatness. “M” far exceeds the minor “B” film in that respect. <br /><br />I have to agree with you this is Lang’s best work in a filmography filled with brilliant work. I only saw “M” for the first time last summer while, I have seen “City Lights” many times and consider it one of Chaplin’s top three films. As Sam mentioned, the ending is one of the most emotional scenes ever filmed. Two brilliant films but I personally lean toward “City Lights” for #1 and “M” in the number 2 spot.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-64221406816838891672009-05-30T19:44:41.555-04:002009-05-30T19:44:41.555-04:00You're in for quite an experience with M, Judy! I...You're in for quite an experience with M, Judy! It's Lang at his absolute best. With Frankenstein, I did like it, but not nearly as much as the other films I listed.<br /><br />I can't argue with picking The Public Enemy... Cagney deserves any and all recognition!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-31226443642458571762009-05-30T15:26:24.267-04:002009-05-30T15:26:24.267-04:00Must confess I haven't seen 'M' as yet - I'll have...Must confess I haven't seen 'M' as yet - I'll have to put that right. I was a bit surprised you didn't mention James Whale's 'Frankenstein' -I haven't seen that one either (so many great films I still need to see!) but sort of guessed it might be a contender.:)<br /><br />My favourites out of those I have seen from this year are Mamoulian's 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' starring Fredric March, and (predictably for me, I know), 'The Public Enemy'. I do also like 'Little Caesar', but not quite as much as these two. Anyway, great stuff. JudyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-56380142021893335762009-05-30T14:45:44.724-04:002009-05-30T14:45:44.724-04:00Thanks for the kind words, Sam! I remember readin...Thanks for the kind words, Sam! I remember reading at one of the various blogs that I follow (I forget where), where you left comments to the effect that City Lights was among your all-time favorite films. I thought it would likely be your choice for #1. I also think that it's outstanding... that ending is truly amazing! You can probably guess which Chaplin film is going to be included in this countdown, which is my personal favorite from him.<br /><br />I was always under the impression that Vampyr was 1932? Everything I see lists the release date as 1932. It ultimately doesn't affect anything for me, as it would not have been #1 in 1931 or 1932, but it was considered.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-7907976414328348532009-05-30T09:19:15.736-04:002009-05-30T09:19:15.736-04:00By the way Dave, this was a magisterial paragraph ...By the way Dave, this was a magisterial paragraph here:<br /><br />"The opening scene encapsulates this feeling, as it shows a group of schoolchildren playing a game involving a song about a nasty man who will come and chop them up. The children seem oblivious to the danger, but the fear of the adults is illustrated by a nearby woman scolding them for singing such a song. Very early in the film, we see the killer’s mode of operation, as he approaches a young girl walking home from school. He woos young Elsie Beckmann by complimenting her on the ball that she is playing with and buying her a balloon. When Elsie still has not returned home hours later, her mother becomes frantic. It is in these sequences that Lang demonstrates how he can unnerve an audience without showing a single act of violence. When he shoots Elsie’s ball coming to rest in the dirt and her recently purchased balloon floating into power lines, the message is clear: the killer has claimed another victim."Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-48276212362457267382009-05-30T09:11:35.338-04:002009-05-30T09:11:35.338-04:00My Own #1 film of 1931: CITY LIGHTS (Chaplin)
Run...My Own #1 film of 1931: CITY LIGHTS (Chaplin)<br />Runners-Up: M (Lang)<br /> ENTHUSIASM (Vertov)<br /> A NOUS LA LIBERTI (Claire)<br /> VAMPYR (Dreyer)<br /><br /> Indeed Dave, CITY LIGHTS is the one I would place at the top for 1931, as for me it Chaplin's masterpiece, and one of the truly great films of all-time in any genre. The shattering conclusion rates as one of the most emotion scenes ever filmed. I have often identified it as my favorite film. Chaplin crafted two other masterpieces (and his 1936 MODERN TIMES, one of those, contends strongly for #1 of that year, while the earlier silent THE GOLD RUSH is also one of the "Big Three."<br /><br /> Still, I will acknowledge that M is a close second, especially since it's my personal choice as the greatest German film in the history of the cinema, and that includes other Langs, Murnau, Pabst, Schlondorf, Herzog, Fassbinder, among others.<br /><br /> Your discussion of editing, sound design (yes, the use of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" was unique) and of course your discussion of how both the police and the criminals want nothing to do with the murderer lies at the crux of this film's central theme. Your discussion here of the film's plot (masterful storytelling; technical skill is dead-on) and there's no question that Lorre's performance is in the upper etchelon of film acting.<br /><br />Great work once again!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com