Synopsis
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.
Reflections
Review ★★★★★
One of my favorite movies and one of the best (read: most influential) movies ever made. I watched Criterion’s analysis over this movie, especially sound, and I learned a few interesting concepts.
There are four sound techniques in this movie that are now part of mainstream movies:
- Offscreen sound: comes from a source outside the frame.
- Sound bridges: occur when the sound from the current scene continues over the next scene or the sound of the next scene starts over the current scene.
- Voice over: involves the voice that accompanies a scene where the speaker isn’t present.
- Silence: in this case means a completely dead soundtrack where individual sounds occur at intervals.
Details
- Director: Fritz Lang
- Cast: Peter Lorre, Ellen Widmann, Inge Landgut
- Year: 1931
- Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller