Lorre plays a serial child killer in this still-effective thriller.
The criminal underworld are as desperate to catch the killer as the
police are, and their methods are compared in a series of superbly cut
shots. The criminal network finds the killer, placing a chalk
"M" (for murder) on his back, and he faces a kangaroo court.
Lang's first sound film still contains some echoes of his earlier
expressionist films, but Lorre's acting is more sympathetic than
exaggerated and the excellent use of sound (Lorre whistling Peer Gynt
as he buys sweets for a victim) and striking images mark this as one of
Lang's best.
