Good stuff, Benton and DJ.

I've pretty much all my life been a Hitchcock fan, and became familiar with and a fan of the work of Lang in adulthood.

Hitch is who, of the two, is, by far, most prominently represented in my personal collection (Silent through mid 1950s portion [minus Pre-Code era years] thereof); see here and here.

M is Lang's masterpiece, if ya ask me.

Cell, I definitely would totally agree with you if Lang hadn't also created Metropolis, which is considered one of the greatest and most influential, and truly world-class, films of all time.

@genplant29 said:

Cell, I definitely would totally agree with you if Lang hadn't also created Metropolis, which is considered one of the greatest and most influential, and truly world-class, films of all time.

Cheers, genplant. That's the beauty of this thing: We can agree to disagree and everything's fine afterward.

What in blazes in 'M' was possibly equal to some of the spooky scenes of Metropolis? Nothing! Met. was his ultra-masterpiece. Next best was 'Woman in the moon' but there was very inferior to Met. as well. Gen, had Metropolis made more money you can your bottom dollar bet WITM would have been more expensive. But not really 'M' --that would have been foolish and then some of Lang to have made that movie way more expensive. It was overpriced in budget as was. It was really just a small story. Lang could easily have saved a massive fortune on the 'M' budget and merely shot it in all closeup like 'Jeanne d'Arc' was (made by others) in 1928.

M covered child murder and that is definitely why it is supposed to be masterpiece (you did not think it was because it was early Peter Lorre). Theme alone never makes a movie a masterpiece. My friends thought I would just love and be in 7th heaven over that movie that came about North Korea six years ago (due to my outrage at North Korea for immense human atrocities they have never at all been made to answer to). I surprised them and told them I did not care for it as it wasn't all that well done.

In 1983 when they made the "Right Stuff' film-- former astronaut-then Senator John Glenn got a swelled head and tried to really win the presidency of the US. He bombed majorly in his attempt. I think it was Newsweek that asked "Can movie elect a president?". They showed actor Ed Harris as John Glenn on the mag cover. Movies cannot change things much almost any of the time. And theme alone can't make a movie great!

Best moments of 'M' for you, Gen. The arrow in the window pointing down. The balloon going up to the telephone pole wires while the lady calls out "Elsie".

Gen, one more point just for you. When Lorre runs to the stairs to escape--that shot is much like the shot in Metropolis when robot Maria runs to a few stairs while encouraging rebellion among the workers. Lang direction trademark.

Pleasure writing to you, Gen!