"On the Prowl" scene from the Fritz Lang movie M

Peter Lorre is overcome by lust in this scene from the 1931 Fritz Lang film M.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Lorre

[teeckard]

It's "like" he's aroused by a child? He is indeed in every sense aroused by a child. There's no question about it. It's supposed to bother you. It's supposed to portray a man who is tortured by demons that he cannot control.

[curlytoes79]

I was never clear on what exactly went on in this man's mind. Obviously he felt compelled to kill, and the film strongly suggests it was a sexual compulsion (the way he targets girls, etc.). At the same time, he seems to be a child himself - with that round childlike face, the way he stares gleefully at the knives like a child looking at toys in a store window. Very weird and complex character.

[BabyPuma124]

Not for one second did I 'almost want him to get' the little girl.  Not at all. My personal identification was with the girl, not the hunter/predator. More like "Run, Bambi run!" I felt relieved when she encountered her mum.

[vanquine]

My favorite part: the camera tracking the little girl that begins at 1:20. We hear the killer's whistling, and we assume we're in the killer's point of view and seeing the little girl as he sees her--as quarry, as something to be destroyed in satisfying his desires. We almost want him to get what he needs; we almost want her dead. Then she meets her mother, and the camera turns back to reveal the killer hiding in the frame. We weren't in his p.o.v.! For a few moments, we were hunting her.

[funkyspice]

@postalcode2934 no its the one the baby scandal or something like that where they pretend to be babies - in the cut scene where the family is all in the tub the dad hands ren and stimpy to the grandpa and he whistles that exact tune.

[savida34e]

@teeckard That is why those must be destroyed.

[JennelleBelle]

Omg that face he does at 3:20 is scary!! Peter Lorre was the best actor ever...there isn't one role he couldn't play and no two were ever similar. Its sucks Hollywood kept him as a freaky character actor because of his looks. On the other hand in my eyes he is the most gorgeous man I ever seen in my life .

[taureleafsilver]

Because of this movie, I feel to compelled to whistle "Hall of the Mountain King" while shopping, ect. despite the horrible implications....

[godzilloid]

I will never be able to listen to "Hall of the Mountain King " again without thinking of this scene. Curse you, Peter Lorre!

[brandonskate1]

@postalcode2934 yeah it was haha

[postalcode2934]

@brandonskate1 which ren & stimpy episode was it in? was it the episode where r&s go camping & they meet the old naked dude?

[cholocharile]

Best song ever.