Film Studies Daily Log

Monday, April 25

We discussed M somewhat further, comparing it with Caligari, Nosferatu, and Metropolis. As Metropolis combines a rational, futuristic style (itself presented as having two contrasting faces) with medieval Gothicism, so M combines a highly precise realism with elements of Expressionistic distortion. And M, like Caligari, tells of the pursuit of a madman, or like Nosferatu of a monster, an Ungeheuer.

After this discussion students took notes as we watched snippets from interviews with three people connected with the making of M: Harold Nebenzahl, son of the film's producer; Paul Falkenberg, the film editor; and Fritz Lang himself.