Movie |
Child Killer | Film Noir
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Before signing Joseph Losey as director, producer Seymour Nebenzal approached fellow German expatriate Douglas Sirk and offered him the job. Sirk said he would do the film only if he could scrap the original story and write a new one about a psychopathic murderer of children. When Nebenzal approached Losey, he also wanted to scrap the original story and do a new one about a child murderer, and Nebenzal told him that the Production Code Administration (PCA) had agreed to allow him to make the film only if the original story and script were kept. The PCA had approved "M" as a remake of an acknowledged classic, but if the story were changed, its approval would be withdrawn.
At 00:33 minutes, when the mobster is recruiting homeless men as lookouts, there are two signs on the alley wall behind him. The smaller, at upper left, reads: "Beware of Sneak Thieves". The large calligraphy reads: "When did you write to your mother last?". The latter was a popular choice for homeless missions of the day.
A number of actors in this film were targeted by HUAC, the House Unamerican Activities Committee, as they were known for their liberal politics. Several of the actors were blacklisted.
At around 58 mins the sleeping security guard had been reading the June 1950 issue of "Daring Detective" magazine which featured the stories "Lonely Wife" and "Love-Mad Assassin".
No credit is given to the original German production on which this film is based.
"Police Chief Regan: To prevent other crimes, your police department has prepared five don'ts. DON'T let your children accept rides from strangers, sometimes these are one-way rides leading to death. The amiable stranger may be a killer. DON'T let your children accept presents from strangers. A bag of popcorn or a candy bar is not worth your child's life. DON'T send children on after-dark errands, the night works in behalf of the killer who preys on our young. If you must have something from the store after sundown, get it yourself. DON'T let your child play unattended in wooded places or empty lots. Though your eyes aren't on them, somebody else's may be watching. DON'T let your children become friendly with Pop, that nice old character in your neighborhood. Most of these men are harmless, but there are exceptions. It's up to you to make sure your child isn't the victim of one of these exceptions. And now for one all important do: If you notice any suspicious characters lurking around schools and playgrounds, DO call at once, your police department: Central 5000, the life you save may be your child's life."
"Charlie Marshall, crime boss: I'm glad you're here to defend me, Dan, Riggert just said that I'm the baby killer. Riggert: Oh I didn't mean you personally, boss. Charlie Marshall, crime boss: Make me a case, counselor, I'll need that glass. Make me a case. Dan Langley: Gentlemen of the jury, I'll be brief. I know we're all anxious to get away, I myself have a very important case waiting, a case of scotch. But believe me, gentlemen, this is the most important case since I went to the bar. Mr. Marshall here is not only my client, he's my friend, I've known him for years since he was a boy. He was a good boy, good to his mother. Gentlemen you have the faces of honest men, good judges of character, look at my client, you judge for yourselves whether he would be capable of these heinous crimes by simply asking yourselves, whether you, you for instance, would be capable of killing an innocent baby."
