"M"

1) What is the author's argument for the success or lack of success for films that deal with these themes? 2) Choose two of the films sampled from and analyze how they depict murder in the film and how it relates to M.

     In the blog "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep: A brief history of child murder in cinema" the author explains that many of the films that became successful and featured child murder, did not explicitly show any of the gruesome acts but, rather only mentioned it. As the author mentions in his opening line "child murder and pedophilia" is a "queasy subject" and a taboo for society. Cinematographers are at a disadvantage when trying to make a film that incorporates these themes. Nevertheless, the more successful ones, are able to incorporate said themes into a broader subject such as: Insanity or Socio-economic factors.
      
     In the case of the movie "M (1931)" there is a child murderer lurking in a German town, which is eventually captured and convicted. This classic film, readily omits the portrayal of the killings, and also does not go into much details of the killings. It seems to just scratch the surface and not really delve into any specifics. I believe this is the reason why it was accepted by the audience. 

    A night on Elm's Street is another classic film that features child murders as a theme. This movie was a hit because it was able to portray Freddy Krueger not as a child killer but rather a teen slasher and this made it acceptable for audiences. The idea behind these movies is not to showcase details of the gruesome murders or any sexual aberrations done to children, but to shine a light on an issue which most people hate to talk about.

     Lastly, "Tenderness of Wolves" with its protagonist being a gay, sadistic, and vampiristic murderer seemed too much for audiences. The idea of the protagonist killing biting his victims on the throat to murder them and then sell their remains as pork chops seemed too explicit. I believe that when talking about these themes, one should be very careful on how much information one should display.



Using the three films we have watched, write a short essay either in support of, or against this position. What evidence from the films can be interpreted as desire for an authoritarian leader? Or, if Kracauer is wrong, as later theorists have said, what evidence suggests a rejection of authoritarianism and promotes democratic values?


    It is my personal opinion that all three movies that we have seen "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" "Blue Angel" and "M(1931)"  does not reveal a desire for an authoritarian leader, instead, all of them reflect the uncertainty that plagued Germany post WWI and the chaos that ensued within its population. Perhaps in some respect, certain characters might have foreshadowed the rise of Hitler, but to say that it was a desire seems farfetched. The prevalent themes that arise within each film such as: Muders, Delusion, Insecurity, Chaos, etc...  These theme manifested the reality of German living and the impact that the hype-inflation caused.  Desperate times call for desperate measures and Germany was at the brink of self destruction because of repercussions of past events. It is because of these factors that all three films portray German citizens as insecure, delusional and living in a state of fear.

   In the movie "M" a child predator is on the loose and people are stricken with awe at the heinous acts.  The police are working non-stop trying to catch this bandit. In an ironic twist, it is the underground mafia mob that manages to capture him and try him themselves. This last scene, makes a mockery of the democratic judicial system because it allows the criminals to act as judges and jury. Nevertheless, the film underlines the importance of a judicial trial, found only in a democratic system. 

    In "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" Cesare the insomniac is ordered to murder Jane by his master Dr. Caligari. These two characters reflect the idea that the upperclass or bourgeois
controlled the proletariat or ordinary citizens. This reflects the condition in which Germany found itself before the war and which sparked Karl Marx to write his famous book "Communist Manifesto."  The twisting ending, reveals that all of the movie was just a delusional story created by a mental patient. With respects to "Blue Angel" the idea of an authoritarian figure succumbing to the sexual exploits of a singer and eventually end up being a clown, supports the rejection of authoritarianism.  

   In conclusion, I do not believe that an authoritarian government was desired. Instead the socioeconomic factors at play were an important theme incorporated into all three films.  Also, the inclusion of the democratic values, such as the trail held by the criminals in the "M" movie give the impression that democracy was still present and followed.