M (1931)
If there was ever the case for why classic films are more cinematic.
Presentation:
If there was ever the case for why the classics are better than films today, Fritz Lang demonstrates why. This film feels more ambitious than modern films through its camera movement alone. You can even see some of its influence in Kubrick’s work. And yet it was filmed in the 1930s, with surprisingly impressive cinematography that can be appreciated today because of its visual and sonic storytelling. What makes it even more intriguing is the context, juxtaposing the multiple party ideologies of Germany including the fascism that would ultimately lead to the birth of the Nazi regime. But that’s not the focus of the film, this is primarily a thrilling detective noir harkening back to a different cinematic language that will always be timeless.
Conclusion:
With many other classics, sometimes the story can feel logically foreign. But this film never gives you that impression with a presentation that should be nearly as digestible as modern thrillers today. It makes you wonder what more Germany could have accomplished cinematically if they didn’t start World War II. The cinematography here is truly ahead of its time with a surprisingly visceral experience through the use of sound. You’ll never think about whistling the same way again. For students of filmmaking, you’ll probably want to watch this one for its cinematography alone.
Recommendations
Before there was thriller there was Hitchcock.