M (1951 film)

Martin W. Harrow (David Wayne) is a compulsive child-murderer who is tracked down and then placed on trial by the criminal underworld in Los Angeles. Syndicate chieftain Marshall (Martin Gabel) organizes his fellow crooks in order to bring "M" to justice, thereby keeping the police off their own backs. Found guilty by his "peers" and sentenced to death, "M" makes an impassioned plea for his life, explaining that he is unable to stop himself from committing his unspeakable crimes.[2]

• David Wayne as Martin W. Harrow
• Howard Da Silva as Inspector Carney
• Luther Adler as Dan Langley
• Martin Gabel as Charlie Marshall
• Steve Brodie as Lt. Becker
• Raymond Burr as Pottsy
• Glenn Anders as Riggert
• Karen Morley as Mrs. Coster
• Norman Lloyd as Sutro
• John Miljan as Blind Ballon Vender
• Walter Burke as MacMahan
• Roy Engel as Police Chief Regan
• Benny Burt as Jansen
• Leonard Bremen as Lembre (as Lennie Bremen)
• Jim Backus as The Mayor
• Janine Perreau as The Last Little Girl
• Frances Karath as Little Girl in Hallway
• Robin Fletcher as Elsie Coster
• Bernard Szold as Bradbury Bldg. Watchman
• Jorja Curtright as Mrs. Stewart

The film was shot on location in downtown Los Angeles, including the now demolished Victorian neighborhood of Bunker Hill. David Wayne's murderous character lived at an eccentric Victorian mansion on Bunker Hill Avenue known as the Max Heindel house because Heindel, a famous astrologer in the early 20th century, had once lived there. Some scenes were shot on and around the funicular Angels Flight on Third Street. But the most spectacular footage takes place within a lengthy sequence shot inside the Bradbury Building on the southeast corner of Broadway and Third (just a block east of Angels Flight). Director Losey used the basement, the distinctive stairways and balconies, and the roof of the building. The Bradbury has been used in many films, including Blade Runner, because of its unique wrought-iron and brick beauty, remaining a popular but restricted tourist attraction today.

When the film was released, an anonymous reviewer at Variety wrote: "David Wayne, as the killer of small children, is effective and convincing. Luther Adler, as a drunken lawyer member of a gangster mob, turns in an outstanding performance, as do Martin Gabel, the gang-leader, and Howard da Silva and Steve Brodie as police officials ... Joseph Losey’s direction has captured the gruesome theme skilfully."[3]

The film was classified by Ohio film censors as unacceptable for public screenings. At the end of 1953, the film's producers appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 1954, M was approved for exhibition in Ohio without any cuts.[4]

• List of American films of 1951

• M at the American Film Institute Catalog
• M on IMDb
• M at the TCM Movie Database
• M at AllMovie