ein Seit von Vannessa Jaqua und Brian Johnson

The police are stymied by a lack of clues. One procedure recently initiated is nightly raids on known hangouts of criminals.

A raid on The Crocodile is presented. We are introduced to Inspector Lohmann, chief of the Murder Squad. Across the street from the cafe a meeting takes place after the raid of representatives of divisions of the union of criminals. Schranker, master criminal, presides. The frenzied, indiscriminate activities of the police are endangering illegal activities. The four representatives agree with Schranker that they must attempt to capture the Murderer themselves.

Meanwhile, at a meeting city officials approve of Lohmann's plan to check on all mental patients released from asylums in the last five years.

The members of the beggars' union act as the eyes of the underworld in its search for the child killer. The police also are active. A detective searches the room of Hans Beckert, a former mental patient. While the detective is in the room, we follow Beckert, who is the Murderer, as he is frustrated in his designs on a little girl alone on a street, and we see that he struggles with his violent impulses.

In Lohmann's office, the detective gives his report. The brand of an empty packet of cigarettes found in Beckert's room is the clue the chief of the Murder Squad has sought. A second search of the suspect's room leads to conclusive proof that Beckert is the Murderer. The detective and two other plainclothes men wait for him to return.

At the same time that the police are finally having some success in their investigation, the criminals are also closing in on the Murderer. A Blind Beggar recognizes a tune being whistled in the distance as the one he heard when he sold a balloon to the man with Elsie Beckmann. He sends a colleague, Henry, after the Murderer. Henry manages to chalk an "M" on the back of the Murderer's coat, and then informs his superiors by telephone that the Murderer is being followed.

The Murderer runs from the young girl he is taking into a toy shop when he discovers the mark on his back. He evades his pursuers by disappearing into an office building. He hides in the loft, but is locked in there by a Night Watchman who is unaware of his presence.

Schranker and his associates raid the building, tie up the watchmen, and begin a thorough search. While the search is going on, the Murderer attempts to force open the lock in the loft door. Before he succeeds, however, he is located by the criminals. One of the bound watchmen manages to set off an alarm. In the moments before the police arrive, the criminals reach their victim and leave with him. The Burglar, one of the searchers inadvertently left behind, is apprehended by the police. Lohmann tricks him into revealing what has happened and where the Murderer has been taken.

In an abandoned distillery the Murderer is put on trial by members of the underworld. He is assigned a Lawyer. The Blind Beggar gives evidence. In an anguished confession the child murderer states that he cannot help murdering. The "defense Lawyer" supports his client and demands that the accused be handed over to the police.

After a moment of hesitation the "jury" of criminals divests itself of all pretense at lawfulness and moves as a mob toward the Murderer. Suddenly there is silence as everyone looks toward the cellar door. The police have arrived. A hand grips the Murderer's shoulder as a voice proclaims, "In the name of the law...." Fade to black.

from: http://course1.winona.msus.edu/pjohnson/h140/m2.htm

Fritz Lang's 'M'

"There are more police on the street tonight than whores"
Pickpocket with 6 watches