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Quotations from M

M is a German drama-thriller film-noir movie about a group of criminals who help the police of a German city catch a child-murderer. Directed by Fritz Lang. Starring Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke, and Gustaf Gründgens. The film is based on a newspaper article written by Egon Jacobson.

M is a wonderful movie that is chilling and very exciting. Read some quotes from this fantastic film that was remade several times.


Pickpocket with 6 Watches: There are more police on the street tonight than whores.
[to union member asleep next to him]
Beggar's Union Member: Stop snoring! You'll wake up the lice.
Hans Beckert: I can't help what I do! I can't help it, I can't...
Criminal: The old story! We never can help it in court!
Hans Beckert: What do you know about it? Who are you anyway? Who are you? Criminals? Are you proud of yourselves? Proud of breaking safes or cheating at cards? Things you could just as well keep your fingers off. You wouldn't need to do all that if you'd learn a proper trade or if you'd work. If you weren't a bunch of lazy bastards. But I... I can't help myself! I have no control over this, this evil thing inside of me, the fire, the voices, the torment!
Schraenker: Do you mean to say that you have to murder?
Hans Beckert: It's there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets, following me, silently, but I can feel it there. It's me, pursuing myself! I want to escape, to escape from myself! But it's impossible. I can't escape, I have to obey it. I have to run, run... endless streets. I want to escape, to get away! And I'm pursued by ghosts. Ghosts of mothers and of those children... they never leave me. They are always there... always, always, always!, except when I do it, when I... Then I can't remember anything. And afterwards I see those posters and read what I've done, and read, and read... did I do that? But I can't remember anything about it! But who will believe me? Who knows what it's like to be me? How I'm forced to act... how I must, must... don't want to, must! Don't want to, but must! And then a voice screams! I can't bear to hear it! I can't go on! I can't... I can't...
Children: [singing] Just you wait, it won't be long. The man in black will soon be here. With his cleaver's blade so true. He'll make mincemeat out of YOU!
Franz, the burglar: [Franz is being tricked into thinking he killed the night watchman, and is going to jail for it] Please, Herr Kommissar! I'll tell you everything; even who we were looking for in that damned building.
Inspector Groeber: Really. Who?
Franz, the burglar: The child murderer, Herr Kommissar!
Inspector Karl Lohmann: Good God! The window sill!
Hans Beckert: That is a nice ball you have.
Woman in Crowd: Shoot him like a mad dog!
Elisabeth Winkler, Beckert's landlady: Could you speak louder please, I'm a bit hard of hearing.
Policeman: As if I couldn't tell.
Judge: [about to pronounce sentence] In the name of the people...
Grieving Mother: This won't bring back our children. We, too, should keep a closer watch on our children.
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