Article: Lustmord: Sexual Murder in Weimar Germany.

When, in 1931, Fritz Lang made M, one of the first and greatest sound films, he wanted as his subject "the most heinous crime." The director ultimately hit upon "a child-murderer, a man who is forced ... by some perverted urge ... to kill." (p. 153) Lang was probably right that the wanton murder of little children is one of the most offensive criminal acts imaginable. In the film, the murderer Beckert's deeds are so disturbing that they make allies and competitors of the police and underworld criminals, both determined to be the first to catch, stop, and punish Beckert. The film's riveting climax depicts Beckert's capture and a mock trial by the criminals in which Beckert ...

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