M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder R2 Germany 80th Ann. ADDED

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Hi folks, here is the data for the German 80th Anniversary 2-DVD release of "M". The running times for the 2011 restoration have me confused, though: Your site as well as the restoration notes at the beginning of the film mention 111 minutes, but the film runs roughly 107 min with the notes and exactly 105 without. This edition should be identical to the Blu-Ray release, for which you give 111 minutes, but the official site of distributor Universum gives 107 minutes for both the BD and DVD editions. I've tried finding further intel on the running time, but failed to find precise listings or comparisons. Maybe you guys can manage to clarify this matter.

Title: M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder
Country: Germany
Region: 0
Releasing Studio: Universum Film
Case Type: Keep Case
Aspect Ratio: 1.19:1
Anamorphic?: no
PAL or NTSC?: PAL
Soundtracks: German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (2001 Preservation Master)
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (2011 Restoration Master)
Subtitles (are they optional?): German, German HoH, English - optional
Cuts: (and if you know it, precise run time) 106:52 min with restoration notes, 105:00 without
Commentaries: Audio commentary with professor Elisabeth Lenk, author Regina Stürickow and restoration producer Torsten Kaiser
Extras:

Disc 1:
*The Film
1960 re-release trailer (02:24)

Disc 2:
Documentaries (with 'Play all' option - 95:57):
- "The Hunt for M" (68:26)
- "M & The Hunt for the Film Elements" (27:31)
"Um die Welt in 80 Jahren" film version comparisons (50:08, with optional audio commentary by restoration producers Torsten Kaiser and Martin Koerber)
"Zum Beispiel: Fritz Lang" 1968 interview with the director (43:32)
"160 000×M: Bild für Bild – die Restauration 2011" documentary (11:55)
1960 re-release trailer (02:24)
Photo galleries:
- behind-the-scenes photography (13 images)
- concept art (10 images)
- press material (22 images; the material involving text is unreadable, but featured in high resolution as part of the DVD-ROM content)
DVD-ROM content:
- "Film-Kurier" 1931 illustrated program
- "Film-Programm" 1960 illustrated program
- "Kriminalmagazin" 1930 special edition about the Düsseldorf murders
- 1931 premiere reports and reviews (partly unreadable)
- German and French press materials and rating notices
- censorship cards featuring the full dialogue, with missing material marked

Notes:
Easter Eggs:
Amazon ASIN (UK, French, German, USA releases only): B0041XS3EM
Source:* I own it.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

On a side note, you have a little typo in the heading for your DVD comparison of "M", with "Murder" instead of "Mörder". Yup I know, German Umlaute are nasty.

[Samuel_Scott]

111 minutes NTSC / 1080p would be the same as 107 minutes PAL. Blu-ray generally is 1080p so does not suffer from PAL speed-up. As you can see in the DVD listing the UK runs 105 mins (no notes), but the US Criterion release is 111 mins, which would be ~4% slower than the 107 mins with notes.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

111 minutes NTSC / 1080p would be the same as 107 minutes PAL. Blu-ray generally is 1080p so does not suffer from PAL speed-up. As you can see in the DVD listing the UK runs 105 mins (no notes), but the US Criterion release is 111 mins, which would be ~4% slower than the 107 mins with notes.

I gotcha on that mate, just thought, based on what I read, that the 2011 restoration had added in some missing material and therefore should be slightly longer than the 105 min PAL of the 2001 restoration.

[Samuel_Scott]

I'm not familiar with the film other than a single watch some years ago, so I am going purely on run times and 4% speed-up. I think James might know more about this film?

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

I think James might know more about this film?

I certainly do!

First off, the 80th Anniversary Blu-ray runtime has been confirmed by one of our staff members from his personal disc.
The German 80th AE runs a few seconds longer because it is the most "complete" with a few shots here and there but nothing significant is missing from the previous restorations, plus as stated the restoration credits increased the runtime.

The Masters of Cinema release (BD and DVD) has a "restored in 2000 by the Netherlands Film Museum" restoration notes at the start.
The Criterion has a "restored in 2000 by the Netherlands Film Museum" restoration notes at the END on the DVD, but not the Blu-ray.

The 2000 restoration credits run approximately 1.5 minutes.

You made me have to dig deep in my closet for my Criterion copy of "M" at 1:00AM...., but I had to check to make sure for myself too.

Anyway, added it, thanks!

[Rafael_Kuehn]

You made me have to dig deep in my closet for my Criterion copy of "M" at 1:00AM...., but I had to check to make sure for myself too.

Anyway, added it, thanks!

A sterling job most certainly deserving of cookies!