 M is most likely Fritz Lang at his finest: Use of symbolism, scenes which seem so simple but are in fact full of terror-check Lorre at he toy store window-you see the face of a man possesed of demons and knows it and the self hatred which follows. I could go on but I don't want to write a thesis.  In my opinion every shot, angle, what is seen and what isn't, the "Police" vs the "Police", the fact that Lorre is not seen in many scenes, but we know he's there.  Lang is probably my favorite director of the German silent era and his first few films in Hollywood.  Check out Fury (I know it isn't foreign?).  I agree with your introduction to this topic.  I saw M and my mind went out of control.  Danke vielmals.