Mabuse Is Back

 

 (imdb)

THE TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE-1933-A counterfeit calls Capt. Lohman (Jim Gerald) to tell him he knows who's behind the ring but he goes insane before he can say who the leader is. Then a college professor gives a lecture on the history of the evil mastermind Dr. Mabuse, who's now in an insane asylum scribbling incoherent notes. 

Lehman investigates. At the asylum the man in charge sees an apparition while visiting Mabuse (Rudolph Klein-Rogge). Later, his assistant suggests that the doctor may not be crazy and using hypnotism to commit crimes. On his way to the police, he's killed. There's also Lilli (Monique Rolland) & Tom (Gustav Diessl) who are lovers. But ex-con Tom is torn between his love for Lilli and his criminal activities. When Mabuse dies, it seems his plans are still being carried out. Is he really dead? 

This followed Lang's first Mabuse movie DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER (1922), a gigantic 4 hour epic that had to be shown in 2 parts! It wouldn't be until 1960, 27 years later, that Lang would return with another sequel. The Mabuse character was created by German author Norbert Jacques in 1921.

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Dr. Mabuse!

DR. MABUSE'-THE GAMBLER-1922-Fritz Lang's incredible crime drama introduces Dr. Mabuse' (Rudolf Klein-Rogge; later Rotwang in the director's METROPOLIS),an evil doing master of disguise, manipulator of the world market and counterfeiter. He's also a respected doctor of psychoanalysis who gives lectures to a bunch of weird bearded guys. Folks gather at the Petit Casino where he uses hypnotism to win at cards but state prosecutor Wenk (Bernard Goetzke) proves a good match. Meanwhile Mabuse's "hench-woman" Cara (Aud Egede-Nissen) has an affair with a guy named Hull who owes the doctor a large sum of money. Love plays an important role in all the goings on but Mabuse' proclaims: "There is no such thing as love-there is only passion!". No such thing as luck-only the will to gain power!". Once again showing his genius Lang uses 4 short shots to convey the history of one character! It's nearly 4 hours long but usually shown in two parts: The Gambler and Inferno. Novelist Norbert Jacques (who created the Mabuse' character) and Lang's then wife, actress Thea von Harbou wrote the story with Lang, who made two sequels at the beginning of the sound era.

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