Fritz Lang / Germany 1933 / 2h2min / German with English subtitles / bw
Cast: Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Oskar Beregi, Karl Meixner, Theodor Loos, Otto Wernicke, Klaus Pohl, Wera Liessem
The film continues the tale of the first two parts of Dr. Mabuse and Der Spieler (Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler). The villain continues his demonic dealings in the lunatic asylum, where he has managed to hypnotize the asylum’s director Dr. Baum, bringing him under his control. With Dr. Baum’s assistance, he commands a band of unscrupulous gangsters. As though driven by the furies, Mabuse sits in his cell planning one violent act after another: assassinations, murders, arson, and counterfeit money. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is often considered a decidedly anti-fascist film prophesying the crimes committed by the Nazis. The film is also an extremely clever and well thought-out genre product. This is characterized by Fritz Lang’s masterly use of sound and voices (at a time when the sound film was still in its infancy) corresponding with the use of lighting cues.
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