Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922)

Arch-criminal Dr. Mabuse sets out to make a fortune and run Berlin. Detective Wenk sets out to stop him.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Norbert Jacques (novel), Fritz Lang

Stars:

Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Aud Egede-Nissen, Gertrude Welcker

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rudolf Klein-Rogge	...	Dr. Mabuse
Aud Egede-Nissen	...	Cara Carozza, the dancer
Gertrude Welcker	...	Countess Dusy Told (as Gertrude Welker)
Alfred Abel	...	Count Told / Richard Fleury - US version
Bernhard Goetzke	...	Prosecutor von Wenk / Chief Inspector Norbert von Wenck / Chief Inspector De Witt - US version
Paul Richter	...	Edgar Hull
Robert Forster-Larrinaga	...	Spoerri
Hans Adalbert Schlettow	...	Georg, the Chauffeur (as Hans Adalbert von Schlettow)
Georg John	...	Pesch
Károly Huszár	...	Hawasch (as Karl Huszar)
Grete Berger	...	Fine, a servant
Julius Falkenstein	...	Karsten
Lydia Potechina	...	The Russian
Julius E. Herrmann	...	Emil Schramm (as Julius Herrmann)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julietta Brandt	...	(as Julie Brandt)

Storyline

Dr. Mabuse and his organization of criminals are in the process of completing their latest scheme, a theft of information that will allow Mabuse to make huge profits on the stock exchange. Afterwards, Mabuse disguises himself and attends the Folies Bergères show, where Cara Carozza, the main attraction of the show, passes him information on Mabuse's next intended victim, the young millionaire Edgar Hull. Mabuse then uses psychic manipulation to lure Hull into a card game where he loses heavily. When Police Commissioner von Wenk begins an investigation of this mysterious crime spree, he has little to go on, and he needs to find someone who can help him.

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Plot Keywords:

black and white | black and white film | silent film | berlin germany | 1920s | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

30 September 1922 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler

Filming Locations:

Berliner Union-Film, Oberlandstraße 26-35, Tempelhof, Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Uco-Film GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

297 min (restored) 100 min (part 2) 95 min (part 1) 114 min (part 2) 154 min (part 1) 231 min (video) 271 min (Murnau Foundation restoration)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The car seen in the first few minutes of the film, during the train robbery, is a 1911 Brennabor Landaulet Typ F. Brennabor was the biggest auto manufacturer in Germany for part of the 1920s, to be surpassed eventually by Opel. The company stopped producing automobiles by the early 1930s, and went back to producing baby carriages, bicycles and motorcycles. It was finally dismantled in 1945.

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Goofs

Towards the end of part II, one of Mabuse's henchmen is thrown into a cell and tries to climb the walls to get at the barred window. The left wall flexes several inches as he puts his foot to it.

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Quotes

Prosecutor von Wenk: [Password] Pineapple.
Waiter, Club Andalusia Palace: Cocaine or cards?
Prosecutor von Wenk: Cards.

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Alternate Versions

In 1995 it was released in Spain on a silent films collection on video. There was a reduced version of 88 minutes retitled "The Fatal Passion". Originally distributed by "The Interstellar Film Company".

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Connections

Followed by Doctor Mabuse 3

User Reviews

Mabuse

Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler (1922)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Part one of Fritz Lang's epic two part series as Dr. Mabuse making a potion that will allow him to rob people at the card table but soon one of his former victims and the State Attorney are hot on his trail. Needless to say, this thing is masterfully directed by Lang who builds the perfect underworld and allows a really beautiful and exciting film to take place. The cinematography is also brilliant and the performances are nice as well. There's a bit of a dry spot towards the end but the climax is perfectly executed to make way for part two.

Dr. Mabuse: King of Crime (1922)

*** (out of 4)

Part two of Lang's epic has Dr. Mabuse slowly coming unraveled. I found the first part of the film to be more entertaining overall but the ending to this part can't be topped as it shows Lang in an early stage doing something that would later be seen in M. The ending inside the tunnel and the follow up of Mabuse being "haunted" contains terrific atmosphere and manages to be quite creepy as well. However, the first part of this film really drags in spots mainly because the camera is taken off Mabuse and centers on the other characters, none of which are as interesting as Mabuse. With the two films running nearly four-hours, Lang manages to make a very impressive epic, although some of this could have used some editing.