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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic from the silent era and the birth of a great, evil character,
By Basileus (UK / NL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dr Mabuse - The Gambler [1922] [DVD] (DVD)
"Dr. Mabuse - der Spieler" is a four-and-a-half hour German silent film, directed by the legendary film maker Fritz Lang. Created by Norbert Jacques, Dr Mabuse is the ultimate villain. He plans and perpetrates his crimes and like a Mafia boss remains untouchable because the crimes are mostly committed through a network of often hypnotised henchman. His only motivation to destroy makes him a nihilist and a psychopath. His life of crime is jeopardized however, when inspector Wenk gets on his tail and he slowly realizes what kind of opponent he is dealing with. The chase between detective Wenk and Dr. Mabuse keeps you glued to the screen and has all the hallmarks of a hunt for a serial killer.
"Dr Mabuse - Der Spieler" is a classic film in more than one way. The film techniques and special effects used by Lang in 1920 were ahead of their time, although they look old-fashioned and somewhat amateuristic nowadays. In addition, this was the first film Lang and Rudolf Klein-Rogge (who plays Dr. Mabuse) worked together. Six years later, the latter would play Professor Rotwang in Lang's famous "Metropolis". Last but not least, this film has been the start of a whole series of "Dr. Mabuse" films and the character has been the inspiration for many other evil characters. It normally takes me 15 minutes to get into a silent film, but not with "Dr. Mabuse", I was hooked from the first scene. This is a classic and should be part of any silent film fan's or film historian's collection.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dr Mabuse - The Gambler: a true classic film,
By PTFC 1876 "Davie" (Glasgow, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dr Mabuse - The Gambler [1922] [DVD] (DVD)
Fritz Lang's silent masterpiece is split into two parts and lasts about four hours. But, like a lot of Lang's films, it sets off at a whirlwind pace with an attack and robbery of a secret, commercial treaty on a moving express train. Dr. Mabuse, a man who amuses himself though gambling with human lives and destinies, uses the stolen information to corner the stock exchange. This is just the beginning of a epic struggle between moral individualism and the seemingly invincible powers of an evil mastermind.
The print is crisp, the soundtrack is great,( a jazzy, Kurt Weil-sh, Mack the Knife-like piano score). The intertitles are in the original German with an English translation; and here there is a minor annoyance with some titles being an almost literal translation along the lines of, ' since two days I am waiting now." but that is a small irritation in an otherwise excellent package. Sometimes the image presented reminds us how long ago it is; the First World war had been over for less than five years. It seems other wordly in some aspects, (such as the policemen all carrying swords ): but very modern in others, (malevolent terrorism for no logical purpose). Dr Mabuse is the prototype of every James Bond villain you have ever seen. Well worth the purchase: an excellent introduction to silent films.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ghost of the Manipulator,
By
This review is from: Dr Mabuse - The Gambler [1922] [DVD] (DVD)
An interesting film, historically both in terms of the development of films and the attitudes and politics of the twentieth century - as well as illustrating the enigma and the skill of Fritz Lang himself.
Technically impressive, lively ... effective ... but rationally and logically preposterous: impact and effect have been given precedence over coherence and sense of plot ... supernatural events allow the cutting of rational corners! There are also ambiguities and discontinuities ... poorly matched disparate plot lines? ... which are carried through on the vigour of the action but also reflect Fritz Lang's own ambiguities of intent (political? anti-nazi or not?) and his dubious accounts of dealings with Doctor Goebbels and the regime. The accompanying "documentary essay" is as interesting as the film itself. .
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