Classic Film Guide

Testament des Dr. Mabuse, Das (1933)

aka The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

This is a very unique crime-horror film by director Fritz Lang, and a recommended one! Though you may be lost, as I was initially, it doesn't take too long to figure out what is going on: the titled character (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) has plans to create havoc and destroy order in the World (not unlike Hitler?). However, his detailed instructions have to be carried out by others, like Dr. Baum (Oscar Beregi Sr.), because Mabuse is in an insane asylum! In fact, Mabuse dies and his ghostly soul inhabits Baum’s, who then directs the minions to do terrible deeds. One of these henchmen is an ex-con named Thomas Kent (Gustav Diessl), who's recently fallen in love with Lilli (Wera Liessem), from whom he'd borrowed (and repaid) money after he was released from prison. Kent is uncomfortable with performing his role and, after an ingenious escape with Lilli, ends up assisting the (feared by all criminals) police Commissioner Lohmann (Otto Wernicke, playing the same character he did in Lang's M (1931)), who'd been trying to figure out what happened to a former associate named Hofmeister (Karl Meixner) and the assassinated Dr. Kramm (Theodor Loos). Hofmeister had been drummed out of the department for accepting a bribe, but had learned (during the first several minutes of the picture, accompanied only by the pounding sounds of printing presses) both Mabuse’s name, which he etched on his apartment window, and of his counterfeiting plans.

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