The Testament of Dr. Mabuse

"Madman? Monster? Murderer? Scientist?"

1933 2h 2m DE

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 298

CrimeMysteryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After a detective is assaulted by thugs and placed in an asylum run by Professor Baum, he observes the professor's preoccupation with another patient, the criminal genius Dr. Mabuse the hypnotist. When Mabuse's notes are found to be connected with a rash of recent crimes, Commissioner Lohmann must determine how Mabuse is communicating with the criminals, despite conflicting reports on the doctor's whereabouts, and capture him for good.

“Madman? Monster? Murderer? Scientist?”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Rudolf Klein-Rogge
Dr. Mabuse
Oscar Beregi Sr.
Prof. Dr. Baum
Camilla Spira
Juwelen-Anna
Otto Wernicke
Kommissar Lohmann
Paul Henckels
Lithograph
Theo Lingen
Karetzky
Rudolf Schündler
Hardy
Theodor Loos
Dr. Kramm

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Fritz Lang
Writers: Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou
Languages: German
Countries: Germany, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

93 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Germany, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Dr. Mabuse Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Fritz Arno Wagner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hans Erdmann. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Conrad von Molo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Rudolf Klein-Rogge and Oscar Beregi Sr. and Camilla Spira carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Madman? Monster? Murderer? Scientist?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Fritz Lang directs. Fritz Arno Wagner behind the camera. Hans Erdmann scores. Conrad von Molo cuts. Produced in Germany, France. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

193 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: Germany, France.
3Part of the "Dr. Mabuse Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Fritz Arno Wagner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Hans Erdmann. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Conrad von Molo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Rudolf Klein-Rogge and Oscar Beregi Sr. and Camilla Spira carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Madman? Monster? Murderer? Scientist?".
9IMDB entry: tt0023563 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Fritz Arno Wagner
Original score: Hans Erdmann
Editing: Conrad von Molo
Costume design: Hans Kothe
Makeup / hair: Franz Siebert
Sound: Adolf Jansen
Runtime: 122 min · 2h 2m
Status: Released
Box office: $27,690
Original language: DE
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

Part of

Dr. Mabuse Collection

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (German: Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler) is the first film in the Dr. Mabuse series about the character Doctor Mabuse who featured in the novels of Norbert Jacques. It was directed by Fritz Lang and released in 1922. The film is silent and would be followed by the sound sequels The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) and The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960). It is four and a half hours long and divided into two parts, originally released a month apart. The title, Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler, makes use of three meanings of the German Der Spieler which can mean gambler, puppeteer, or actor. The character Dr. Mabuse, who disguises himself, manipulates people, and is a notorious gambler, embodies all senses of the word. Therefore, the Player might be a more appropriate translation of the title. The film is included in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, being the first of five Lang films to be entered.

Also by

Fritz Lang

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What people are saying

talisencrw2016-05-13
★ 9/10
There is such a joy I get when I watch the crime or noir films of Fritz Lang. Here's a man that truly understands evil. Though I have yet to see all of his Mabuse works, I can't wait to see every single interpretation--both by him and others--of one of my very favourite cinematic villains. Furthermore, I greatly relish seeing the works of great filmmakers who use subtlety and cleverness to get their art out in the most difficult of circumstances, using their craftsmanship to take pokes at the oppressive regimes they are working under (i.e., Eisenstein, Lang, the Czech New Wave, Jafar Panahi). Essential for any fan of the genre, and worth both purchasing and rewatching if you, like me, are a work of a remarkable director at the pinnacle of his profession.

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