{"id":71424,"date":"2021-04-15T11:21:41","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T18:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=71424"},"modified":"2021-04-26T11:22:00","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T18:22:00","slug":"dr-mabuse-the-gambler-dr-mabuse-der-spieler-1922","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=71424","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler \/ Dr. Mabuse, Der  Spieler (1922)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s no love; there&#8217;s only desire. There&#8217;s no luck &#8212; there&#8217;s only the will to power!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-71425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Poster.png 568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA diabolical hypnotist-criminal named Dr. Mabuse (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) &#8212; who relies on assistance from his cocaine-addicted personal servant (Robert Forster-Larrinaga) and various other goons, as well as dance hall girl &#8220;Cara Carozza&#8221; (Aud Egede-Nissen) to carry out his gambling cons &#8212; sets his sights on the son (Paul Richter) of a millionaire industrialist, not realizing Carozza will fall for Richter. Meanwhile state prosecutor Norbert von Wenk (Bernhard Goetzke) goes undercover to try to identify the mysterious criminal wreaking so much havoc, enlisting help from a bored countess (Gertrude Welcker) whose husband (Alfred Abel) is one of Dr. Mabuse&#8217;s most recent victims.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cat-and-Mouse<\/li>\n<li>Con-Artists<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Fritz Lang Films<\/li>\n<li>German Films<\/li>\n<li>Mind Control and Hypnosis<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>Silent Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary opens his review of this two-part epic silent film by Fritz Lang by noting the high variability of its length in various iterations; thankfully, recent technology and restoration efforts allow modern film fanatics to view it in its full length of 229 minutes, with DVD commentary on (if desired) to clarify its historical positioning. Peary writes that the film was &#8220;certainly influenced by <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4897\"><em>Caligari<\/em><\/a>, and probably <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5388\"><em>Nosferatu<\/em><\/a> as well,&#8221; with &#8220;Fritz Lang&#8217;s diabolical villain&#8221; relying &#8220;on mind control to destroy people.&#8221; Dr. Mabuse is a true forerunner of the cinematic supervillain &#8212; someone who &#8220;doesn&#8217;t care about making money, although his criminal activities make him and his gang rich, but gets his pleasure from wielding power and, as he says, interfering in people&#8217;s lives and determining their fates.&#8221; Peary argues that &#8220;critics have rightly criticized the decision to have Mabuse fall in love&#8221; (with Welcker) &#8220;because it diminishes him from being a supervillain to being just a villainous human,&#8221; but I disagree; there&#8217;s no evidence that Mabuse&#8217;s kidnapping of Welcker is anything other than part of his grand scheme for ultimate control. <\/p>\n<p>Peary notes that the &#8220;film&#8217;s visuals aren&#8217;t as impressive as those in other Lang silents, and the melodrama is not as exciting as one would hope &#8212; due in part to Goetzke being a dull hero &#8212; but Mabuse is a classic character who would become the model for future screen villains: he is proof that there is little distinction between genius and madness, that the criminal mind works in the same way as the minds of the men (like Goetzke) who work to prevent crime (Lang often makes the link between the criminal and the policeman).&#8221; Other reviewers have similarly supplemented our understanding of Mabuse&#8217;s symbolic resonance, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s319mabuse.html\">DVD Savant writing<\/a> that he &#8220;felt he&#8217;d been hit by one of Colonel Kurtz&#8217; diamond bullets of enlightenment when he saw <em>Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler<\/em> in 1980,&#8221; given that &#8220;it seemed like the missing link of pulp fantasy for the twentieth century, the story that connected Batman to James Bond to Cody Jarrott to Judex to Sherlock Holmes to Darth Vader.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>DVD Savant further adds that: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8230; author <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norbert_Jacques\">Norbert Jacques&#8217;<\/a> idea of taking all the ills of his dysfunctional society, and representing them with one monstrous villain with supernormal powers, has been an unstoppable formula throughout the last century, so popular and penetrative that most of the world today seems to think that the problems and conflicts of our modern world are &#8217;caused&#8217; by villainous individuals, instead of being the result of conflicting ideologies and power-based inequities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While it&#8217;s overlong, slow, and creaky at times, I believe film fanatics will be curious to check out <em>Dr. Mabuse<\/em> once &#8212; particularly given Klein-Rogge&#8217;s surprisingly powerful performance in the title role; the look of pure malice in his eyes is enough to convince you that evil personified <em>does<\/em> exist in the world. <\/p>\n<p>Favorite throw-away line: &#8220;Cocaine or cards?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rudolf Klein-Rogge as Dr. Mabuse<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Klein-Rogge-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Impressive make-up and disguises for Mabuse<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Disguise-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Memorable supporting characters<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Supporting1-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects1-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Special-Effects2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-71433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography.png 960w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dr-Mabuse-Cinematography-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for its historical importance and as early evidence of Lang&#8217;s brilliance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1458\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0013086\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/490897\/dr-mabuse-the-gambler#articles-reviews?articleId=1196071\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/dr-mabuse-der-spieler-1922.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s319mabuse.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/dr-mabuse-the-gambler\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no love; there&#8217;s only desire. There&#8217;s no luck &#8212; there&#8217;s only the will to power!&#8221; Synopsis: A diabolical hypnotist-criminal named Dr. Mabuse (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) &#8212; who relies on assistance from his cocaine-addicted personal servant (Robert Forster-Larrinaga) and various other goons, as well as dance hall girl &#8220;Cara Carozza&#8221; (Aud Egede-Nissen) to carry out his gambling cons &#8212; sets his sights on the son (Paul Richter) of a millionaire industrialist, not realizing Carozza will fall for Richter. Meanwhile state prosecutor&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=71424\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=71424"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71713,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424\/revisions\/71713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=71424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=71424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=71424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}