The testament of Dr. Mabuse
| release date | April 12 1933 |
| studio | The Criterion Collection |
| director | Fritz Lang |
| writer | Fritz Lang, Norbert Jacques, Thea von Harbou |
| starring | Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Otto Wernicke, Oscar Beregi Sr., Paul Bernd, Henry Pless |
| tagline | Fritz Lang's masterpiece. The most tremendous film of the present. |
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This talkie sequel to Fritz Lang’s silent “Dr. Mabuse” (1933) can be described as “Hitchcock meets German expressionism”. Sounds awesome, you say? It sure is.
A crime syndicate controlled by a mysterious mastermind is terrorizing post WWI Germany. During his turbulent investigation, police detective Lohmann discovers evidence that Germany’s public enemy nr. 1, the evil genius Dr. Mabuse, might be behind a sinister plot to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. But how can this be? Mabuse has been in a catatonic state since his arrest, safely locked away in a mental facility…
“Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse” looks like a police action thriller: Lang uses explosions, car chases, elaborate death traps, shootouts and ingenious interrogations to reveal a tale of psychological terror far more disturbing than the resulting crime spree.
The last half hour of the movie is the most rewarding: as the protagonists zone in on their quarry, the viewer is taken on a crazy ride that may leave some haunting images burned on their retinas.
Surpassing the original film, “Das Testament” is a classic of Western cinema, establishing Fritz Lang as one of the most talented directors of early cinema.