The Terror of Doctor Mabuse

While TESTAMENT is preferable to the rather weak THOUSAND EYES OF DOCTOR MABUSE, you'd still be better off looking for the silent Mabuse films -- DOCTOR MABUSE, THE GAMBLER, for example. It just isn't the same without Fritz Lang, though Lang is not at his best after 1960, in my opinion (apart from his INDIAN TOMB two-parter, a stylish classic and direct influence on INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM). Klingler tries, but he's just not up to the Master's standards.

This movie is so silly, you've got to love it. The way the actors keep a straight face to the nonsense their up to is absolutely delightful.

There are countless great scenes to witness. My favorite one: When Inspector Lohmann studies Mabuses "secret" plans he's informed that a bank has been robbed. Immediately he pulls out the master-plan out of a heap of shabby looking pages. The "plan" is shown briefly. Do yourself a favor and push the stop-button there. You'll see some badly drawn figures, a few stars and the words "unternehmen stadbank" (operation city-bank?). That's the plan of a mastermind of crime! Watch the scene when informer "Locke" is chased by his gang. It's a very bad copy of the chase-scene in the beginning of the original version. It's good proof how good Fritz Lang actually was.

The 3rd Dr. Mabuse with the team Wolfgang Preiss + Gert Fröbe is added here with C. Reigner. Meanwhile the 'Dr. Mabuse' had become well known in other continents, too. I think this movie is more finicky and tricky, than the others, but still tentious and good. So I recommend it.

I loved the movie specially the trick for busting the money van !

One of the great successes of my Bucharest childhood, still valid and captivating after 53 years. Re-watched with great interest & pleasure in October 2017. All the actors very good, entertaining story, precise direction, discreet nice music by Raimund Rosenberger . Small role for the young and beautiful Senta Berger. Gert Fröbe full of charm, Wolfgang Preiss very convincing, the same Charles Regnier and Walter Rilla. The cinematography of Albert Benitz is impeccable. I'm sure it will be still good in 100 years from now... and more...