The Invisible Dr. Mabuse

This movie really marked the decline in the fabled Dr. Mabuse series, at least for me. I think it was the inclusion of the invisibility schtick...Dr. Mabuse works much better with realism and realistic devices (his multitude of video and audio pick-ups, his mind control drugs, etc.) than fanciful items out of science fiction.

This film also suffered for not having Gert Frobe in the picture as Commissioner Lohmann to counterpoint Lex Barker's suave FBI agent (who this time does not even attempt to confuse us as to which side of the law he is on).

Still, there is a lot of good action in this film, and the cinematography is excellent as well. Definitely worth a look.

Criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse is suspected by FBI agent Joe Como (Lex Barker) of being involved in a plot to obtain an invisibility formula devised by Professor Erasmus (Rudolf Fernau). In between his attempts to stop the villains' mad scheme, Joe finds time to romance stage performer Liane Martin (Karin Dor).

"The Invisible Dr. Mabuse" is definitely a decent entry in this series, even as it takes this little side-step into science-fiction. Barker is a charismatic hero, Dor of course is very easy on the eyes, and the supporting cast is good. Basically, there is enough comedy, action, and atmosphere to make this an okay viewing, as well as a (predictable) plot twist or two.

Gert Frobe as the Commissioner IS missed, but all in all this shows its audience a pretty good time.

This was the fourth entry in the series, and the second to utilize American star Barker.

Six out of 10.

The evil Dr. Mabuse is after a scientists invisiblity formula to create an invisible army in order to take over the world. Thankfully a top FBI agent is on his trail. This film has good serial type thrills and is fun to watch if one is willing to suspend disbelief. Its great to see Lex Barker in a role other than Tarzan for a change. However, the poor English dubbing make his performance hard to judge.

Working on Operation X, FBI agent Nick Prado is eliminated by a bizarre group of thugs. Joe Como is another FBI man who is flown in to investigate. At the morgue where Prado's body is, Como comes across another visitor. She is dancer Liane Martin who has the feeling there is an invisible stalker after her. A disfigured doctor is using invisibility to be near her without her seeing his mutilation. Liane comes under the mind control of Dr. Mabuse who has returned from the dead once again. I like these 1960s krimis. Mabuse is always shadowy and he's probably even more in the background in this one. As well as the invisible man movies, there is a nod to Phantom of the Opera with a disfigured man using a theater to get close to his object of desire. Liane wearing whispering earrings when she is being controlled is a great touch.

Dr. Mabuse, the nefarious supercriminal who regularly confounds the authorities with his ill-conceived and far-fetched world domination schemes, is ready to do battle once more with the forces of good. This time he's after a invisibility gizmo invented by a disfigured scientist seeking to hide his ugliness. One time Tarzan, Lex Barker, plays Mabuse's nemesis--FBI Agent Joe Como. The scientist likes to hang out at a theater where he can spy on the actress of his dreams. Apparently, he thought that by making himself invisible she wouldn't be frightened of him. Evidently, it never occurred to him that moving things around and touching her while he's invisible might frighten her. Is this guy a loser or what?

Eventually, Mabuse gets his evil hands on the device and creates a small army of transparent thugs. The plan is for them to wreak havoc and plunge the world into chaos. It's up to Joe Como and his band of incompetent German cops to thwart the scheme.

The writing for this film is incredibly bad. For example, since when did the FBI's jurisdiction extend to Germany? How did Mabuse know about the invisible man's obsession for the actress? In fact, how did Mabuse know there was an invisibility gadget? I also don't know how the scientist knew that Mabuse knew. Since the scientist was invisible why didn't he use that advantage to locate Mabuse and thwart his plans? Or better yet, since he allegedly cared so much for the actress why didn't he just make another device for her? She could then become invisible if Mabuse's goons threatened her? In my opinion, Dr. Mabuse isn't half as crazy as the folks who produced this turkey.