One of the legendary epics of the silent cinema - and the first part of a trilogy that Fritz Lang developed up to the very end of his career - Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler. [Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler.] is a masterpiece of conspiracy that, even as it precedes the mind - blowing Spione from the close of Lang's silent cycle, constructs its own dark labyrinth from the base materials of human fear and paranoia.
Rudolf Klein-Rogge plays Dr. Mabuse, the criminal mastermind whose nefarious machinations provide the cover for - or describe the result of - the economic upheaval and social bacchanalia at the heart of Weimar - era Berlin. Initiated with the arch - villain's diabolical manipulation of the stock - market, and passing through a series of dramatic events based around hypnotism, charlatanism, hallucinations, Chinese incantations, cold - blooded murder, opiate narcosis and cocaine anxiety, Lang's film maintains an unrelenting power all the way to the final act... which culminates in the terrifying question: ''WHERE IS MABUSE?''
A bridge between Feuillade's somnambulistic serial-films and modern media-narratives of elusive robber-barons, Lang s two-part classic set the template for the director s greatest works: social commentary as superpsychology, poised at the brink of combustion. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Lang's early masterpiece in its fully restored version on Blu-ray in 1080p for the first time ever.
Special Features
- New, officially licensed transfer from restored HD materials
- New and improved optional English subtitles with original intertitles
- Exclusive feature-length audio commentary by film-scholar and Lang expert David Kalat
- Three video pieces: an interview with the composer of the restoration score, a discussion of Norbert Jacques, creator of Dr. Mabuse, and an examination of the films motifs in the context of German silent cinema
- 32-PAGE BOOKLET featuring vintage reprints of writing by Lang and rare archival imagery
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