This is the last part of the mad criminal Dr. Mabuse's story by Fritz Lang. Made in 1933 in the eve of nazi seizure of power in Germany it reflects a lot of the madness that would soon dominate the country. It's not strange to this the fact that the scenario was written by Thea von Harbou then wife of Lang. Von Harbou was pro-nazi. But Lang was not so and he escaped from Germany thus shunning the invitation of Dr. Goebbels to become the movie herald of the regime a role later played by Leni Riefensthal. In this movie which still follows a lot of the expressionist aesthetics that inspired previous German silent movies (Pabst, Murnau), the story develops itself in good rhythm always catching your attention in successive scenes very well structured and acted. Of course you must never forget that the technical means then available were not those at disposal of any director nowadays. Anyway the movie is technically quite efficient according to its aims. Like Hitler Mabuse wanted to dominate the world by the terror generated by his crimes. Of course the movie was never exhibited in Germany during the Nazi era. Dr. Goebbels forbade it.
Review of The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
