Dr. Mabuse the Gambler: Difference between revisions

Line 9:

The film was a major hit in Germany that helped elevate Fritz Lang's directorial career (enabling him to produce big-budget projects like ''Die Nibelungen'' and ''[[Metropolis (Film)|Metropolis]]'') and turned lead actor Rudolf Klein-Rogge into a popular stock villain star. It is remembered today for its innovative narrative techniques, Expressionist imagery, complex commentary on the Weimar Republic, and for codifying many of the tropes associated with organized crime films.

Lang followed with the belated but highly acclaimed sequel ''The Testament of Doctor Mabuse'' in 1933, and the less well-regarded ''The Thousand Eyes of Doctor Mabuse'' in 1960. A series of inferior films was spun off from there in the 1960's and 70's, and a new Mabuse film is listed as "in development" on the [[~~IM Db~~]].

Lang followed with the belated but highly acclaimed sequel ''The Testament of Doctor Mabuse'' in 1933, and the less well-regarded ''The Thousand Eyes of Doctor Mabuse'' in 1960. A series of inferior films was spun off from there in the 1960's and 70's, and a new Mabuse film is listed as "in development" on the [[IMDb]].

----

=== The ''Dr Mabuse'' films provide examples of: ===

Line 23:

* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: {{spoiler|Carozza kills herself because of Mabuse's order.}} This trope is inverted, because not hero, but villain kills {{spoiler|herself}} for evil goals.

* [[Hypnotic Eyes]]: This is a part of Dr. Mabuse's whole schtick, perhaps played most memorably in the card playing scenes ("YOU TAKE")

* [[I Have You Now My Pretty]]: When Mabuse kidnaps {{spoiler|Countess Told.}}

* [[I Have You Now, My Pretty]]: When Mabuse kidnaps {{spoiler|Countess Told.}}

* [[Manipulative Bastard]]: Mabuse, again. He manipulates people to his own gain, [[Driven to Suicide|drives them to suicide]], and succesfully outsmarts police. {{spoiler|Till the end.}}

* [[Master of Disguise]]: Mabuse; however, Lang intentionally makes these [[Paper Thin Disguise|Paper Thin Disguises]] for the benefit of the audience.

* [[Master of Disguise]]: Mabuse; however, Lang intentionally makes these [[Paper-Thin Disguise|Paper Thin Disguises]] for the benefit of the audience.

* [[Morally Ambiguous Doctorate]]: Mabuse is a respected psychoanalyst and hypnotist, talents he incorporates into his evil schemes.

* [[Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate]]: Mabuse is a respected psychoanalyst and hypnotist, talents he incorporates into his evil schemes.

* [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job]]: Edgar Hull, one of Mabuse's victims.

* [[Scream Discretion Shot]]: A silent example. After one offscreen instance of the aforementioned driven-to-suicide, one character walks in to discover the body. Cue titlecard: "BLOOD!"