1000eyesofdrmabuse1

It is with a little trepidation that I take on the task of discussing the Dr Mabuse film series from the 1960's.David Kalat has done a wonderful job with his book (The Strange Case Of Dr Mabuse) and his work on the two Dr Mabuse dvds. However this will be from a "fannish" point of view and I hope to divert from some of the groundwork Kalat has covered.Some duplication is inevitable. The first in the 1960s series was the last film ever directed by Fritz Lang.
SPOILERS ALL THROUGHOUT!

The blind psychic Cornelius calls Police Inspector Kras.He warns Kras that a man is about to be murdered.At that very moment, tv reporter Peter Barter is sitting at a traffic light.A steel needle is fired into his brain via a strange weapon from another car by a man known only as number 12.
After the autopsy Kras and his men go to Barter's apartment.The place has been completely ransacked.Kras theorizes that Barter had a sensational scoop and was possibly murdered for it.Kras takes a photo of Barter's girlfriend with him.
A high level police meeting reveals that the blueprints for the gun that fired the steel needle was stolen from the Americans a year ago.The person that was suspected of the theft was found dead and brutally tortured.One police official brings up the name of Dr Mabuse.Mabuse died in an insane asylum in 1932.However the underworld thinks he somehow lives on.This crime fits the exact modus operandi of Dr Mabuse.
The scene switches to the Hotel Luxor. A wealthy American using the name Henry Taylor is there.He is in the process of purchasing a nuclear plant in England and is meeting with the company's officials there.The details of the purchase contract are being hammered out.
Back at Interpol the meeting continues.A series of unsolved murders over the past two years are still being discussed.An airplane crash as a result from sabotage killed the president of a French bank.The stock market dropped as a result.An attorney for a steel company was murdered in a train.An arms dealer was car bombed.Many others are mentioned.Although circumstances were all different, each person stayed at the Hotel Luxor.Interpol has planted an agent there in deep cover.
At the Hotel Luxor there is quite a commotion. A young woman named Marion Menil is on the ledge outside her room in a suicide attempt.Henry Taylor sees her out his window and manages to coax her inside.Here we learn that Taylor is really wealthy industrialist Henry Travers.We learn this from the crowd of reporters outside the room.This is of keen interest to Heironymous P Mistelzweig, a shifty insurance salesman.(To save my sanity he will be referred to as HBM from here on out).
It seems that Marion had just gotten a telegram that upset her greatly.After reading it she went to the ledge.The hotel manager wants her to leave thinking only of the bad publicity.But Travers and Berg the hotel detective promise to keep a watch on her at all times.

Marion wants her doctor, Dr Jordan.As luck would have it he shows up with Sister Agnes.He heard of the incident on the radio and rushed on over. Inspector Kras shows up at the Luxor bar.He meets with Berg and gleans some information.It seems that Marion and Barter met in the bar and went up to her room.Kras decides to question her.He bullies his way past Sister Agnes and questions Marion.Marion claims that Barter was pressuring her for a story and she asked him to leave.Kras reads Marion's telegram and tells her there is no privacy in a criminal investigation (great line).He tells her not to leave town after he mentions getting a phone call.
Kras finds HBM's card in an ashtray in Marion's room.Kras manages to meet HBM and finds out that HBM has an obsession with astrology. He claims it helps him with life insurance sales and also states that he almost sold Barter a policy.HBM also reveals that the Luxor was built by the Nazis and has a bad horoscope.Kras also tells HBM that he got a phone call.Kras is very suspicious of HBM and Marion.
Travers nearly runs down Cornelius in his car.He gives Cornelius a ride home. When the psychic is home he finds Kras waiting for him.He tells Cornelius that Barter was indeed murdered and wants him to use his powers on the steel needle.He tries and feels only a vague threat he can't place.Kras tells Cornelius that a man called him and offered information on Barter's murder in return for protection.
Shortly afterwards, the man who drove the car at Barter's assassination is killed by number 12.When Kras gets to his office his assistant answers the phone and it explodes, killing him.Kras narrowly escapes death behind an open door.Kras feels guilt at the death of two men via his bait atempts with HBM, Marion & Cornelius.
Marion has sold some of her jewels in a pawn shop.Travers confronts her in her room with the jewels.He also tells her he knows she has bought 4 different plane tickets out of town under four different names.But she refuses to disclose what she is running from.

Travers tells Marion that he too is leaving town the next day.They make a date for dinner and dancing down in the ballroom.That night HBM is there with a buxom blonde.He is discussing horoscopes with her.Everyone soon is on the dance floor.HBM is keeping an eye on Travers and Marion.Travers asks Marion to come to Paris with him.Marion informs him that she is married but hates her husband.(We discover that HBM's date is working for Kras.She tells Kras that the insurance agent is armed.Hmm). Marion's husband won't divorce her.
At this time we find out that everything we're seeing is being seen through closed circuit television.The watchers are being watched.But by whom? Travers' assistant comes bearing bad news.The nuclear plant he was trying to buy has blown up.Fortunately the check hasn't been cashed
Travers goes to Cornelius since he was right about the large transaction not happening.The psychic tells Travers to leave town.He has crossed path with a dangerous man.Cornelius can't make out the blurry figure.He also tells Travers that a life he saved is threatening his own.Travers asked if it could be a woman and Cornelius says it is possible.
Kras has a background check ordered on HBM.He also learns that Marion has cancelled all of her plane tickets.Cornelius calls Kras and invites him to a seance and to bring whomever he wants.
Back at the Luxor, Berg shows Travers the spy mirror in the room next to Marion's.He can keep a better eye on her this way.So he rents the room.But Travers the voyuer is also being watched on television.
Kras has invited his assistant,Marion, HBM and Barter's girlfriend(whom Kras passes off as his wife) to the seance. Cornelius has everyone take a seat and asks them to concentrate.Abruptly he asks if Kras would switch chairs with him.A storm breaks loose.Cornelius begins to have visions.He says someone has come to the seance with the intent to decieve (that could be any or all of them).The evil that killed Barter is a man according to Cornelius.A dead man.Dead yet alive.Mabuse!he screams.Then he yells for Kras to get away from the window.Kras hits the floor and a bullet tears through his chair.
HBM asks Cornelius who is Mabuse.The psychic claims no knowledge.Kras thanks Cornelius for foiling the attempt on his life.Cornelius reminds Kras they switched chairs so the bullet was meant for him.
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