The 1,000 Eyes of Dr Mabuse [Die 1000 Augen des Dr Mabuse] **** (1960, Dawn Addams, Peter van Eyck, Gert Fröbe, Wolfgang Preiss) – Classic Movie Review 2989

Director Fritz Lang’s final film from 1960 is a spirited revisit to his Dr Mabuse stories of the 1922 and 1933 pre-Hitler era. Gert Fröbe (Goldfinger) is on fine form as Commissioner Kras, the cop chasing the arch-criminal Dr Mabuse (Wolfgang Preiss) in the German capital of Berlin, after a series of killings in one of the city’s plushest hotels, the Hotel Luxor.

Rich American Henry B Travers (Peter Van Eyck) saves Marion Menil (Dawn Addams) from death at said hotel, and the duo set off for a bit of sleuthing of their own. They find that Dr Mabuse is running his criminal empire from the Hotel Luxor, where he is plotting to grab a rich man’s empire, blackmail and murder – and a bloodbath of chemical electronic terror!

Involved and involving, this engagingly played, well-handled, notable crime thriller is a little-seen and underrated work from the master, with a creepy tone, and bags of atmosphere, imagination and energy.

Also in the cast are Werner Peters, Andrea Checchi, Howard Vernon, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Jean-Jacques Delho, Christiane Maybach, David Camerone and Nico Pepe.

It is followed in 1961 by The Return of Dr Mabuse [Im Stahlnetz des Dr Mabuse], also with Fröbe and Preiss.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2989

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