History Film / DrMabuseTheGambler

''Dr. Mabuse the Gambler''/''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime'' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by Creator/FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and Literature/{{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, State Prosecutor Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

* CrapsackWorld: Well, this is a TruthInTelevision, WeimarGermany wasn't a nice place.

* ActionPrologue

* VillainousBreakdown

* TheVamp; Subverted with Mabuse's lover, dancer Cara Carozza. She seduces men for evil goals, but not because she is evil herself, but for Mabuse, because she loves him.

'''''Dr. Mabuse the Gambler'''''/'''''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime''''' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by Creator/FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and Literature/{{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, State Prosecutor Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

* TheVamp; Subverted with Mabuse's lover, dancer Cara Carozza. She seduces men for evil goals, but not because she is evil herself, but for Mabuse, because she loves him.

Lang followed with the belated but highly acclaimed sequel ''[[Film/DasTestamentDesDoktorMabuse The Testament of Doctor Mabuse]]'' in 1933, and the less well-regarded ''[[Film/Die1000AugenDesDrMabuse 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.

* ShadowDictator: Mabuse again, though he runs a criminal network, not a government

'''''Dr. Mabuse the Gambler'''''/'''''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime''''' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by Creator/FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and Literature/{{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, Chief Inspector Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Edgar Hull, one of Mabuse's victims.

Lang followed with the belated but highly acclaimed sequel ''[[Film/DasTestamentDesDoktorMabuse 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.

* BondVillainStupidity: Mabuse never tries to kill von Wenk by simple, efficient methods. [[spoiler: This leads to his downfall.]]

* DrivenToMadness: [[spoiler: Mabuse, at the end.]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Carozza kills herself because of Mabuse's order.]] This trope is inverted, because not hero, but villain kills [[spoiler:herself]] for evil goals.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:After Mabuse's hideout is stormed by the cops and army, he escapes through a tunnel to his counterfeiting workshop, but forgets that he deliberately designed it so the doors could only be opened from outside to stop his staff stealing.]]

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: When Mabuse kidnaps [[spoiler: Countess Told.]]

* ManipulativeBastard: Mabuse, again. He manipulates people to his own gain, [[DrivenToSuicide drives them to suicide]], and successfully outsmarts police. [[spoiler: Till the end.]]

* [[spoiler: VillainousBreakdown]]

* {{Yandere}}: Carozza. She is so incredibly loyal to Mabuse, so she even [[spoiler: commits suicide, when he orders her to do it.]]

!!The ''Dr Mabuse'' films provide examples of the following tropes:

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.

* PsychoPsychologist

* BondVillainStupidity: Mabuse never tries to kill von Wenk by simple, efficent method. [[spoiler: This leads to his downfall.]]

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

* ManipulativeBastard: Mabuse, again. He manipulates people to his own gain, [[DrivenToSuicide drives them to suicide]], and succesfully outsmarts police. [[spoiler: Till the end.]]

''Dr. Mabuse the Gambler'' / ''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime'' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by Creator/FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and {{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, Chief Inspector Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

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

''Dr. Mabuse the Gambler'' / ''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime'' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and {{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, Chief Inspector Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

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 ''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.

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

->"There is no such thing as love, only passion! No luck, only the will to gain power!"

!!!Includes examples of:

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mabuse_7517.jpg
[[caption-width:312:The many faces of Doctor Mabuse]]

''Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler'' / ''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime'' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and {{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, Chief Inspector Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

''Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler'' / ''Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime'' is a two-part German silent film from 1922 directed by FritzLang. It was adapted by the novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques, which was written to [[FollowTheLeader deliberately mimic and cash in on]] the popularity of FuManchu and {{Fantomas}} while delivering political commentary about WeimarGermany. It follows psychoanalyst and criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse, who has gained wealth and control of Berlin through a vast and elaborate crime network that he uses for everything from counterfeiting and sabotage to manipulating the stock market through complex means. Eventually, Cheif Inspector Norbert von Wenk begins to unravel the complex defenses surrounding Mabuse's identity and becomes determined to take him down.

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}}'') 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.