Doctor Mabuse

See also: Mabuse (homonymy)

The Doctor Mabuse is a literary character created by the Luxembourg writer of German expression Norbert Jacques (1880 - 1954).

Psychologist, hypnotist, genius of the crime being dissimulated under multiple masks and personalities, it is one of the misadventures of the malicious heroes of the time, like the doctor Fu Manchu and especially its contemporary Fantômas of Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain. It is probably necessary to see in the success of the character not only the reflection of a literary fashion but also the expression of a criticism towards a world in change, as well from an economic point of view as of the social sciences.

But these are especially the three film adaptations that Fritz Lang made (cf below) which made the character famous, and fixed it in the imaginary collective, initially German then international, at the point to appear in ten films until in the Années 1970. By its critical and esthetic sides expressionnists, and their impacts on the history of the cinema, the step of Fritz Lang and his wife and scenario writer Thea von Harbou is to be brought closer to the Cabinet of Doctor Caligari a few months before.

Environment

The character exploits his capacity initially to change appearances and his control of the telepathic Hypnose allowing him to exert a total capacity on his victims (like Doctor Caligari). Such Fu Manchu, Mabuse makes only very few crimes of its own hand, being based on a network of agents to its pay, but working out itself the plans machiavelic that it makes them carry out. These agents go from criminals mercenaries to people object of blackmail, or forced by hypnosis.

But the character of Mabuse exceeds the stereotype of malicious with the multiple faces: that “Doctor Mabuse” finds himself physically in prison, in an asylum or even buried, it is always somebody D-to endorse his social role, its name but also its capacities and its genius of the evil. One can even finally deduce from it that Mabuse would be only the expression of a spirit of the necessary evil at the company.

Another specificity of Mabuse in the gallery of malicious is its tendency to a certain self-destruction. Certain analysts suggest remainder that, although NR. Jacques called upon the pseudonym of a painter like name chosen for its hero, it is necessary to see an allusion to French there: (I) deceive me (myself) . Several of the plots of Mabuse fail because of its own interference. Moreover, contrary to Fu Man Chu, its goal is not to conquer the world and to subject it, but to destroy it well, and to reign only on its ruins. It is of this fact more perceived in Germany like a prototype of the field of the horror (to be brought closer to Dracula or Frankenstein) that like that of the criminal hero.

Narrations

Doctor Mabuse appears initially in a novel of Norbert Jacques: Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (literally: Doctor Mabuse the player ). The novel profits in Germany from an exceptional publicity campaign and gains as of its publication a sharp success. Fritz Lang, realizer already recognized, then attacks the film adaptation with his wife Thea von Harbou. The film Doctor Mabuse leaves in April 1922, in 2 parts: Doctor Mabuse the player and Doctor Mabuse Inferno (lasted total: close to 5:00!) and is also a success.

Nevertheless one decade should be waited so that the hero lives again with the screen: Jacques had already considered one following his novel: the Colony of Mabuse (after the death of Mabuse, some of its disciples base a colony according to its principles on an isolated island), but which it does not complete. Recontacted by Lang and von Harbou, it agrees definitively to leave side its draft preliminary and to make a new novel on the basis of scenario considered: the Will of Doctor Mabuse which leaves in 1933.

Fritz Lang is exiled with the the United States, and to Germany only at the end of the Années 1950 returns. After its diptych the Bengal tiger / the Hindu Tomb , it ressuscite once again the character, for a severe criticism of Germany in full rebuilding in Diabolic Doctor Mabuse ( Die tausend Augen of Dr. Mabuse ) in 1960.

New success, which this time will inspire the German makers of Série B (Harald Reinl, Paul May, etc) in all first half of the Années 1960.

Catalog of films

Homonymy

It is also the nickname of Bernard Sainz, doctor suspected of doping.

External bonds

  • Chronic DVDClassik on first film.

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