The classic tale, told Disney style. Features the memorable song, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf".

Dr Mabuse (Klein-Rogge) is a criminal mastermind with tremendous mental powers. He manipulates the stock market and the rich by utilising his skills as a psychologist and hypnotist. As you may have gathered from the title, this is largely done through gambling. Detective Wenk is investigating illegal casinos, but discovers that there is a far more sinister man around and becomes determined to find him. So begins a classic tale of cat-and-evil-genius-mouse.

Dr Mabuse, the Gambler is a classic film of silent era Germany. If you've suddenly been repulsed by the words "classic", "silent", or "Germany", then this film is not for you: you won't be converted, so I recommend not bothering. Watch a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin film instead. Or Das Boot.

What is perhaps more classic than the film is the character of Dr Mabuse himself. Dr Mabuse, the Gambler is the first movie he appears in, but he appears in many sequels. And while Lang released two sequels: Testament of Dr Mabuse 10 years later, and The Thousand Eyes of Dr Mabuse in 1960, both now with sound, neither was considered as good. Actually, Thousand Eyes was the first of six Dr Mabuse films released in a five year period in Germany - however (and I haven't seen them, so I can't judge), they are meant to be of a FAR lesser standard.

Tonight, the Film Group screens both parts of Metropolis director Fritz Lang's original Dr Mabuse, the Gambler, The Great Gambler and The Inferno. Released in these two parts, a la Kill Bill, it is widely regarded as the best of the Dr Mabuse films.

Dr Mabuse (Klein-Rogge) is a criminal mastermind with tremendous mental powers. He manipulates the stock market and the rich by utilising his skills as a psychologist and hypnotist. As you may have gathered from the title, this is largely done through gambling. Detective Wenk is investigating illegal casinos, but discovers that there is a far more sinister man around and becomes determined to find him. So begins a classic tale of cat-and-evil-genius-mouse.

Dr Mabuse, the Gambler is a classic film of silent era Germany. If you've suddenly been repulsed by the words "classic", "silent", or "Germany", then this film is not for you: you won't be converted, so I recommend not bothering. Watch a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin film instead. Or Das Boot.

What is perhaps more classic than the film is the character of Dr Mabuse himself. Dr Mabuse, the Gambler is the first movie he appears in, but he appears in many sequels. And while Lang released two sequels: Testament of Dr Mabuse 10 years later, and The Thousand Eyes of Dr Mabuse in 1960, both now with sound, neither was considered as good. Actually, Thousand Eyes was the first of six Dr Mabuse films released in a five year period in Germany - however (and I haven't seen them, so I can't judge), they are meant to be of a FAR lesser standard.

Tonight, the Film Group screens both parts of Metropolis director Fritz Lang's original Dr Mabuse, the Gambler, The Great Gambler and The Inferno. Released in these two parts, a la Kill Bill, it is widely regarded as the best of the Dr Mabuse films.