Dr. M schlägt zu (1972)

User Rating:

3.4/10   

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Artur Brauner (story)
Arne Elsholtz (German dialogue)

Release Date:

2 April 1974 (Spain)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Sci-Fi | Mystery | Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Fred Williams	...	Inspector Thomas
Jack Taylor	...	Farkas / Mabuse
Ewa Strömberg	...	Jenny (as Ewa Stroemberg)
Roberto Camardiel	...	Carlos (Drunk Angler)
Siegfried Lowitz	...	Dr. Orloff
Moisés Augusto Rocha	...	Andros (as Rocha)
Gustavo Re	...	Melou
Eva Garden	...	Wanda Orloff (as Ava Garden)
Ángel Menéndez	...	Prof. Parkinson (as Angel Melendez)
Friedrich Joloff	...	Hermann
Beni Cardoso	...	Leslie
Jesus Franco	...	Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub
Andrés Monales	...	John Paganini
Guillermo Méndez
Linda Hastreiter

Also Known As:

Der Mann, der sich Mabuse nannte (West Germany) (working title)
El doctor Mabuse (Spain)
La venganza del doctor Mabuse (Spain)

Runtime:

100 min | West Germany:80 min | 76 min

Country:

Spain | West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

Copercines, Cooperativa Cinematográfica

Trivia:

Though mainly a German Production, the film was never released theatrically or on Video / DVD in Germany but was aired on Television a few times in the 90s.

Movie Connections:

Spin off Dr. M (1990)

Fun and Fast

Vengenza del Doctor Mabuse, La (1972)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Jess Franco's stab at the Mabuse saga with Jack Taylor in the role. Dr. Mabuse and his Frankenstein-like monster assistant are stealing all the parts (and scientists) they need in order to build a deadly death ray. I had to view this film in Spanish without any subs so I missed out on a lot of the dialogue. Another problem is that my print was from a horrible looking 16mm copy so hopefully someone will release a remastered version with subs because I'd probably bump my grade up a half a star. The film is unlike many of Franco's films made during this period because it features no sex, no nudity and no real violence. The film is all style and you can tell Franco's putting all of his serious touches on the film. The music score is very good, the locations terrific and Taylor is pretty good in the title role. The monster creature is actually better than two feature films that feature the Frankenstein character. Franco plays a bit part in the film and Monica Swinn also shows up. The police in the movie are an interesting note because Franco films them in a Western type setting, which goes against the rest of the movie but perhaps this is better explained in the dialogue. The movie runs a fast 74-minutes and hopefully will see a legit release one day.