BLOG ENTRY # 15 ---- SUPERNATURAL THEATER presents two Kriminalfilm favorites! Krimis are still alive and well!
RETURN OF DR. MABUSE, and SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE.
RETURN OF DR. MABUSE, and SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE.
So far on my blog, I have written about various German mysteries based
on books by Edgar Wallace, and his son Bryan Edgar Wallace.
This entry deals with two films produced by Artur Brauner, the second film in the 1960's
Dr. Mabuse series, and an obscure version of Sherlock Holmes.
Dr. Mabuse series, and an obscure version of Sherlock Holmes.
THE RETURN OF DR. MABUSE
THE PHANTOM FIEND
THE STEEL NET OF DR. MABUSE
FBI AGAINST DR. MABUSE
......pick a title, any title.
......pick a title, any title.
Starring LEX BARKER, GERT FROBE, DALIAH LAVI,
Rudolf Fernau, Werner Peters, Wolgang Preiss, Fausto Tozzi,
Rudolf Forster, and Ady Berber.
Directed by Harald Reinl
Produced by Artur Brauner for CCC, Berlin
Music by Peter Sandloff
German ---- 1961
I have only one lord and master…..Dr, Mabuse!
Way back in 1921, Norbert Jacques began writing mysteries about the first
supervillain of our time, Dr. Mabuse.
One very weird character that wanted to criminally dominate all that he could control.
Famous German director Fritz Lang made three Mabuse films in 1922, 1933, and the last in 1960 (produced by Artur Brauner), called 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse.
The Return of Dr. Mabuse was the next made in 1961, directed by Harald Reinl (of Edgar Wallace, and Winnetou fame). This film also had different release titles.
Three more Brauner produced films followed till 1963---- Invisible Dr. Mabuse, Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Scotland Yard vs. Dr. Mabuse, and Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse.
Most of the cast and crews came from the Edgar Wallace Krimis, and some were used in the Old Shatterhand/Chief Winnetou Westerns, also shot in the sixties.
supervillain of our time, Dr. Mabuse.
One very weird character that wanted to criminally dominate all that he could control.
Famous German director Fritz Lang made three Mabuse films in 1922, 1933, and the last in 1960 (produced by Artur Brauner), called 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse.
The Return of Dr. Mabuse was the next made in 1961, directed by Harald Reinl (of Edgar Wallace, and Winnetou fame). This film also had different release titles.
Three more Brauner produced films followed till 1963---- Invisible Dr. Mabuse, Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Scotland Yard vs. Dr. Mabuse, and Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse.
Most of the cast and crews came from the Edgar Wallace Krimis, and some were used in the Old Shatterhand/Chief Winnetou Westerns, also shot in the sixties.
A secret crime organization in Berlin wants support, and growth with a large criminal syndicate from Chicago. The Chicago syndicate sends a Mrs. Pizzaro to communicate with Berlin. They want to see their criminal strength, and want proof of their power.
Pizzaro goes to the Bimbo Bar (just love that name) and gives that message
in a call at a phone booth.
in a call at a phone booth.
Hey, remember phone booths?
When she leaves, two mysterious men nearby signal a large panel truck. The truck passes Pizzaro, a side panel opens, and a flame thrower turns her into flaming cinders.
The police arrive, and Inspector Lohmann (Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe) starts inquiries with witnesses. They found in Pizzaro's burnt handbag a book by a Rev. Breitenstein about the anatomy of the Devil, including the myth of Dr. Mabuse. Ah ha!!!
Viewing from a distance is FBI agent Joe Como (Lex Barker). He assumes a criminal identity of Nick Scapio from Chicago, so he can find the baddies. Como meets young, beautiful, and feisty newspaper reporter Maria Sabrehm (Daliah Lavi).
She gets some info from Lohmann, meets Como, and he says he is an eyewitness to the killing.
They go off together (Yes, she's Barker's love interest. Why not? She's gorgeous.) to follow Inspector Lohmann to the Bimbo Bar. He gets a eerie phone call from a mysterious voice,
threatening him to stay away.
"Are you really blind?" inquires Lohmann to a blind witness to Pizzaro's fiery murder.
These German mysteries are chock full of great, weird characters.
These German mysteries are chock full of great, weird characters.
"Inspector Lohmann's after a ghost, someone who died long ago." says FBI's Joe Como to Maria.
"I'm a reporter. The people need the truth.---- How old are you? ---- 21 ---- That's the perfect age to have children."
Lohmann goes to Breitenstein's spooky church to find out if the devil can be in bodily form.
Mabuse goes after Lohmann, even in a church, with a bomb.
"What was that, an explosion?" Maria cries out.
The mysterious voice (Mabuse?) warns him again that he will die!
The beautiful Daliah Lavi as Maria.
Como flirts with Maria, and tells her how they romance in America. Just in America, she says.
I guess it became international, he replies.
Lohmann and Como find out that the infamous Dr. Mabuse must be hiding in the local prison, and uses prisoners on laundry truck detail, to carry out crimes. Lohmann interviews Warden Wolf (Fausto Tozzi), who's in charge of the prison, and the a jail section supervisor Baumler (Werner Peters), about one particular prisoner Alberto Sandro (Ady Berber), who's suspect.
A whole jail section's prisoners are doped with a narcotic that robs them of their will.
Their will is replaced by the orders given by Dr. Mabuse.
To show Chicago his criminal power, he wants to attack a nuclear power plant nearby,
using his robotic prisoner army.
using his robotic prisoner army.
The narcotic serum that robs the will, is made by Maria's father, Professor Sabrehm
(Rudolf Forster). He is trapped in the prison to work for Mabuse.
(Rudolf Forster). He is trapped in the prison to work for Mabuse.
Dr. Mabuse got him arrested on trumped up espionage charges to have him sent to prison.
That way he could blackmail him to create the drug, or his beautiful daughter will die!!!!!
Sabrehm puts on a crazy act, so nobody will bother him, but he is forced to help Mabuse.
Don't shoot, we need him alive!!! Corny line, but it always works.
After another murder, Como and Lohmann chase Sandro in the laundry truck, and want to catch him quickly. The big guy fights both men, but of course, as with all heroes, Como wins.
Sandro not only is shot up with the hypno serum, but is hypnotized by Mabuse with a transmitter in his ear. After an interrogation, he gets signalled to jump out
the high story window to die.
the high story window to die.
Then the police doctor remembers Sabrehm's name to give a clue to Lohmann, and he gets shot. ----- Man, that Mabuse is everywhere, huh?
Ady Berber, one great character actor played Sandro. He was a favorite in German Krimis.
When it comes to Mabuse, everyone is suspect ---- Lohmann says to his assistant Ross.
Joe Como goes to the prison to see Sabrehm. He gives him an antidote to the serum, so he can just make believe he is under the influence of the serum.
Meanwhile poor Maria, gets gassed, knocked up, I mean out,
kidnapped by Mabuse's bunch, and brought to the prison.
kidnapped by Mabuse's bunch, and brought to the prison.
The Reverend Breitenstein, the weird devil book guy, sees Como and tells him Maria was kidnapped by the baddies. He stupidly reverts back to normal, and gets caught by the gang.
Warden Wolf is under suspect from Lohmann. But he appears to get blown up by a car bomb after leaving Lohmann's questioning at the police station. A red herring?
Without any spoilers, the power plant attack starts, and finally Dr. Mabuse is unmasked,
and chased down.
and chased down.
Will Maria and Joe be saved?
Can Lohman escape death from a railroad train?
Can Lohman escape death from a railroad train?
Will Lohmann finally get his man?
Will Dr. Mabuse escape again?????
Of all the hundreds of thousands of people, one may be Dr. Mabuse!!!!
My Rating ----- B Minus (It's a good old fashioned Krimi)
Fast paced, good acting, and the corny plot keeps you going till the end.
This was released on US television in 1966, and was constantly shown on WOR-TV Channel 9 in New York City. I loved it as a kid. They also ran the Invisible & Testament Dr. Mabuses too.
It got a tiny release in US theaters before that. All over Europe, the movie did very well.
Loved the filming, the jazzy music, and the eeeeevil doctor too. Of course, in the sixties 007 fought the eeeeeevil Ernst Starvo Blofeld, and then Christopher Lee starred as the eeeeevil FuManchu. So we sort of loved those eeeeevil doctor types back then.
Long before Austin Powers.
Long before Austin Powers.
This was released on video by two US companies using a 16mm film print from my collection back in 1989, and 1996 for VHS tapes, then DVD's later. This was another series of films that distributors dumped the film prints after the TV runs ended.
Collectors like me grabbed them up.
Color feature films were more in demand cause of the huge sales of color TV's back then.
Black and White films lost in the popularity contest against color on television.
Gert Frobe played Inspector Lohmann.
He was best known for his fantastic performance as Auric Goldfinger. One of the best James Bond 007 bad guys ever! I have to admit, I thought he was also great in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Krimi lovers know him for his German films.
Lex Barker had a large international career as a handsome leading man in films with over 80 starring roles. He played in many Euro Spies, Westerns, Horrors, Adventures, even Fellini's La Dolce Vita, and his tree swinging Tarzan films.
Daliah Lavi, an international acting and singing star coming from Israel.
She co-starred again with Lex Barker in 1964 in Shatterhand, aka. Apache's Last Battle.
Always beautiful, she is probably best known for her roles in 1967's Casino Royale,
and The Silencers in 1966.
One super rare, obscure film of Daliah Lavi is BLAZING SAND.
A treasure hunt film from 1960.
Deliah is billed as Deliah Lawie.
A treasure hunt film from 1960.
Deliah is billed as Deliah Lawie.
One video company in the US released it on VHS/DVD video since 1996, using a
16mm film print from my collection, to transfer from.
16mm film print from my collection, to transfer from.
Another lost film, I'm happy that I helped save from extinction in America.
Up next ----- Foggy London! Holmes vs. Moriarty!
Both want the priceless Cleopatra necklace!
The games afoot!
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE
THE VALLEY
OF FEAR
Starring CHRISTOPHER LEE
THORLEY WALTERS, SENTA BERGER, HANS SOHNKER,
Wolgang Lukschy, Ivan Desny, Leon Askin, Hans Nielsen
Directed by TERENCE FISHER, and Frank Winterstein
Produced by Artur Brauner for CCC, Berlin
Screen play by Curt Siodmak
Music by Martin Slavin
Germany --- 1962
To me it is in the Krimi category for some pretty obvious reasons, when you look at the credits. There are many names that correspond to the Edgar and Bryan films.
Give it a view, especially for the performance by the great Christopher
Lee
as the famous Sherlock Holmes.
as the famous Sherlock Holmes.
Two items of trivia to note, Lee portrayed both Sherlock, and Mycroft
Holmes, plus Lord Baskerville (from the
Holmes’ story, Hound of the Baskervilles).
And two of the films were directed by Terence Fisher, one of the great
British directors.
Kids are playing near an embankment along the river Thames .
An old fisherman hooks into a dark object floating nearby.
The kids are in shock, when the object turns out is a dead man with the word,
Thaysia embroidered on the back of his coat.
At the docks in London
Two men are watching, one is Sherlock Holmes, in a clever disguise of course.
The other named Jenkins, a shady character assisting Holmes.
Jenkins winds up at the famous 221b Baker Street address with a unique knife in his back.
With his last breath he makes a sign with his hands.
The other named Jenkins, a shady character assisting Holmes.
Jenkins winds up at the famous 221b Baker Street address with a unique knife in his back.
With his last breath he makes a sign with his hands.
We soon meet Inspector Cooper of Scotland Yard (Hans Nielsen). Of course he has some disdain for Holmes, but realizes his intelligence. Holmes warns about Moriarty's empire of crime, and murder, but Cooper says he has no proof to back it up.
Not yet.
Cooper warns Holmes that they stand for the law, and tells Holmes that Moriarty is on the list of those to be knighted. Holmes says he would like to see Moriarty hanged. Exit Cooper.
Holmes and Watson deduce Jenkin's hand signal means a hare, and an eagle.
A public house. It's time for a pint of ale and some snooping.
Not yet.
Cooper warns Holmes that they stand for the law, and tells Holmes that Moriarty is on the list of those to be knighted. Holmes says he would like to see Moriarty hanged. Exit Cooper.
Holmes and Watson deduce Jenkin's hand signal means a hare, and an eagle.
A public house. It's time for a pint of ale and some snooping.
Thorley Walters in a solid performance as
Dr. Watson.
Edith Schultze Westrum plays the sweet landlady, Mrs. Hudson.
Once at the Hare & Eagle pub, Holmes sees the chauffeur of his arch enemy Moriarty.
Holmes and Watson listen at a chimney, a conversation between Moriarty and the sailor he met from the Thaysia, named Samuels.
Three men stole the priceless necklace of Cleopatra from an unearthed tomb in Egypt.
After 6 years in an Egyptian jail, Samuels and Harrison escaped. Samuels killed Harrison oh the Thaysia, and he wants to find the third man, Peter Blackburn.
Blackburn lives outside London on his estate.....with the necklace.
Moriarty makes a deal with Samuels to get the necklace and kill Blackburn.
Watson knocks some of the bricks down the chimney, to alarm Moriarty.
But now Holmes has a new clue.
Cmon along Watson. We have to listen at a chimney.
Watson has a comic scene with on the the bar's ladies of the evening (Linda Sini), while awaiting Holmes. She's angling for sympathy and money for her so called mother's operation.
The Doctor volunteers to do it free of charge and he would operate on her too.
Disappointed, I think she wanted the cash instead of the old Doc.
Holmes uses the always reliable London Times newspaper to get his needed information. In this case, the shipping news. That cargo ship that Moriarty was interested in, the Thaysia just docked from multiple stops in the Middle East.
We meet Ellen and Peter Blackburn.
Ellen (played by Senta Berger) is young, beautiful, and worried about her husband.
Peter (Wolfgang Lukschy) is getting paranoid that some one's out to kill him.
Guess he's right, since he's hiding that priceless necklace from Moriarty.
(He should have cashed out, and got out of Dodge, I mean London. Take that pretty wife of yours to some hot, palm tree'd British colony.)
(He should have cashed out, and got out of Dodge, I mean London. Take that pretty wife of yours to some hot, palm tree'd British colony.)
Blackburn's constantly on guard, and shoots at intruders, while we see that Ellen is very interested in Paul King (Ivan Desny). King wants her to run away with him. She still has some feelings for her husband, even though he is becoming a bit of a wacko. Don't get over heated King, we know she's hot, but the movie's plot will soon help you out.
Moriarty's underling Charles (Leon Askin), and Samuels goes to Blackburn's estate that night.
Samuels breaks in and surprises Blackburn, and they fight. A gunshot goes off.
Which one dies?
Blackburn shot Samuels in the head, and then wants King to assist in changing clothes and identification so Blackburn can be declared dead, getting the freedom he wants.
Sherlock Holmes arrives before Inspector Cooper, and deduces the events of the killing, and
the very obvious cover up. The rough hands, and sunburned skin of a prison laborer
was a easy giveaway for Holmes.
the very obvious cover up. The rough hands, and sunburned skin of a prison laborer
was a easy giveaway for Holmes.
Ellen says Peter wanted to get himself declared dead, so they could live in peace.
Paul takes everybody to a hidden room where Blackburn was hiding.
He is now dead too, with one of those unique knives in the back.
Blackburn carved a clue on the table. M-O-R -------Cooper says lots of words start with the letters MOR. Holmes says ---- Moriarty.
The faithful Charles brings the necklace in a case back to Professor Moriarty.
The case is covered with jewels. Moriarty is quite satisfied.
And then we see that Moriarty supplied those unique knives.
They shoot out of his walking cane.
The case is covered with jewels. Moriarty is quite satisfied.
And then we see that Moriarty supplied those unique knives.
They shoot out of his walking cane.
(Do you notice who Charles is??? Leon Askin played General Bulkhalter on the TV show
Hogan's Heroes for years & years).
Hogan's Heroes for years & years).
Holmes and Watson create a small car accident with Charles and Moriarty's car.
I funny to watch those old cars go at such slow speeds.
A disguised Sherlock leaves to commit a little crime of his own at Moriarty's home.
He steals the necklace from a hidden spot in a potentially deadly Egyptian sarcophagus
protected by a hidden pistol, and poisonous snake.
I funny to watch those old cars go at such slow speeds.
A disguised Sherlock leaves to commit a little crime of his own at Moriarty's home.
He steals the necklace from a hidden spot in a potentially deadly Egyptian sarcophagus
protected by a hidden pistol, and poisonous snake.
The Professor is angry at the theft, and wants his gang to steal it back.
The necklace will soon by up for auction, but Holmes just knows that his old enemy will try to get it back. Sherlock goes into disguise again, and joins the gang to foil the robbery.
They rob the armored police car with Inspector Cooper carrying the necklace, and then attempt to escape by going through the London sewers.
Will Holmes stop them?
Will Holmes get the necklace back?
Will Moriarty try to murder Holmes?
Will Holmes stop Moriarty?
Will Paul King get the woman he loves?
And who gets that necklace in the end?
And who gets that necklace in the end?
Hey, this is a spoiler free zone.
MY RATING ---- B MINUS
Reviews of this Sherlock were certainly mixed. Some reviewers liked it,
some totally panned it. I’m right in the middle. Never saw the original German
version, only the
US horribly dubbed television version. Rumor has it (not from Adele)
that the producers had no money left to spring for two tickets for Mr. Lee, and
Mr. Walters
to get to Germany
based on a poor dubbing job.
based on a poor dubbing job.
The acting was very competent. Lee played a very enjoyable Holmes, complete with
a slightly
arrogant twist. Walters, a
lovable slightly bumbling Watson.
Moriarty was played with some flair by Sohnker.
Senta Berger could read the phone book, and I would be happy.
I’ve always loved her on film, since I saw Cast a Giant Shadow in 1965,
Secret of the Black Trunk, and the pilot film for It Takes A Thief in 1967.
There are some holes in the creeky plot. They changed the time period from the books,
by abouttwenty years or so. The settings and costumes look good for a low budget film.
There are some holes in the creeky plot. They changed the time period from the books,
by abouttwenty years or so. The settings and costumes look good for a low budget film.
But overall, a good film in the same vein as the Edgar Wallace Krimis.
This is another title that never got a proper theater release in the
Sherlock played very well in Europe .
It went straight to US
As I have mentioned in other blog entries, the film prints were dumped
after the TV release was over, and film collectors like myself bought them.
I bought my print of Sherlock Holmes and Retrun of Dr, Mabuse, from a company called National Cinema
Service on 57th Street New York City
Bill Flohr and Ray Cannon ran their business from a storefront selling tons of 16mm film prints. They sent out a monthly catalog by mail, and then you would call in to reserve titles, to be mailed to you, or you could stop into their NYC store.
For a film collector, this was nirvana!!!
Bill Flohr and Ray Cannon ran their business from a storefront selling tons of 16mm film prints. They sent out a monthly catalog by mail, and then you would call in to reserve titles, to be mailed to you, or you could stop into their NYC store.
For a film collector, this was nirvana!!!
I bought lots of films from those guys for years and years. They were great to deal with.
That was a fun part of the film collecting experience that is gone today.
Rare production shot of a resting Christopher Lee between shooting scenes.
Two US video companies used my film print to transfer from in 1989, and
1996, to make VHS tapes, and later DVD’s from.
I would love to see a beautiful release from the original European version.
Rare production shot of a resting Christopher Lee between shooting scenes.
The legendary Christopher Lee has had hundreds of film roles through his long career.
Probably has the most screen credits of any living film star.
Three of my favorites, besides Holmes, was 007's enemy Scaramanga, in the Man With The Golden Gun from 1974, playing a great Dracula in the Hammer film series, and the evil FuManchu film series. This shot from the first, Face of FuManchu.
My opinion when it comes to Senta Berger...... Wow and double Wow!
She has had a long international career, and still in the limelight today.
Two of my many favorite roles of hers are the pilot film for It Takes A Thief
with Robert Wagner (The Magnificent Thief), and To Commit A Murder
(Peau D'espion) with Louis Jourdan.
Senta also co-starred in The Ambushers with Dean Martin, Robert Vaughn in the Man From Uncle, and we can leave out her famous cult film, When Women Had Tails. Sizzle!!!
She was every modern cave man's fantasy. After a hard day of killing dinosaurs,
it was great to come back to your home cave.
Beautiful pin-ups and other publicity shots included.
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