• In this movie, a young woman named Janet Stewart is anticipating the arrival of her husband and attempts to check into a hotel. They are meeting after years apart and have planned to meet at the hotel. During his military service he was presumed dead, but was a prisoner of war. Unfortunately, her cable requesting the reservation never arrived. The staff, after hearing her story, agree to provide a room for the night. Restless, she isn't sleeping. She hears a loud argument and goes to the balcony window where she witnesses a man striking his wife with a candlestick. The woman is killed.The next morning, her husband arrives and attempts to surprise Janet. Instead, he discovers her sitting on the couch, staring into space. She has gone into a state of shock as a result of seeing the murder. The hotel doctor is called, but he suggests she see a specialist...Original release date:January 10, 1946

    Shock is a 1946 American film noir directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Vincent Price, Lynn Bari and Frank Latimore. Following its release, some film reviewers took particular offense to the film's treatment of psychiatry. Coming in the wake of World War II, in which so many people had suffered shock and could benefit from treatment of their anxieties, Crowther asked the 'critical observer to protest in no uncertain tones' the movie's 'social disservice' in its fostering 'apprehension against the treatment of nervous disorders', deploring the lack of consideration for those in need of treatment evidenced by producer Aubrey Schenck and distributor Twentieth Century-Fox.Directed by Alfred L. WerkerProduced by Aubrey SchenckStory by Albert DeMondCast:Vincent Price as Dr. Richard CrossLynn Bari as Elaine JordanFrank Latimore as Lt. Paul StewartAnabel Shaw as Janet StewartStephen Dunne as Dr. StevensReed Hadley as O'NeillRenee Carson as Mrs. HatfieldRuth Clifford As Mrs. Margaret CrossCharles Trowbridge as Dr. Franklin Harvey

  • The Screaming Skull is a 1958 independently made American black-and-white horror film, produced by John Kneubuhl and directed by Alex Nicol. The film's storyline concerns a neurotic newlywed woman who believes she is being haunted by the ghost of her new husband's previous wife. Original release date: August 1958.

    Over a scene of an opening coffin, a narrator explains that the film's climax is so terrifying that it may kill the viewer, while reassuring the audience that should they die of fright they will receive a free burial service. Inside the coffin is a card that reads 'Reserved for You.'[5]

    Newlyweds Jenni (Peggy Webber) and Eric (John Hudson) move into Eric's palatial country home. Jenni is Eric's second wife; his first wife Marion died when she accidentally slipped and hit her head on the edge of a decorative pond on the estate. At the home they meet Eric's friends, the Reverend Snow (Russ Conway) and his wife (Tony Johnson), as well as Mickey (Alex Nicol), the mentally disabled gardener. Eric privately mentions to the Snows that Jenni spent time in an asylum following the sudden death of both her parents, and Mrs. Snow reveals that Jenni is very wealthy.

    Jenni is disturbed both by Mickey's belief that Marion's ghost wanders the estate and by Marion's self-portrait inside the house, which Jenni believes resembles her mother. When she begins to hear unexplained screaming noises and see skulls around her house, she believes that Marion is haunting her. Though Eric speculates to Jenni that Mickey, who was a childhood friend of Marion and thus dislikes Jenni, may be behind the trickery, Jenni worries that she is going insane. Eric suggests to remove Marion's self-portrait from the home. Eric and Jenni take the painting outside and burn it, later uncovering a skull from the ashes. Jenni panics at the sight of the skull, but Eric denies that the skull is there. As Jenni faints, Eric withdraws the skull and hides it, revealing that he has been gaslighting her all along.

    Believing she has finally lost her sanity, Jenni resolves to be committed. She tells Eric that the entire property will be meticulously searched for the skull as a last resort. Mickey secretly steals the skull and brings it to Snow before Eric can retrieve it. That night, Eric prepares to murder Jenni and stage it as a suicide. Jenni sees Marion's ghost in Mickey's greenhouse and flees back to the house, where Eric begins throttling her. The ghost appears and chases Eric outside, corners, and attacks him, drowning him in the decorative pond.

    After Jenni regains consciousness, the Snows arrive. Mrs. Snow comforts a hysterical Jenni and the Reverend discovers Eric's body in the pond. Some undisclosed time later, Jenni and the Snows depart from the house. Reverend Snow declares whether or not Marion's death was an accident will remain a mystery.

    The film ends with Mickey drinking from the pond and saying, 'They've left. Rest in peace.' A vision of a woman's face appears in the pond.

  • While out rowing in the middle of a lake after dark, John Haloran and his young wife Louise argue about his rich mother's will. Louise is upset that everything is currently designated to go to charity in the name of a mysterious 'Kathleen.' The argument, combined with the exertion of rowing the boat, causes John to have a heart attack. He informs Louise that, should he die before his mother, Louise will receive none of the inheritance, after which he promptly dies. Thinking quickly, the scheming Louise dumps his fresh corpse over the boat's side, where it sinks to the bottom of the lake. Her plan is to pretend that he is still alive so that she can ingratiate her way into the will. She types up a letter to her mother-in-law, Lady Haloran, inviting herself to the family's castle in Ireland while her husband is 'away on business.' Original release date: September 25, 1963.

    Dementia 13 (known in the United Kingdom as The Haunted and the Hunted) is a 1963 independently made black-and-white horror-thriller film, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Roger Corman. It was Francis Coppola's feature film directorial debut.The film stars William Campbell, Patrick Magee, and Luana Anders. It was released in the United States by American International Pictures during the fall of 1963 as the bottom half of a double feature with Corman's X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes.

     

    Although Coppola had been involved in at least two sexploitation films previously, Dementia 13 served as his first mainstream 'legitimate' directorial effort. Corman offered Coppola the chance to direct a low-budget horror film in Ireland using funds left over from Corman's recently completed The Young Racers, on which Coppola had worked as a sound technician. The producer wanted a cheap Psycho copy, complete with gothic atmosphere and brutal killings, and Coppola quickly wrote a screenplay with Corman's requirements. Although he was given total directorial freedom during production, Coppola found himself at odds with Corman after the film was completed. The producer declared it un-releasable and demanded several changes be made. Corman eventually brought in another director, Jack Hill, to film additional sequences.

     

    The film's title appears on a theater marquee in the Coppola-produced film American Graffiti (1973), even though the film was set in 1962, before the theatrical release of Dementia 13.

     

    A remake by director Richard LeMay was released on October 6, 2017.

     

    DIRECTED BY

    Francis Coppola

     

    PRODUCED BY

    Roger Corman

     

    CAST

    William Campbell as Richard Haloran

    Luana Anders as Louise Haloran

    Patrick Magee as Dr. Justin Caleb

    Bart Patton as Billy Haloran

    Mary Mitchel as Kane

    Eithne Dunne as Lady Haloran

    Peter Read as John Haloran

    Karl Schnazer as Simon, the poacher

    Ron Perry as Arthur

    Derry O'Donovan as Lillian, the maid

    Barbara Dowling as Kathleen Haloran

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922) 4K - Part 2 "Inferno: A Game for the People of our Age"

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler is a 1922 German silent crime film directed by Fritz Lang and written by Lang and his wife, Thea von Harbou. The film is based on the novel “Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler” by Norbert Jacques. This film is considered an important work in German Expressionist cinema, with striking visuals and themes that echo the chaos and moral decay of post-World War I Germany.

Watch Part 1 HERE

Plot

The film is divided into two parts, running over 4 hours in total.

The first part, titled “The Great Gambler”, follows the rise of Dr. Mabuse as he establishes himself as a notorious gambler, hypnotist, and criminal mastermind. Using his powers of manipulation, Mabuse carries out a series of elaborate schemes, including a train robbery, and drives his victims to the brink of madness.

The second part, titled “Inferno”, sees Mabuse’s plans begin to unravel as he becomes the target of a police investigation. Mabuse uses his hypnotic powers to try and control the investigation, but is ultimately defeated in a dramatic finale.

Part 2 Overview

Chapter 1: State Prosecutor von Wenk’s Pursuit

Following the events of Part 1, State Prosecutor von Wenk (Bernhard Goetzke) continues his tireless pursuit of the nefarious Dr. Mabuse (Rudolf Klein-Rogge). As Mabuse’s criminal empire expands, von Wenk remains determined to unmask him and bring him to justice. In this chapter, von Wenk starts to piece together the clues left by Mabuse’s henchmen, while the cunning Mabuse continues to elude capture.

Chapter 2: Mabuse’s Manipulation

Dr. Mabuse’s extensive control over his minions is further showcased in this chapter. The criminal mastermind manipulates Countess Dusy Told (Gertrude Welcker) into believing her husband, Count Told (Alfred Abel), is unfaithful, thus destabilizing their relationship. Mabuse uses this opportunity to take advantage of the vulnerable Countess, pushing her towards gambling addiction and financial ruin.

Chapter 3: The Climactic Confrontation

As von Wenk closes in on Mabuse, the tension between the two adversaries reaches a fever pitch. Mabuse tries to escape capture by faking his own death, but von Wenk sees through the ruse. In a thrilling final confrontation, von Wenk finally apprehends Mabuse, and the mastermind’s criminal empire crumbles around him.

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler 4K Blu-ray Restoration

moonflix’s AI-driven restoration process meticulously analyzes every frame of the film, repairing defects and imperfections while retaining the original essence of the film. This cutting-edge technology has breathed new life into Dr. Mabuse the Gambler, allowing modern audiences to appreciate the film in stunning 4K resolution.

Previous Restorations

Before the most recent restoration, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler had undergone several restoration efforts to preserve the film’s quality. Earlier restorations focused on repairing damaged frames, correcting the film’s tinting, and improving the overall sharpness of the images. Despite these attempts, some defects still remained, prompting moonflix to utilize their state-of-the-art AI technology to further enhance the film.

Cinematography

Special Effects

The special effects used in Dr. Mabuse the Gambler were groundbreaking for their time. Director Fritz Lang employed innovative techniques to create the film’s signature visual style, such as the use of double exposure (multiple exposure) and superimposition. These effects were instrumental in conveying Mabuse’s powers of manipulation and mind control.

Themes

Fritz Lang’s Dr. Mabuse the Gambler explores themes of power, greed, and corruption. Mabuse’s desire for control over others and his relentless pursuit of wealth and influence are hallmarks of the film. The movie also delves into the destructive nature of addiction, particularly through the portrayal of the Countess Dusy Told’s descent into gambling.

Creators

Directed by Fritz Lang
Screenplay by Thea von Harbou
Cinematography by Carl Hoffmann
Art direction by Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, and Karl Vollbrecht
Restored and upscaled by moonflix, LLC

Cast

Rudolf Klein-Rogge as Dr. Mabuse
Aud Egede-Nissen as Cara Carozza
Gertrude Welcker as Countess Told
Alfred Abel as Count Told
Bernhard Goetzke as State prosecutor Norbert von Wenk
Paul Richter as Edgar Hull
Robert Forster-Larrinaga as Spoerri
Hans Adalbert Schlettow as Georg, the Chauffeur
Georg John as Pesch
Charles Puffy as Hawasch
Grete Berger as Fine, a servant
Julius Falkenstein as Karsten
Lydia Potechina as Die Russin / Russian woman
Julius E. Herrmann as Emil Schramm

Reception and Legacy

Upon its release, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler garnered critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling, visual effects, and thought-provoking themes. The film’s influence can be seen in the works of various filmmakers throughout the years, as they have sought to emulate Fritz Lang’s unique blend of suspense, crime, and psychological drama. The character of Dr. Mabuse has become an enduring symbol of criminal masterminds in cinema, inspiring countless interpretations and adaptations.

The film’s impact on the genre of psychological thrillers cannot be overstated, as it set the stage for many future movies that would explore the complexities of the human psyche and the nature of power and corruption. Dr. Mabuse the Gambler remains a significant piece of film history, revered by both critics and cinephiles alike.

Remakes

Due to the film’s enduring popularity and influence, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler has seen several remakes and reinterpretations over the years. Some notable examples include:

  • The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933): Directed by Fritz Lang, this sequel sees the return of the nefarious Dr. Mabuse as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire from within an insane asylum.
  • The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse (1960): Also directed by Fritz Lang, this film serves as the final installment in Lang’s Mabuse trilogy, featuring a new incarnation of the character utilizing advanced surveillance technology to commit crimes.
  • Dr. M (1990): Directed by Claude Chabrol, this modernized adaptation of the original story relocates the action to a dystopian future, where a mysterious figure known as Dr. M manipulates the media and public opinion to achieve his sinister goals.

These remakes and reinterpretations highlight the lasting impact of Dr. Mabuse the Gambler and its contribution to the development of crime and psychological thriller genres in cinema.

Original release date:

May 26, 1922

(Visited 9 times, 1 visits today)

















Genres: New Arrivals, Movies, Crime & Mystery Films, 1920's, Silent Films, Silent Films, Thriller, Thriller Films, Crime and Mystery, German Classics, Based on Novels, ALL Movies

Leave a Reply