Original subtitles

Originally 3341 metres long, the film had been banned in Germany.

It wasn't until August 24, 1951, that the film was first shown in Germany

in a shortened 2998-metre version.

The original negative of that version survived at the Deutsches Filminstitut (DIF)

but was severely damaged.

Therefore, a 1951 duplicate positive

from the collection of the DIF

served as a basis for the restoration.

Whenever possible, missing scenes from the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv

and the Filmmuseum Munchen were inserted.

In its present form, the film runs 3270 metres.

The film was restored by the Deutsches Filminstitut (DIF)

in collaboration with the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv,

the Filmmuseum Munchen,

KirchMedia and ZDF/ARTE.

Laboratory: L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna

Sound Restoration: KirchMedia, Munich;

Martin Sawyer Sound Services, London.

"Magic Fire Music," old man.

HOMICIDE SQUAD

CHIEF DETECTIVES: INSPECTOR KARL LOHMANN,

INSPECTOR WALTER JANSEN

PHOTOGRAPHERS: HERMAN BUCHER, WILHELM ROTHER

FORENSICS: DR. OTTO JAHNKE, DR. ERICH GUNTHER

You know that one, Muller?

That's from Die Walkure.

Those are the girls who carry dead police inspectors

directly up to heaven from the Alexanderplatz with a "Hey ho."

On horseback.

Horseback?

Certainly. Expenses don't allow for a car.

Well, Inspector, when it comes to corpses,

the state sometimes has...

a fit of generosity.

That's what you think.

Believe it or not, Muller, tonight will be the first time

I make it to the theatre in time for the first act.

Knock on wood, Inspector.

There. What did I tell you?

Tell 'em I'm dead.

Police headquarters. Inspector Lohmann's office.

Inspector.

Inspector.

What is it?

Hofmeister would like to speak with you, Inspector.

What?

Our former colleague who got into trouble with foreign currency?

That scoundrel?

Tell him his call is the most shameless affront

I've ever experienced!

And tell him to go to hell!

I'm sorry, but Inspector Lohmann has already left

and he says you...

And he says you can go to hell!

God help me!

Let me tell you something, Muller.

I once had high hopes for that fellow Hofmeister.

I gave him his first chance.

And what does the scoundrel do?

He takes a bribe from a black-market currency trader.

Phooey!

The man I would have staked my life for

disgraces me by getting fired from the service

like a bad egg.

Police headquarters. Inspector Lohmann's office.

He has to hear me out, for God's sake!

Tell him it's a matter of life and death.

Inspector, I think you really ought to...

Of course I'll miss the first act again!

I want to redeem myself in his eyes!

I finally figured out their scheme.

It's a monstrous business!

They've nearly done me in three times! I hardly dare cross the street!

Lohmann speaking. What is it?

Inspector?

Thank you.

Cut out the nonsense and tell me what's wrong.

Yes, Inspector.

I've finally discovered...

Just a moment, please.

Just in case, Inspector,

please have a record made of my report.

Headphones. Take this down.

I was actually tracing counterfeit money.

I wanted to redeem myself in your eyes, Inspector.

For four days - 96 hours -

I lay up there at the air vent,

and now I know who's behind it all.

But you'll probably think I'm crazy.

Who is it?

I swear I'm telling the truth.

I know who's behind it all! I heard his name with my own ears!

And now they know I know the name.

My God! The lights have gone out!

Lohmann, help me, for God's sake!

Can you trace that call?

For God's sake! Hofmeister!

What street?

Number 23? Thanks.

Gloria

Lovely are the maidens in Batavia

Dear God.

He must have gone out of his mind from terror.

A pathological condition that is not as rare as one might suspect.

Exposure to catastrophes

such as explosions, earthquakes and railway accidents...

in short, exposure to fright and horror

often triggers insanity.

Perhaps the most interesting case of such pathological conditions

is the case of Dr. Mabuse.

Here he goes again.

I shall briefly recount the history of this case.

The patient lived a decidedly double life.

He was a renowned doctor with a large private practice.

Aided by an almost superhuman logic,

he used his profound knowledge of hypnosis

to commit crimes of a magnitude previously deemed impossible.

For months the police sought

the mastermind behind those crimes,

the man behind the curtain.

At last they discovered his whereabouts.

But Mabuse decided not to flee

but rather to mount armed resistance,

and he barricaded himself in his house with four loyal henchmen.

He refused demands to surrender to state authorities, saying,

"I am the state!"

A barrage of bullets forced the police to retreat.

Finally, soldiers stormed the house with hand grenades.

Two of the defenders were killed. Two were captured.

Mabuse, however, had disappeared.

One prisoner revealed his hiding place:

a counterfeiting lab from which he planned to launch a massive attack

on the German currency system.

The police force their way in to seize him

only to find he had gone hopelessly insane.

Judging by his incoherent remarks,

he had seen, during the previous night, the ghosts of all those he had slain.

Apparently it was the horror of that experience

that overpowered this phenomenal mind,

which for so long had straddled

the fine line between genius and madness,

and literally deranged it.

Mabuse was committed to an insane asylum

and to this day has not spoken a word to anyone.

Silent and motionless, he remains in the position you see here.

The patient withdrew into his own ego,

depriving us of any glimpse into his inner life.

But suddenly the clinical profile changed.

We observed that Mabuse's hand

continuously made writing motions

in the air, on the wall and on the bedspread.

We gave him pencil and paper.

At first, he covered the paper with senseless scribbling.

Two years ago, however,

certain words began to appear on the paper.

Then, sentences began to form,

still meaningless and confused.

Gradually they grew more coherent and logical,

and at last we began to get glimpses

into the extraordinary phenomenon that was his mind.

His thoughts still move in the same criminal channels as before.

Whatever Mabuse writes

is based upon incontrovertible logic

and serves as a perfect guide for the commission of crimes

worked out to the minutest detail.

No. Nothing can happen to us if we follow the doctor's methods.

- Oh, yeah? - What do you mean, "oh, yeah"?

The first attacks on the snitch failed.

So what? Tough luck.

So we called in Division 2-B to handle the matter.

If they succeed, fine.

And if they don't -

if it looks like that snitch might rat on us -

one single phone call and this whole place gets blown sky-high.

Stop scratching, Fritzi.

It won't come to that.

Before that guy can open his mouth,

he'll be done for.

I'd feel better if they didn't resort to murder.

What do you mean, murder?

A guy can have something fall on his head, can't he?

A nice, clean little accident.

I don't care how you make it look.

I just don't want anything to do with murder.

Scared?

Can't bear the sight of blood?

Let me tell you something,

though it's really none of your damn business.

I've killed two people.

I know what it means to kill.

And that's precisely why

I want nothing to do with murder.

Leave him alone, Fritzi. What do you know about Kent?

The phone!

Yeah?

It's been taken care of? Bravo!

Really?

Just 20 minutes later?

Lohmann himself?

Continue writing.

Hofmeister himself has disappeared.

The rug has been moved towards the window.

He was on the phone when the lights went out.

- Where's the light switch? - Here by the door.

So it came from over there,

the unknown horror,

the thing that caused his mind to snap.

And he backed away from it step by step,

right up to the window.

I wonder if he...

No, he couldn't get out this way.

Certainly not downwards.

Well, I'll be damned!

Actual letters

scratched into the glass with a ring.

So he was trying to tell me something.

Is that a W?

No.

Could it be a name?

It may take us a while to figure that one out.

- Hey, Kruger. - Yes, Inspector.

Take this pane of glass to my office at headquarters.

And see that you don't break it, or I'll bite your head off.

That's odd. I wonder what's behind that.

Thirty pages today, Professor.

Thank you.

Keep a careful eye on him tonight. I don't like his pulse.

In any case, give him a shot later so he can get some rest.

Yes, Professor.

Their famous chocolate shake?

And a double mocha for you, sir?

- With hot cream. - As usual. Very well.

And now tell me, Tom.

Why did you ask to see me so urgently today?

Don't you know what today is, Lilli?

Today?

Too bad.

Won't you tell me?

Certainly.

A chocolate shake and a double mocha with hot cream.

Well, Tom?

You ask what day this is?

Exactly one year ago today,

at the employment office...

No smoking, gentlemen.

Smoking is prohibited.

Good heavens, my friend, are you back again?

I've told you a hundred times

there's no point in coming every day.

When we have work for you, we'll certainly notify you.

I've been waiting for three months!

Be reasonable.

Reasonable?

What does reasonable mean when a man is going under?

I want to work!

But they keep pushing me closer to the edge!

It's enough to drive a man to crime!

He's forced to become a criminal!

He marches in here and causes a riot!

Don't get so worked up. We have others to attend to.

- Come now. - Leave him alone. He's sick.

- Come now. - Don't touch me! I'll go on my own!

- You'll never see me again here! - Next, please.

You've seen the last of me!

Just a moment, please.

I can't bear to see you leave like this.

Here are 20 marks.

It's all I have right now, but I'd like you to have it.

It may help you out.

I don't want charity.

I want work, not a handout.

It's not a handout.

It's just a loan.

I'm sure you'll be able to pay me back.

Please.

Yes.

And six months later, you found work and promptly paid back my 20 marks.

Tell me, Lilli...

have you ever been in love?

It's high time I was going.

Here comes my bus.

- Please stay. - I can't. I've got to run.

Goodbye, Tom. Call me.

Good bye.

Good bye.

If you'll be seated, Doctor,

the professor is due back any moment.

Thanks, Winkler. I'm sure I'll find what I need.

Ah, I see it's on his desk.

Oops. Oh, dear!

What order does all this go in?

This junk isn't even numbered.

What is this anyway?

NOTES BY DR. MABUSE SEPTEMBER 1ST - OCTOBER 31ST

How does this go together now?

No, the other way around.

Then this page.

What's the next part? "Jewel..."

No.

"Jewel...

...lery store."

"Jewellery store...

specialising in high-quality..."

What?

"The least conspicuous and therefore most effective precaution

to prevent interruption by police, pedestrians and clients

is to pull the shades and hang a sign on the door:

'Closed from 10:00 to 2:00 for inventory.' "

Well, I'll be!

"The criminals then lowered the shades and hung a sign outside the door,

'Closed from 10:00 to 2:00 for inventory.' "

If that isn't something!

That's incredible!

"Immobilise the staff by using gas in bulbs of thin glass,

which will burst almost inaudibly when tossed."

Gas! Amazing! Identical, almost to the word!

"The criminals appear to have tossed bulbs of thin glass filled with gas."

"Bulbs of thin glass filled with gas."

If that isn't odd!

It's as if they were following a blueprint!

What are you doing there?

Baum.

This is the most incredible thing you could imagine.

Look here. What is this?

Where did you get these papers?

Never mind that! You know what they are?

Yes, of course.

Now read this.

"Ingenious jewellery heist..."

That's right. Read it.

"Jewellery stolen valued at 250,000 marks.

Gas was used on the employees."

Yes, just as if they were following your Dr. Mabuse's instructions.

A curious coincidence.

Now wait just a minute.

- You call that a coincidence? - What else?

Baum, old man, coincidences like that just don't happen.

There's some connection in all this or I'll eat my hat.

Say, I've got a crazy idea.

Could this Mabuse fellow be faking it?

Maybe the guy isn't insane after all.

Tell me,

do you think that, after treating a patient for years,

I can't judge whether he's really sick or just pretending?

I didn't mean it like that.

But there must be something behind all this.

You know what a genius this fellow was.

It's just possible

that his dead brain has come back to life.

Couldn't Mabuse be writing these things as a sort of blueprint

for a gang of accomplices?

You've always had a wild imagination.

Just hear me out.

What if Mabuse, with his incredible hypnotic powers,

engaged in some kind of telepathic hypnosis

from his cell?

- Nonsense! - Nonsense?

Say what you like, but there's something weird going on!

Who else besides you knows about Mabuse's notes?

You sound just like a policeman.

I think the police should be informed of this strange coincidence.

- The police? - Of course!

Well, perhaps...

Of course you're right. The police would want to know of this.

Of course! I'll go to them at once.

If I can, I'll call you from the station.

Good bye.

Please drive carefully, Doctor. It's been raining.

- Thank you, Winkler. - Goodbye.

I do not wish to be disturbed.

Section 2-B.

Yes.

Let me repeat that back:

a small blue DKW,

license plate 1A 74259.

Intersection of Gruner Winkel and Kornerstrasse. We'll take care of it.

Kornerstrasse and Gruner Winkel. License plate 1A 74259. Go!

Faster.

Faster or we'll miss him!

INGENIOUS JEWELLERY HEIST

STOLEN JEWELLERY VALUED AT 250,000 MARKS

Almost a quarter million in jewels.

Pearls, platinum, gold.

One can do a lot with that.

Can? Could!

But what will be done with it?

What's gonna happen with that quarter million ?

Careful.

I ask you...

Will you stay down?

What becomes of it, I ask you?

We buy cocaine with it, morphine, heroin, opium,

whatever you call all that crap.

And instead of making a killing off the dope

and fleecing the types who are crazy for the stuff,

they practically give it away.

What good does it do the boss

to pump the world full of dope and not make any money off it?

These things won't stay down. What does it get him?

I follow his instructions and drive ten people nearly crazy

with threats and blackmail.

And when they're ready to pay any sum we ask,

then I'm told to back off and forget about the money.

Only result is they're driven crazy

from fear of a scandal.

Is that any business of yours, old boy?

Did you ever fail to get your pay on time?

That's not what I'm saying.

Okay, then.

You handle the blackmail, and I see to your alibi.

We get our paychecks like clockwork, so what are you growling about?

I'm not growling.

I just don't get it. If a woman throws herself out the window,

or a fellow blows his brains out, like that bank director,

blackmail letters aren't of much use.

150 grand tossed in the gutter. ls there any sense in that?

Or take the new instructions about the explosives,

and stealing poison from pharmacies -

that's scary business.

As it's meant to be, my dear fellow.

But why, in the devil's name?

I think you ask too many questions.

The boss doesn't like that.

What? You know him?

No more than you do, or anyone else in our gang.

And I'm not the least bit curious.

I learned my lesson from your predecessor.

He just had to find out what the man looked like,

the man behind the curtain, the boss.

So one day,

without having been summoned,

he snuck into the famous room with the curtain.

And that's where we found him.

Or rather...

what was left of him.

Cut it out, man. You're spoiling my appetite.

Let me give you a tip. Let the boss worry about this stuff.

We're well paid. In fact, very well paid.

If something goes wrong, we'll have cast-iron alibis

or a top-notch lawyer.

The boss thinks of everything and takes care of everything

and demands not a penny for himself of all the loot.

Not a penny.

See? That's just it. Why?

Why doesn't he take a single penny for himself?

I can't understand that, and that's what's got me jumpy.

Lots of others in our gang probably feel the same

and would like to be clone with the whole thing

but just don't know how.

"Dearest Lilli, you dashed off so quickly this afternoon

that I had no chance to say what I wanted to tell you. l..."

TONIGHT AT 0100 HRS - DR. MABUSE

You say you searched the furthest precincts

and found no trace of Hofmeister?

His description was sent to all officers?

Inspector Lohmann asks if you had the hospitals searched.

A special squad did that, and Hofmeister hasn't been admitted anywhere?

- Damn it! - You'll call back?

Wait a minute.

Get a picture of Hofmeister from the files.

We may need to have posters printed up.

Now, then, what is your assessment of the murder in the automobile?

So far, all I know is

that the killer used a 7.65-mm Dreyse pistol, from 1906,

production of which ended in 1916.

This weapon was fired from a distance

of not more than 25 feet.

No empty shells were found in the street nor on the sidewalk,

and the bullet's trajectory indicates

the shot was not fired from a window

but rather from a point almost level with the victim's head.

We may therefore conclude the shot was fired from another vehicle.

Another vehicle?

That would be very interesting indeed.

That opens up a whole new perspective.

Inspector Lohmann '5 office.

Not bad.

Excuse me, Inspector. It's Habermann.

This is about the Kramm homicide.

Inspector, we've traced the murder victim's actions

up until 6:10 p.m. on the evening of the murder.

Where he was from then until the time of death

we have not yet been able to establish.

But that's what we need to find out.

See that you find out where he was those last two hours.

Very well.

Muller, arrange to have... No, wait.

Where's the text for the Kramm homicide poster?

Here it is.

"All information will be kept confidential..."

Put another line in here:

"Especially concerning the hours

from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m."

Have those changes made.

And... No, never mind. I'll do it myself.

Photo department.

Weber, the old man wants to talk to you.

Trouble?

I don't know.

Weber here.

I'm just doing it now.

Enlargements, naturally.

Trace the scratches and see if you can't link them together

into a word or name or something.

I'm sure Hofmeister intended to...

Inspector, they found Hofmeister!

Where?

The police station at Schoneberger Ufer.

A police patrol found him.

At first they thought he was just another drunk

because he kept babbling to himself incessantly.

But then they heard him call your name.

Inspector Lohmann.

Why won't you listen to me, for God's sake?

Inspector, you must listen to me.

It's a matter of life and death.

Inspector Lohmann, please listen, for the love of God!

Gloria

Gloria

Lovely are the maidens in Batavia

Between 17 and 18

My God!

You see?

The moment he thinks he's being watched, he starts singing.

When he thinks he's alone, he calls your name.

I'll leave you alone now.

Hofmeister, don't you recognise me?

Goddamn it!

Hofmeister, it's me, Lohmann.

Your old friend Lohmann.

My God!

Inspector?

Inspector Lohmann? Why don't you come to the phone?

For God's sake, come to the phone, Inspector Lohmann.

Come to the phone!

Hello. This is Lohmann.

Detective Inspector Lohmann.

Who is it, please?

Inspector?

Is that you, Hofmeister?

This is Lohmann.

Lovely are the maidens

Hopeless.

We'll have no other choice

but to commit the poor devil to an institution.

Listen to me, for God's sake!

Why don't you come to the phone, Inspector?

Poor devil, eh?

Heaven help me if I ever get my hands on the scoundrel

responsible for that fellow's condition!

All of a sudden he stopped writing

and just sat there like a living corpse.

Then he suddenly got an expression in his eyes,

those eyes that leave you practically paralysed!

The eyes of a man who...

If he were in his right mind,

I believe he could compel people to do his will right from his cell.

The professor must come.

The professor is working and doesn't wish to be disturbed.

Winkler, this is Mabuse!

- Not so loud! - The professor will fire me on the spot.

I do not wish to be disturbed.

With great disconcertment I have found out

that in the Hofmeister matter,

surveillance at the print shop failed in the most irresponsible way.

Don't interrupt.

I didn't ask for your opinion.

The Hofmeister affair would have turned into

a catastrophe of the first order

if not for the excellent work

of Division 2-B.

I'll come back to that later.

Even so, in the future,

all security measures protecting our organisation

will be made much more stringent.

Anyone constituting a menace to our organisation

is to be eliminated without exception.

Kent, it has come to my ears that you -

perhaps due to something in your past -

that you do not approve of certain of m y organisation '5 measures.

I'm warning you, Kent -

and I never give more than one warning -

in the near future you will have to prove

that you are absolutely committed to our organisation,

and that you know what you are being paid for.

MURDER - 2,000 MARKS REWARD

Murder.

No!

It's really none of my business,

but I don't think you're taking the doctor's warning seriously enough.

Oh, yes, I am. Division 2-B.

No one in the organisation gets out of it alive.

It's hopeless.

There's no turning back.

"I must say farewell forever, and I can't even tell you why.

But there's no other way for me to behave decently towards you.

You will never know what you've meant in my botched life.

It is very difficult to say goodbye to you, Lilli."

"Forget me -

though I shall never forget you!"

It spells Mabuse.

What spells Mabuse?

Those scratches on the window-pane, Inspector.

It took me forever to discover he was writing as if in a mirror.

Using his left hand, and behind his back.

If you flip it over, see there?

Quite clear.

Wasn't he that...

that doctor back during the economic crisis?

Quite right, Inspector.

I've got him. 1920-1921.

Dr. Mabuse "The Gambler."

Come on, let me see that.

Let's see what business he has being on that window-pane.

When Lohmann has untied all the knots,

then you may sweep up as much as you like.

But until then, he'll go wild as an ape if you touch anything, and he bites.

I'd like to see him try.

Muller.

The old man's coming. Get out!

Muller, come here.

Call up (59-19-902.

That's the mental hospital run by Professor Baum

where they committed a certain Dr. Mabuse.

I'd like to know if he's still there.

When?

Thank you.

Dr. Mabuse died this morning.

This morning?

Today of all days.

That is quite peculiar.

TONIGHT AT 2400 HRS - DR. MABUSE

So, you too?

What do you mean, me too?

Something big is on for tonight, it seems.

We've been called in, as have Divisions 5 and 9...

as well as Section 2-B.

- Good Lord. - It's no use, Kent.

The doctor is more powerful than you.

Is your curiosity satisfied now,

Inspector?

And this corpse is clearly identified as Mabuse?

There's no doubt of that?

Unfortunately not, Inspector.

Unfortunately it is only too certain

that this dead man here is Dr. Mabuse.

Or was.

Alas.

This assessment of the deceased...

- Is smoking permitted here? - Yes.

...seems to me to be slightly, let's say...

- Do you smoke? - No, thanks.

...let's say slightly exaggerated.

In the case of Dr. Mabuse, we're not dealing with a human being of value

but with an evil criminal

who only escaped the gallows

by entering an insane asylum.

One less insane criminal in the world.

Silence! You have no idea.

No one has any idea

what kind of phenomenal, superhuman mind

has come to an end with Dr. Mabuse's death.

This mind would have laid waste to our whole rotten world,

which is long overdue for destruction.

This godless world, devoid of justice and compassion,

consisting only of selfishness, cruelty and hatred.

This mind would have destroyed mankind,

which itself knows only destruction and extermination

and which could only have been saved in its final hour

through terror and horror.

Mabuse the criminal?

Mabuse the genius!

His intellectual legacy would have turned

your world, with its police protection, on its head!

His legacy?

You speak of Mabuse's legacy?

No. Yes.

Of course, not a testament in the accepted sense of the word.

Just some of his notes,

of interest only to physicians

and men of science.

I'm afraid, Professor,

that you underestimate

the number of subjects in which I take an interest.

Take, for example, a case which concerns me intimately.

Wasn't a young man admitted to your institution earlier today

by the name of Hofmeister?

May I see that man?

I'm terribly sorry, Inspector.

That man seems to be suffering the effects of some frightful experience

that he relives each time someone approaches him.

Then he begins singing like a frightened child sings in the dark.

I must therefore request,

for the good of the patient, that you refrain from seeing him now.

What is it?

Forgive me, Professor. We only wanted to...

They're waiting for you in anatomy class.

Yes, of course.

Well, I see the doctor's cell is already occupied again.

Yes, the new one who arrived last night...

the professor ordered that he be isolated.

The doctor's cell just became vacant, so we put him in it.

It's strange

when you come to think of it.

For 10 years I've cared for the doctor,

and now he lies down there in the morgue.

Or what's left of him.

TONIGHT AT 2400 HRS - DR. MABUSE

The doctor.

Division 5 to the boss.

NOTES BY DR. MABUSE

FEBRUARY 15TH - MARCH 31ST

"The Empire of Crime."

The empire of crime.

"Humanity's soul must be shaken to its very depths,

frightened by unfathomable and seemingly senseless crimes.

Crimes that benefit no one,

whose only objective is to inspire fear and terror."

Because the ultimate purpose of crime

is to establish the endless empire of crime.

A state of complete insecurity and anarchy,

founded upon the tainted ideals

of a world doomed to annihilation.

When humanity,

subjugated by the terror of crime,

has been driven insane by fear and horror,

and when chaos has become supreme law,

then the time will have come for the empire of crime.

ATTACKS UPON RAILROAD LINES,

GAS STORAGE TANKS, CHEMICAL FACTORIES

You have the special maps for the northern area?

Yes, sir.

The fire in the chemical factory

in quadrants E-9 and K-14.

Repeat that.

"Quadrants E-9 and K-14."

They are to be concentrated

so as to spread the blaze mainly to the storerooms and depots.

- Is that clear? - Yes, sir.

By the time the fire crews arrive,

the flames must be impossible to subdue.

Division 3 and Dr. Hauser to the boss.

ACTIONS AGAINST BANKS AND CURRENCY

- Division 3? - Yes.

And Dr. Hauser.

Report.

Per my orders,

the letters incriminating the signatory of the Overseas Bank

were not returned to him,

even when very large sums were offered,

until he agreed to comply completely with our demands.

We are now in possession of duplicate keys

to every one of the bank's vaults,

as well as combinations to all the safes

and plans for all alarm systems.

Only after successful completion of our mission will the letters be returned.

Good.

Turn the material over to Division 3 and wait downstairs.

- I'll need you later. - Yes, sir.

Division 3,

you are to bundle the completed counterfeit bills this morning

and affix the stamps of the Overseas Bank.

Per the instructions you have just received,

at exactly 11:00 tomorrow night

you will break into the bank

and replace the bills now deposited in the bank

with the counterfeit bills

so that the bank itself will distribute the counterfeit money.

The bank guards are to be killed.

Killed!

There mustn't be the slightest clue to suggest the safes were opened.

Once everything has been executed according to plan,

the bank's alarms must be set off

to simulate a burglary interrupted in progress.

- Do you understand? - Yes, sir.

Division 3 is no longer needed.

I LOVE YOU!

Good evening, Tom.

I was here in the afternoon, too,

but you weren't home.

Nor were you here earlier this evening.

So I waited, Tom, a terribly long time.

Won't you at least offer me a seat in return, Tom?

What a lovely place you have here.

I like rooms that have such wide, tall windows.

Lovely.

Is this true?

Yes, Tom.

But I wrote to you!

And I gave you my answer, Tom.

But you don't even know who I am, Lilli.

My dear Tom,

isn't that entirely beside the point?

Beside the point?

Entirely beside the point!

We'll see right now whether it's beside the point!

There you have it, in black and white - just who I am.

Official confirmation

with the seal and signature of the prison director

and everything that goes with it.

- Prison. - Yes, prison!

Four and a half years in prison!

The last six months commuted for good behaviour.

There.

Why should I care, Tom?

I love you.

You don't know why I was in prison.

I killed two people.

One was my girlfriend,

and the other was the man I'd thought was my best friend.

Why should I care, Tom?

I love you.

Then I'm forced to tell you the rest, Lilli.

I lied to you, Lilli!

I told you I'd found a position, didn't I?

Well, I certainly did.

Do you know where?

In a counterfeiting lab.

That's one place that can use an engineer who's an ex-con.

If I had only known what I know now.

Along with destruction of the crops,

water supplies must be poisoned.

Epidemics of every kind must break down

any resistance on the part of the people.

A warning to unreliable elements will not be issued again.

The slightest sign of treachery

will be punished immediately by death.

You see, Lilli?

This time you don't say,

"Why should I care, Tom? I love you."

Look, Tom.

When I received your letter,

did you really think me so dense

that I wouldn't sense the despair in your heart?

I thought to myself,

"What he needs is to regain his faith in himself,

to believe that everything can turn out well again."

And I thought to myself,

"Maybe you can restore his faith in himself

if you tell him how much you care for him

and that you will stand by him for better or for worse."

And so I came to you.

Tell me,

have you taken it upon yourself

to rob me of my last shred of sanity?

Yes, Tom.

You! You!

You have to report that he's failed to show up.

Let's wait.

Finished.

I guess I have no other choice.

Section 2-B? Yes.

This is Division 3.

I must report that Kent didn't show up.

Believe me, Tom, your life is just beginning.

A brand-new life, clean, spotless and good.

It's true, Tom!

We'll put it all behind us and make a fresh start.

And you know who'll help us?

Help us?

Yes, Tom. The man who once...

When he had to arrest you,

he was so decent and compassionate towards you.

Lohmann?

Inspector.

What is it?

Voberg is here.

He claims to have some important news.

Give me a cigar and raise the shades. Then show him in.

Morning, Inspector.

What is it?

Well, Inspector, it's like this.

Scholz and I think we've stumbled across something...

Lower those shades.

Clumsy fool.

We stumbled across something that might lead us to the jewellery robbers.

Is that so?

We saw a girl running around with a big pearl necklace.

She could tell me anything at all,

that she bought the thing at Woolworth's for 25 pfennigs.

But Scholz knows about these things,

and he swears that necklace is genuine.

Well, is it?

So far all we know is that she's the sweetheart of a scoundrel

who's an expert on anything having to do with jewellery robberies.

Where are the others?

They had a few details to take care of.

Come along, quietly.

Come along, Kent.

Come on, let's go!

Off you go, then, but remember:

Be careful.

You're dealing with a dangerous international crook.

- Understand? - Yes, Inspector.

All right then. Good luck.

Good day, Chief.

Kent!

You were ordered to prepare the strike against the Overseas Bank.

You failed to carry out your orders.

Failure to obey is tantamount to treason.

The penalty for both offences is death.

Let the woman go free.

Do with me what you like, but let her go free.

You and that woman

will never leave this room alive.

You monster!

- Tom, for God's sake! - Stay back!

Good God!

You will never leave this room alive.

You have three hours left to live.

What's that?

Tom, what's that?

What's that, Tom?

Whatever it is, Lilli,

we must find it

and put an end to it.

You'll be taking over Kent's job, by the way.

He won't be able to do it any more.

What do you mean?

He's otherwise engaged.

Who could that be?

How do I know? Maybe it's the postman.

Anni!

Wanna go and see who that is?

Hold on.

Who is it?

The gas man. I'd like to inspect the meter.

Afternoon, miss.

You want to look at the meter?

Come back some other time. I've got company right now.

- How dare you! - Police. Open up.

Look out! Police!

- Don't shoot! - Shut up, you idiot!

Get out!

Quick, out the back door!

We don't have one!

You idiots get an apartment with only one exit?

- What about the window? - From the fourth floor?

There must be some way out!

Shall I put in an elevator for you guys?

Now we're really done for!

That guy will call all his cop friends.

And on a Sunday, too.

What're you crying about?

It's your own damn fault for firing at him!

Leave me alone, you hear? Stop giving me a hard time!

Listen, try to knock a hole through the ceiling.

Maybe we can escape to the roof.

I'll try to hit the guy and keep him back from the door!

Stay back.

Notify the Special Tactics Squad and get hold of...

Damned scoundrel!

Who should I get hold of?

Homicide. Inspector Lohmann.

It's no use. We'll never get out this way.

The window, Tom. We could try to break through that.

Cement.

But the brick, maybe.

Damn it!

Hey! How far are you in there?

I can't hold this door forever. Lohmann and his whole gang are here.

Lohmann?

That's it! I'm out!

Get yourself killed, all of you!

What do you mean by that?

What do I mean?

I'll tell you what I mean!

Watch the door!

Out of the way.

Hardy, be sensible. It's no use.

We won't get anywhere on the roof.

Let me talk to them.

Let me tell you something.

Anyone who gets near that door, inside or out,

is gonna get it, understand?

Go keep an eye on them!

Move it!

Almost.

Now.

Let's see now.

What's the matter, Tom?

It's no use, Lilli.

Behind those bricks is a steel plate.

Dear God!

Careful! A bullet can cripple you for life!

Is he dead?

Karetzky.

Goddamn this mess!

Anni, get some towels.

Come on, quick!

It's no use. Better keep an eye on the door.

- Why didn't you let me negotiate? - You and your stupid shooting!

Bredow, shoot anyone who comes near the door!

- Do you hear? - You bet I will!

I've had enough of this business.

I've got you now.

Open up! It's Lohmann!

What's the matter?

Lohmann '5 outside.

- I forbid you to go! - Who are you to forbid anything?

I won't land in jail 'cause of you!

Think I'll let you cowardly swine send me to the slaughter?

Be sensible.

It's no use.

We've got hand grenades.

I'll give you one last chance.

If you're reasonable, we'll be reasonable too.

That's the way.

That's the stuff. Daddy's proud of you.

Now, open the door and put your hands up.

- How many of you are there? - Five, Inspector.

One, two, three.

Diamond Anna! See you don't catch a cold, my dear.

Four.

Where's the fifth?

Damn it! Don't try anything!

A Dreyse pistol.

What do you know?

A Dreyse pistol, no less.

Made in 1906, 7.65-mm.

Apparently the former owner...

a friend of yours...

- No. - No?

That's funny.

It says here that the two of you were close friends.

It's signed by Karetzky, Diamond Anna, and her sweetheart.

One shouldn't forsake a friend who's died.

I'm not forsaking him.

That's more like it.

So your old buddy held on to this gun

because he was used to it.

Actually,

haven't these things been out of style for a long time?

I'm no gun expert.

That's right.

You're more of an expert on automobiles.

What make of car did Dr. Kramm drive?

A "Hanomag" or a DKW?

Who?

Dr. Kramm, the guy you two rubbed out from your car.

I don't know what you're talking about, Inspector.

Is that so? Muller.

It's no good, Lilli.

I can't find a thing.

God almighty.

There, there.

Steady, Lilli.

My dear little Lilli.

There might be another way.

It's a long shot.

- What if we flood the room with water? - Water?

Yes. Where did I...

- What are you looking for, Tom? - My knife.

- Water lessens the force of an explosion. - There it is.

Out of the way.

It just might break through the wall for us.

What if it doesn't, Tom?

If the water rises, and we're...

Let's try it, Tom.

- Here you are, Inspector. - Thank you.

So you don't know anything about Dr. Kramm's murder?

No, Inspector. The first I heard of it was right here.

Let me show you something. Come here.

Come, come.

Take a look at this still life.

You're familiar with this here.

A 7.65-mm Dreyse pistol made in 1906.

It belonged to your friend.

He shot himself with it, didn't he?

Yes.

Fine.

But do you know

what's in there?

No.

Well, then, look here.

Take that magnifying glass

and take a careful look at these two Easter eggs.

Well?

See any difference?

No, not the slightest.

You see, my boy, that's just it!

None of us police could detect any difference either,

neither with the magnifying glass nor in the photographs.

These two bullets are so completely identical

that they could only have been fired from the same gun.

Yet one was taken from the skull of the deceased Dr. Kramm,

and the other was found in the skull of your dead friend Hardy.

- Glass of water, my lad? - Cigarette.

So now tell me why your friend Hardy shot and killed Dr. Kramm.

- I can't tell you that, Inspector. - Liar!

Kill me if you like, but I don't know what Hardy's orders were!

- So you had orders? - Not me. Hardy.

From whom?

I couldn't tell you, Inspector. I've never seen the man in my life.

Now enters the mystery man.

Come on in and pull up a chair.

Just what we needed: the man in the shadows.

So you don't know the man's name?

On my honour, Inspector, I don't know who gave Hardy those orders.

Then there's nothing we can do.

Dictate for the record what you know about the whole case.

Yes, Inspector.

- Muller. - Yes, Inspector.

It was like this, Mr. Assistant Inspector.

I was just...

I was just washing my car,

because everything has to be in top shape in these days of keen competition.

Suddenly the phone rings, and Hardy picks it up.

Then he came and said we were to catch up with Dr. Kramm's car

at the intersection of Kornerstrasse and Gruner Winkel.

So we set out, of course, and pretty soon he showed up.

Sergeant, take this man away.

Isn't Professor Baum's insane asylum on Gruner Winkel?

Yes, Inspector.

So that's where Dr. Kramm spent his final two hours.

Look and see if we have any police record for Dr. Baum.

Baum - Bertha, Anna, Ulrich, Max.

Nothing on him?

Well, that was... Thank you.

Get Professor Baum on the phone for me.

Professor, it's police headquarters.

Inspector Lohmann wishes to speak to you.

This is Professor Baum.

This man swears you've been treating him for the last two months.

I think he's just trying to establish an alibi.

I'd like to confront him with you.

Without him knowing who you are, of course.

Could you come over right away?

Thanks a million, Professor.

If I'm on the right track now,

I'm gonna get high as a kite tonight!

That's our way out! We're saved!

Inspector, when are you going to let me out of this monkey cage?

My dear fellow, we're glad we've got you in there.

But I've told you everything I know.

We'll see about that. Professor, please.

Well, Professor, do you know that man?

Is he the one?

No, Inspector. I've definitely never seen him before.

Just as I thought.

You there.

Then I've troubled you for nothing.

Professor.

Sorry to disturb you, Inspector, but we need your signature here.

I'll be right with you. Pardon me a moment, Professor.

Perhaps you might wait in my office.

- Room 204, at the end of the hall. - Thanks.

- Any of you know that man? - No, Inspector.

- No. - Never seen him before.

Bredow, do you know the man you just saw with me?

No, Inspector. I don't know the gentleman.

- Not the slightest doubt? - No.

MURDER - 2,000 MARKS REWARD

Sad business, isn't it?

Especially for you, since you were a close friend of the victim.

Yes, we were on excellent terms as colleagues.

The poor fellow even visited you on the day of his death.

You could have saved us a lot of work, Professor,

if you'd reported that to the police.

INFORMATION OF ANY KIND

ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE HOURS FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 P.M.

This request was published in every newspaper

and posted on kiosks all over the city.

I never read newspapers, only medical literature.

And today's the first time I've been in town in four weeks.

Dr. Kramm came to look something up in a scientific book in my library.

He left in the best of spirits.

As for his death, it's as much a mystery to me as it is to you.

Then I'm terribly sorry to have troubled you for nothing.

Why, it's Kent!

Do you know him?

Who?

Him.

I asked you if you knew him.

Where would I know him from?

I have no idea, yet you just spoke his name.

I did?

That was you, Inspector.

Inspector, I must speak to you. It's terribly urgent.

I suppose I may leave, Inspector? My time is...

Of course. By all means, Professor.

Just a moment, Kent.

Many thanks for coming.

Don't mention it. Goodbye.

Good bye.

- Inspector, please... - Just a moment.

Go on in.

It's all right.

- It's tremendously important... - Just a moment.

This is crucial: Do you know that man who just left?

- No. - Are you certain?

I'm certain.

Yet I could swear he knew you.

Most certainly not. I've never seen him before.

Damn it!

What happened to you, for God's sake?

That's why we've come.

And what is the name of this "boss" you mention?

Dr. Mabuse.

Goddamn it!

Mabuse again! That fellow is dead!

He's alive and kicking, I tell you.

I saw the cadaver myself.

Bless you.

- It's true. - I'm telling you, he's not dead.

I think the two of us are living proof of that,

though as for "living," that was pure luck!

Inspector, I put myself completely in your hands.

Last night...

I could have fled but I didn't,

because I realised this is about more than my life or liberty.

My God, how can I convince you?

Is this proof enough for you?

TONIGHT AT 2400 HRS - DR. MABUSE

Typewritten.

That's no proof.

Someone else could have...

"Someone else?"

I'm not in for anybody. No exceptions.

Yes, Professor.

All the evidence leads again and again to that insane asylum.

Muller, get the car.

I may be putting my neck on the line,

but I'm going out there once more, and you're going with me, Kent.

Perhaps you're right and

Mabuse is still alive.

- I'd like to speak with Professor Baum. - I'm afraid that's impossible.

The professor can see no one.

Just tell him that Police Inspector Lohmann wishes to see him.

Gentlemen, it's really impossible.

The professor gave strict orders not to disturb him.

My good man, I must speak with him. Now go on and announce me.

- But, Inspector... - Will you announce me or not?

- I have strict instructions... - Fine. Don't announce me.

But, Inspector...

I do not wish to be disturbed.

- That's him! That's his voice! - What?

That's the boss's voice.

I'd recognise it anywhere.

That's the man!

Where is the man whose voice we just heard?

Kent, come over here.

What is it?

I do not wish to be disturbed.

I clearly said I did not wish to be disturbed.

That's his voice.

Nice little contraption.

Very clever.

No wonder you failed to recognise the man's voice.

You only heard a mechanical reproduction of it.

- The professor? - Baum. Of course.

But where is he hiding?

What's this?

A map of the northern part of town?

That must be the Lohr & Stegerwald chemical factory.

CHEMICAL PLANT - OCTOBER 15TH

And today's date.

Strange.

Very strange.

What's one to make of that?

There's something else here.

It's in pencil.

8:30 p.m., and today's date.

It's now 9:10.

Kent, call the chemical plant.

There won't be anyone there, but they must have guards.

And here's something else.

"Notes by Dr. Mabuse"? Isn't that interesting.

Go ahead.

Good Lord! The chemical factory!

"Fires started in this manner in a chemical factory's storerooms

cannot be extinguished by firefighters.

Tanks exploding from the heat will quickly release immense quantities

of poisonous gas into surrounding areas of the city."

Damn it! They're playing cards again instead of keeping guard.

Here's your line, Inspector.

Police headquarters?

Inspector Lohmann.

- Lohmann, look! - What?

In the light there!

Quiet.

Over there!

- Nothing. - Damn it!

There.

Krause!

Where's my driver? Krause!

Where is that guy? Krause!

I'll drive, Inspector.

Push that car out of the way.

I just hope this piece of junk can make it.

Faster, faster!

Come on!

CAUTION - RAILROAD CROSSING

Get out of the way!

Faster! Come on!

Now we're done for.

Get the spare.

The empire of crime...

The empire of crime...

Gloria

Lovely are the maidens in Batavia

Permit me to introduce myself.

My name is Mabuse.

Dr. Mabuse.

For heaven's sake!

Who opened that door?

Run and get help! He'll kill him!

Police.

We're looking for...

Hofmeister!

Inspector!

That man's name is Mabuse.

Come, my boy.

There's nothing left to do here for a mere police inspector.