Classical "vintage" crime-stories
They don't make them like this anymore!
Travelled "The Bridge", observed several "Murders at the Vicarage" and seen your share of "Silent Witnesses"? In that case you may be interested in travelling back in time, to the days before digital special effects and close analysis of all biological traces became trendy in the world of crime on film. Back to the days when the story and the characters alone made your hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Here are a few excellent filmatic treats from the crime genre.
Doctor Mabuse was created by the German writer Norbert Jacques. The character appears in several films, but this breakthrough came in 1922 in Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler), directed by Fritz Lang. The doctor is desbribed as an "evil genious", a "notorious criminal", with an extensive network to help him in his evil deeds. He is a master in disguising and manipulating his helpers and victims by telepathic hypnosis.
In Dr. Mabuses testamente (1933) he is a patient at a mental institution, managing somehow, without contact, to manipulate people to commit crimes for him. The film was forbidden in the "Third Reich", and became Lang's last film before he had to flee the Nazis.
The evil doctor returns in the 60s with Fritz Lang as director. Dr. Mabuses 1000 øyne (1960) is Lang's last film. A reporter is found dead, and it soon becomes clear that there is a major conspiracy in the case.
In The Return of Dr.Mabuse (1961) an Interpol-agent is found dead, and the case widens to include European and American criminal networks.
The mysterious professor Erasmus has invented an invisibility-machine, and doctor Mabuse is naturally interested in acquiring the machine and use it for his evil purposes. The creation of an invisible Mabuse happens in Den usynlige Dr. Mabuse (1962).
Dr. Mabuse makes his British debut in Dr. Mabuse vs. Scotland Yard, when his evil spirit takes over the body of a famous scientist and creates terror throughout London.
In 1964, the doctor reappears in Dr.Mabuses dødsstråler . This time he works with Professor Larsen, who has invented a macaber, deadly death-ray.
We bid the doctor farewell, and focus on House by the River, another Fritz Lang-film. This somber melodrama from 1950 sends two brothers on a criminal path, trying to conceal a murder. Will the police be able to apprehend the right person?
Last, but not least, a mention of Mens byen sover, a classical film noir from 1956. A serial killer is actively killing. The leader of a media house announces a competition to get the best news story about the killer.
Published: 08/04/2025 Last updated: 08/04/2025
