Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(mouse over title to see Image Entertainment DVD version)
(aka 'Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime" or "Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler" or "Inferno")
Dr Mabuse The Gambler is a fascinating reflection of German society in the 1920s and all its criminal-ridden decadence. In Fritz Lang's epic tale of domination by terror, the power-crazed Mabuse (Rudolph Klein-Rogge) masterminds the world's most dangerous gang of counterfeiters, thieves and murderers, wielding hypnotic powers with an iron fist to obtain total obedience to his will! This double DVD set presents the complete 4 1/2 hour version of Lang's Silent masterwork.
The two-part film Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler
(Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler) is one of the most sensational crime thrillers
ever filmed. It is also, together with Die Nibelungen, Metropolis,
and M, one of Fritz Lang’s most accomplished films. ![]() ![]() |
Posters + Video jackets
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Theatrical Release: April 27th, 1922 - Germany
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Kino - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Eureka - Region 2 - PAL vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to
Gregg Ferencz, Enrique B Chamorro and Nick Wrigley for the Screen Captures!
1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT 2) Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Eureka - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT |
Box Covers |
![]() |
|
|
|
Distribution |
Kino Region 0 - NTSC |
Image Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC |
Eureka Region 2 - PAL |
Masters of Cinema - Spine #69 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
|
Also available, on Blu-ray from The
Masters of Cinema, in a Limited Edition Steelbook:
|
|||
Runtime | Approx - 4.5 hours | 2:00:16 + 1:49:24 = 3:49:40 | Approx - 4.5 hours (4% PAL speedup) | 2:35:10.166 + 1:55:40.541 = 4:30:50 |
Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.29 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.25:1 Aspect Ratio |
1.30:1
Aspect Ratio |
Disc 1: 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 48,189,491,600 bytesFeature: 48,107,941,440 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.82 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
Disc 2:1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 49,024,482,226 bytes Feature: 35,830,294,080 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.78 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
||||
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||||
Bitrate:
Image Entertainment
|
|
|||
Bitrate:
Disc 1 Blu-ray
|
|
|||
Bitrate:
Disc 2 Blu-ray
|
|
|||
Audio | Dolby Digital 2.0 - Music Score | German (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
German (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) |
LPCM Audio 2304
kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | Non removable English | German Intertitles replaced with English Intertitles | English, French, None | English, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Kino Aspect Ratio: Edition
Details:
•
Fritz Lang bio/filmography Chapters 30
|
Release Information: Studio: Image Ent.
Aspect Ratio: |
Release Information: Studio: Eureka Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.30:1
Edition Details:
° German Intertitles |
Release Information: Edition Details:
|
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (October 2013): Firstly this is also available in a LTD Edition Steelbook, presumably also a two Blu-ray disc set (same transfer and contents) as this transparent case version is.
I don't know why, but we never added the MoC Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Boxset DVD of Dr. Mause, The Gambler images to this DVD comparison - back in 2009 - when it came out. We simply reviewed the entire collection HERE. Regardless, I am thrilled with the new 1080P transfer of the latest restoration. The quality is so rich, thick, textured - superb black levels - and I could have taken screen captures all day. The grain is so pleasing but, as expected, the light damage - scratches etc. become more noticeable with the higher resolution and pronounced detail. Both disc are dual-layered with max'ed out bitrates. It isn't going to get any better. Some may question the contrast - but I actually think it suits the film to have it at such a pronounced degree.
Audio (the film is Silent but has a score - Aljoscha Zimmermann) is competently transferred via lossless in a linear PCM. I thought it sounded incredible and supported the film's action magnificently. Very crisp and strong! The piano-base is almost addictive to listen to and there are optional subtitles for the original-appearing German title-cards (see sample).
Extras duplicate Masters of Cinema's last DVD (in the boxset) with the persevering Kalat commentary (4.5 hours!) and three video pieces: an interview with the composer of the restoration score (12:57) entitled Mabuse's Music, plus a discussion of Norbert Jacques (9:35), creator of Dr. Mabuse, and an examination of the film's motifs in the context of German Silent cinema (29:55). The latter is called Mabuse's Motives and all are in German with English subtitles. All three are located on the second Blu-ray disc.
Fritz Lang? Mabuse? Steelbook? This is just so... cool - that it's one that
I desire in the Steelbook form. You get so wrapped up in Dr. Mabuse, The
Gambler that it is addictive and you desire more. The Masters of Cinema
Blu-ray
presentation is
fabulous. I am so impressed with it that I want to watch it all over again,
in the pitch darkness of my home theater with a big bowl of popcorn. Our
highest recommendation! *** ADDITION: - Kino - Region 0 - NTSC - July 06' :
- The new Kino edition appears to be from the same source
as the Eureka release, including the use of English intertitles,
probably a result of the restoration process. There are a few
noticeable differences between this version and the Eureka
release. One is the non removable English subtitles over
shots of German text (see capture #7). Another difference is
that the contrast on the Eureka version is boosted resulting in
increased sharpness and deeper blacks. However, the smoother
Kino image displays better gray scale and, in most cases,
reveals more image detail (capture #4 is an exception). I
noticed some combing artifacts during the screen capture process
indicating a non progressive transfer. No surprise coming from
Kino.
"I imagine you will get around to the new
Kino Dr. Mabuse that just came out. It is the Transit Films
version clocking at 4.5 hours, and it is tremendous, a vast
improvement over the Image version, both in image quality and (I
believe) in correct speeds (almost anything David Shepard
touches seems to me played too fast). However, Kino Louis
Irwin (sent to us in email)
NOTE: My experience with the Kino set is
similar to that Just to add my own opinion - I suspect there are only a handful of people who 'know' what this release should look like - so after that it depends on personal preference. I think the Kino has had some brightness boosting - I think the Eureka has had some black-level boosting. One removes damage marks the other heightens sharpness. From the captures I don't mind the softer look of the Kino. I am still waiting for my copy to arrive. What bothered me about the Eureka was the audio - so I will post again after I get, and watch, my Kino version. The other issue I am still working on is the time - is the Kino taken from a PAL source? or the Eureka from an NTSC source? - I suspect the former and the 'combing' Gregg noticed may be from incorrect standard transfer - typical of Kino. More will be added to these comments as we can derive answers. At least now you can visually see the differences. Overall the Kino release would be considered a triumph for that distribution company (and their past record), but the Region 2 PAL has too many superiorities. NOTE: We thanks Gregg for supplying the new Kino captures! Gary Tooze *** THE IMAGE DISC: The back jacket comments state that the transfer was made from a fine grain master and is at the correct speed. David Shepard takes great care in his releases. Perhaps much of the timing differences stem from the time the camera stays on the inter-title for the viewer to read. We are investigating.
The Image Entertainment release is not the 'full version' (4.5 hours). It has spots where it appears zoomed in, contrast has been boosted and it is no where near the sharpness of the new Eureka disc. The Image Entertainment does have a commentary which is a bonus for real fans. Obviously we lean toward the Eureka DVD in this case. The disparity in image quality, original inter-title cards and the completeness of the PAL version are the swaying factors.
THE EUREKA DISC:
Whilst agreeing
wholeheartedly with you that the visuals are superb - well up to the
standard that we’ve come to expect from Eureka lately, the English
subtitles rather let the side down. Apart from the odd spelling
mistake, they bear the unmistakable sign of being translated by
someone who is not a native English speaker. From the constructions, I
would hazard a guess that they were done in Germany.
I know that this could
be regarded as nit-picking, but there are a couple of places where
things just don’t make sense. So
![]() ![]() Stephen Gadd As with
other recent Eureka
Silent releases, this is stunning. Beautifully done
with care and detail - crammed with Extras - a sharp image with film
grain. Whatever digital processing method they are using is so
gratifying for the fans of
Silent films. What can you say except -
Magnificent job Eureka !
|
Associated Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Movie Posters of the Silent Film Era To Color by Rex Schneider, Christopher Buchman |
American Film Cycles: The Silent Era (Bibliographies
and Indexes in the Performing Arts) by Larry Langman |
Family Secrets: The Feature Films of D. W. Griffith by Michael Allen |
The First Female Stars : Women of the Silent Era by David W. Menefee |
Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical
Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses by Anthony Slide |
The Silent Cinema Reader by Lee Grieveson, Peter Kramer |
Silent Stars Speak: Interviews With Twelve Cinema
Pioneers by Tony Villecco |
Haunted Screen Expressionism in the German Cinema by Lotte Eisner |
DVD Menus
Kino - Region 0 - NTSC
|
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
(Image
Entertainment
- Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Eureka - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray 1
|
|
|
Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray 2
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|
|
|
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
![]() |
1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Eureka - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Eureka - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Eureka - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Blu-ray |
Box Covers |
![]() |
|
|
|
Distribution |
Kino Region 0 - NTSC |
Image Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC |
Eureka Region 2 - PAL |
Masters of Cinema - Spine #69 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
|
Also available, on Blu-ray from The
Masters of Cinema, in a Limited Edition Steelbook:
|
DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:
CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
Gary Tooze
|
|
Many Thanks...