Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Crimes of Dr. Mabuse" or "Dr. Mabuses Testament" pr "The Last Will of Dr. Mabuse" or "Das Tagebuch des Dr. Mabuse" or "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse")

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/lang.htm
Germany 1933

Locked away in an asylum for a decade and teetering between life and death, the criminal mastermind Doctor Mabuse (Rudolf Klein-Rogge) has scribbled his last will and testament: a manifesto establishing a future empire of crime. When the document’s nefarious writings start leading to terrifying parallels in reality, it’s up to Berlin’s star detective, Inspector Lohmann (Otto Wernicke, reprising his role from M) to connect the most fragmented, maddening clues in a case unlike any other. A sequel to his enormously successful silent film Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, Fritz Lang's The Testament of Dr. Mabuse reunites the director with the character that had effectively launched his career. Lang put slogans and ideas expounded by the Nazis into the mouth of a madman, warning his audience of an imminent menace, which was soon to become a reality. Nazi Minister of Information Joseph Goebels saw the film as an instruction manual for terrorist action against the government and banned it for “endangering public order and security.” A landmark of mystery and suspense for countless espionage and noir thrillers to come.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 21st, 1933 - France

Reviews                     More Reviews                    DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Criterion -  Region 0 - NTSC vs. G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Alain Dupont for the G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) Screen Caps!

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
Box Cover

 

The Masters of Cinema 1080P transfer is also available housed in a limited edition Steelcase, available here:
Distribution Criterion Collection Spine # 231 - Region 0 - NTSC G.C.T.H.V./Opening
Region 2 - PAL		 Masters of Cinema - Spine # 43 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:01:04 1:54:20 (4% PAL speedup) 2:01:02.254
Video 1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.11 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 		 1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.3 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s		 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,730,349,767 bytes

Feature: 36,660,192,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps
 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate:

Bitrate:

G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz

Lang - 3-disc )

 

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio German (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) German (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) DTS-HD Master Audio German 1566 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1566 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1595 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1595 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles English, None French English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio: 1.19:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by David Kalat, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Mabuse
• Complete French-language version of the film, Le Testament du Dr. Mabuse, filmed simultaneously by Lang with French actors
• Excerpts from For Example Fritz Lang, 1964 interview with Lang
• Mabuse in Mind, 1984 film by Thomas Honickel featuring an interview with actor Rudolf Schundler
• Comparison between the 1932 German version, the French version, and The Crimes of Dr. Mabuse the edited and dubbed American version of the film
• Interview with German Mabuse expert Michael Farin about the literary inventor of the series, Norbert Jacques
• Rare production design drawings by art director Emil Hasler
• Collection of memorabilia, press books, stills, and posters
• New essay by Tom Gunning, author of The Films of Fritz Lang

DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
Keep Case
Chapters: 21

 Release Information:
Studio: G.C.T.H.V./Opening

Aspect Ratio: 1.19:1

Edition Details:
• Disc 1 : M le Maudit (1931)
• Disc 2 : Le Testament du Dr. Mabuse (1933)
• Disc 3 : Extras (3:25:00)
• Extras :
 • Fritz Lang : Le cercle du destin. Le documentaire de Jorge Dana (Documentaire - 54:20 min)
• Image par image : l'analyse de M le Maudit par Radha-Rajen Jaganathen (42:16 min)
• L'entretien avec Noël Simsolo et Alfred Eibel, réalisation Dreamlight (M, le Maudit (47:26 min) / Le Testament du Dr. Mabuse (39:46 min))
• Les décors de Emil Hasler (M, le Maudit (2:38 min) / Le Testament du Dr. Mabuse (3:03 min))
 

DVD Release Date: November 25, 2003
Custom Case

Chapters 14

 

 Release Information:
Studio: Masters of Cinema

Aspect Ratio: 1.18:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,730,349,767 bytes

Feature: 36,660,192,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Edition Details:
 • Audio commentary by David Kalat, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Mabuse
• 52-PAGE BOOKLET featuring writing by Lotte H. Eisner, Fritz Arno Wagner, Michel Chion, and substantial excerpts of vintage interviews with Fritz Lang about the film

DVD of the Feature included in the package
 

Blu-ray Release Date: September 24th, 2012
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 20  
Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - September 12': The Masters of Cinema 1080P transfer adds just enough texture and richness of grain to transform the experience to a wonderful new experience via the darkness of your Home Theater. What a treat! It has the same light damage/speckles as the Criterion but the improved resolution does wonders for the contrast and pleasing fullness of the visuals. The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray adds layers of contrast with brighter whites and more immersive black levels. The pillar-box aspect ratio has been maintained - all good! I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing - what a great adventure.

NOTE: We reviewed the MoC Fritz Lang boxset with some further comparisons to the past DVDs HERE.

The original German audio gets the lossless treatment with a DTS-HD Master at 1566 kbps. Still imperfect but improved and without egregious flaws (pops and crackles). There are optional subtitles.

Supplements consist of the excellent Kalat audio commentary plus a 52-PAGE liner notes booklet featuring writing by Lotte H. Eisner, Fritz Arno Wagner, Michel Chion, and substantial excerpts of vintage interviews with Fritz Lang about the film. being 'Dual Format' this also includes a DVD of the Feature in the package.

Very strongly recommended! 

***

Criterion DVD: Exceptional image quality from Criterion. It looks more like a film from the 50's than the early 30's. I looked closely for edge-enhancement, but if it's there, it is not visible to my eye. I love the 1.19 Pillar Boxing and that (unlike Warner with the Chaplins) they have respected it.  Everything is top-shelf - excellent subtitles... shadow detail and film grain are prevalent, Extras out the wazooo.... What else can one say? - another "must-own"!out of

Gary W. Tooze

Menus
(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 
 

 

Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Samples

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

Screen Captures

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) G.C.T.H.V./Opening (Coffret Fritz Lang - 3-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE
3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 
Box Cover

 

The Masters of Cinema 1080P transfer is also available housed in a limited edition Steelcase, available here:
Distribution Criterion Collection Spine # 231 - Region 0 - NTSC G.C.T.H.V./Opening
Region 2 - PAL		 Masters of Cinema - Spine # 43 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze