Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler
Based upon the novel in "Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung " by Norbert Jaques Screenplay Thea von Harbou
The Gowns of the Female Stars were designed by Vally Reinecke
and made in the fashion studios of Flatow-Schädler and Mossner.
First Part: The Great Gambler. A picture of the times.
He and his day.
"You have taken cocaine again, Spoerri! This is intolerable! If I see you like this again, I will drive you out like a dog!"
"If you drive me out, I'll put a bullet through my head."
Commercial Treaty
"Full hand!"
"Bravo, Georg!"
"Ten kilos of platinum, Salversan for three million marks, 160,000 bales of cotton going to France via Switzerland, advised for the first of March..."
"Bank notes, Spoerri--!"
"Again ten minutes late. One is not late in my employ--"
"Be careful, Pesch--!"
"Calm down, Sir: you may continue your journey in my car."
Contrat Commercial
"Arrange for Special Editions to burst upon the Stock Exchange at the crucial moment. Half an hour later, the briefcase with the contract must be "discovered". Understand?"
"I can't stand this pace any longer! It's modern cannibalism!"
"Then why don't you get there on your own, old boy?"
"Yes, yes my dear, except for the elimination commision, eh?"
"Will you finally get home, you dirty pig!"
"They are blind!"
"As long as the European currencies maintain their downward trend, you will make exclusively dollar bills!"
The Special Edition.
Special Edition AMBUSH ON COURIER Important Secret Agreement Stolen! The Dutch courier who was to have brought to Geneva the secret trade agreement between Holland and Switzerland, has been found assaulted and dazed in the express train. The briefcase containing the trade agreement is missing. The culprit has left no trace. It is feared that if the agreement is made public, Switzerland will back out, which would leave the involved Dutch coffee and cocoa firms facing a virtual disaster.
"Sternberg is selling?!! Then matters must be bad!"
PLUNGE!!
"I am buying -- !"
"The briefcase containing the Dutch-Swiss Trade Agreement has been found by a trackman! The secret agreement..."
"The agreement has been delivered uncompromised to the Swiss consulate!!!"
FROM OUR WIRE SERVICES: Swiss secret Agreement handed over intact to Consulate. Absolutely no cause for panic. Details to follow.
RISE!!!
"I am selling!"
"Trading is closed!"
"I have the pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, to introduce to you the sensation of the Folies Bergère, Miss Cara Carozza!
"The Hotel Excelsior reserved a box for me."
Box 3, Seat 2 Edgar Hull, only son of the industrialist Paul Hull, 90 million, member of '17+4' club.
"Don't let me interfere, gentlemen. I'm going home. My headache is killing me."
"Good evening, Mr. Hull!"
"Don't you know me--?!"
"Yes--! You do know me, Mr. Hull--!"
"You wanted to go to the club, Mr. Hull--? May I join you--?"
The club "17+4" --
"Balling..."
Hotel Excelsior, Room 111, is reserved for you. You will find further orders there.
"Hull is losing like crazy-- --"
"A Mr. Balling is holding the bank."
"-- -- the gentleman is playing with the cards provided by the club itself -- --"
"I would advise you, Mr. Hull, to stop playing for today."
"Consider my embarassment. Mr. Hull is a guest of your club; permit me to hold the bank for a few more rounds!"
"Gentlemen, it is five o'clock. I think it is time to stop."
Va banque!!!
"I have lost again -- --"
"Until tomorrow afternoon, you will have to content yourself with 20,000 marks and a promissory note for 150,000 marks. May I ask for your address?"
Hugo Balling Excelsior Hotel 112.
"I have played -- and lost -- but to whom?"
"To your friend!"
"Friend? -- -- I've never seen the man before! Who actually brought him to the Club-- --?"
"I think you've been drinking too much, Hull. First you play va banque despite your bad luck, and then you claim to not know the man whom you yourself brought here -- !"
"You play va banque -- hold the highest cards in your hands -- and throw them away!?"
"What's going on with me --?!"
Hugo Balling Excelsior Hotel 112.
"Excuse me -- I must have mistaken the door. I'm looking for room 112 --"
"Then Mr. Balling must have given me the wrong room number."
"My name is Balling -- Hugo Balling."
"Did you write that?"
Hugo Balling Excelsior Hotel 112.
"Then I don't owe you 150,000 marks from gambling?"
The room next door.
When you cannot settle for the man you want--you settle for a woman!
November 9 Thursday
November 27 Monday
State Attorney von Wenk.
"I'll come straight to the point, Mr. Hull: I have come to tell you that as of today, you are under the direct protection of the police!"
"For about six weeks, the authorities have been receiving complaints about some rapacious gamblers. In no case could any card-sharping be proved. But their luck in the game is so extraordinary that something fishy must be going on."
"It is always somebody different -- one time a young gentleman, at another a respectable petit bourgeois, today a blond American, tomorrow a black- haired Russian--"
Hugo Balling Excelsior Hotel 112.
"Perhaps he is one of them."
"Your experience with that mysterious Mr. Balling, which Karsten told me about, prompted me to request your assistance."
"Am I really nothing more to you than an instrument?"
"You should have been with Hull for ten minutes!"
"-- He will present the promissory note when you least expect it -- then, you shall put me on his track! One more thing, Mr. Hull. Please treat my visit as completely personal and confidential."
State Attorney von Wenk
"She's here now -- !!!"
State Attorney von Wenk
"What dangerous acquaintances have you been making lately?"
State Attorney von Wenk
"He would like me to introduce him to a few gambling clubs."
"Gardi, do nothing foolish! Don't get us into the soup with that State Attorney of yours!"
Schramm's Barbecue -- --
Schramm's "Palais" -- --
Schramm's "Inner Circle" -- --
Emil Schramm, the proprietor -- --
1912 --
1913-1918 --
1919 --
1922... An honest trade has a gold lining.
"I will gladly introduce you, but you will have to forego her name -- -- none of us know it. In gambling circles, she is called "Lady Passive" as she herself never gambles."
"Madam, allow me to introduce you to Mr. von Wenk -- a fervent admirer of your beauty."
"Gentlemen, who will take over the bank?"
"How does a woman like you get into such company -- among pushers, gamblers, and prostitutes?"
"I have become sluggish, Mr. von Wenk! To rise to life, I require strong sensations."
"But tell me, why don't you gamble?"
"I prefer to observe the passions of others triggered by gambling, without getting too close to the gamblers themselves."
"You will accept it? Cost $50,000 at Tiffany in New York! Against the bank--!!!"
"Will you accept -- ?
"Four --"
"Do you want character studies? Then look at that Russian woman -- when she is losing, she is fabulous!"
"I had only three -- I wanted to buy -- but I could not! He looked at me with his evil eyes -- like a devil!"
"Yes -- he had evil eyes -- like a beast of prey -- "
"When gambling, nobody looks like a saint!"
"If you are the gentleman I take you for, please help me leave the room unnoticed!"
"What does that mean!?"
"Is a Mr. Hull here?"
Edgar Hull I confirm that I owe Mr. Balling 150,000 marks - one hundred and fifty thousand. Payment due by November 21st at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. E. Hull
You are warned. It is entirely my own affair that I did not collect the 150,000 marks. A game is a game. A matter between you and myself and not the business of any State Attorney!
The next morning.
State Attorney von Wenk
"Disguised as a gaming-crazy pusher in secret gambling clubs, I will try and lure the "Great Unknown" to my track -- and you shall help!"
"Please go at once to La Carrozza and get me from her a list of the secret gambling clubs, which I then will visit every evening."
Dear Mr. von Wenk: Since I believe I that owe you an explanation and do not wish you to regard me as a woman seeking trivial adventures in gaming clubs, I would ask you to take tea with me at five. Yours obediently, Countesse Told
"I thank you--"
"You have saved me from an embarassing dispute and my husband from the bitter discovery that his wife seeks relief from the dead atmosphere of his house in night-spots and gambling-dens."
"I need life, the strong breath of the unusual-- sensations -- adventures -- but I am afraid they are extinct!"
"You are incorrect, Countess. Adventures still exist -- and I am right in the middle of one of the most interesting! Would you like to take part in it?"
"The enemy I pursue -- I do not know him -- I only know he is there."
"For the first time in my life I am frightened for you. Be wary of Wenk -- I want to warn you!"
"Give me convincing proof your "Great Unknown" is real and I will become your ally in the fight against him!"
Salon, Andreastr., 67 password "bluefox" Tavern, Schifferdamm, 110 "anchor" Café, Wienerstr., 212 "marble" Andalusia Palace, Jochen Ave., 11 "pineapple" Pariser Platz, 10 "Venus"
"Password?" "Pineapple..."
"Cocaine or cards-?"
"Cards..."
"But these are Chinese spectacles..."
"Yes, from TSI-NAN-FU!!"
"You take--!!!"
"No!"
"YOU TAKE - !!!"
"NO!!!"
"Wasn't that the gentleman from 340?"
"No, sir! It was the Dutch professor from room 321."
"I would like to speak with the manager!"
"Who is occupying room 321?"
"Professor van den Gruich!"
"Please notify your house detective!"
"He's flown--"
State Attorney Norbert von Wenk is authorized at any time to make arrests, to enlist the aid of the police and any government officials or local authorities. His instructions are to be followed absolutely. Wogenbruty
"That goes back to the State Attorney. I don't rob corpses."
"Carozza is to come--!"
"Well, you may congratulate yourselves --"
Salon, Andreastr., 67 password bluefox Tavern, Schifferdamm, 110 " anchor Café, Wienerstr., 212 " marble Andalusia Palace, Jochen Ave., 11 " pineapple Pariser Platz, 10 " Venus
"You bloodhound, you Goddamn Bloodhound!"
"You dare open your mouth, you cur--?!"
"What am I paying you for if at the first opportunity you fail like a little girl and let the State Attorney get away?!!"
"Hull must disappear! And above all -- Wenk!"
"Georg will do it -- both of you will help him. La Carozza will engineer it."
"I've just dropped in, Gardi, to tell you of a marvelous new club that's being opened tonight. We absolutely have to go there!"
Tonight, opening of the Petit Casino, Haydn Street 11, code word Mirabeau. Be there with Hull punctually at 11:00, make absolutely sure that Wenk does not come too! B.
Thursday, Police headquarters lecture 8 p.m. 11 Haydn Street
"In any case go there with La Carozza, but behave as innocuously as possible so that she doesn't become suspicious. There is no danger -- I will be there first!"
"The Countess very much regrets that she is not able to receive the State Attorney but the ladies and gentlemen have been invited to a spiritual seance at Councillor Wendel's tonight--"
11 Haydn Street.
"You seem to possess the 'open sesame' to all secret doors, Mr. State Attorney!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor and the great pleasure to declare the Petit Casino open in your esteemed presence!"
"The Petit Casino has set itself the task to satisfy your most discriminating demands in every respect. Among the most modern settings and decorations you shall be transported back to that Golden Age whose only motto was: 'Everything that pleases is allowed.'!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have thus explained to you the inestimable merits of the Petit Casino -- but what if the police were ever to try and interfere in our affairs and disturb us at our game? Well, then--"
"She is no good! She has no talent!"
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you are informed about everything -- play may commence!"
The other world.
"An alien element is among us!"
"I am afraid, ladies and gentlemen, the troublemaker is me!"
"Do not be disturbed, ladies and gentlemen, I will be happy to keep the Countess company!"
"I fear that there is nothing in the world to interest me for long -- Everything that can be seen from a car, from an opera box, or from a window is partly disgusting, partly uninteresting, always boring!"
"You are right, Countess -- nothing in the world is interesting for long -- except for one thing--"
"Playing with people and their destinies!"
"See to it that La Carozza does not notice my leaving -- I am going to telephone the police and have the party raided. On no account leave Hull alone!"
"I have asked Dr. Mabuse to give us the pleasure of his company Thursday night..."
"But where is Wenk?"
"Listen, the whole thing is bad news. If that State Attorney sends the police chasing after us, we will be in the soup!"
"The cars are parked in the side street--"
"The woman! Arrest the woman--!"
"Shouldn't we do something to rescue La Carozza?"
"What do I care about La Carozza now? Let her go to hell!"
"I give you one more week to liquidate Wenk, so you can plan everything reliably -- but not a minute longer -- I want to be rid of him!"
"Would it be very impolite if I -- cancelled that Dr. Mabuse's invitation...?"
"I cannot really explain it! I don't know why I invited him nor why I now want to withdraw the invitation -- I --"
"State Attorney von Wenk wishes to know if the Countess receives!"
"The other day, you promised me your help -- today I come to ask for it."
"You would have to volunteer to join that Carozza woman in prison, as if you too had been raided in a gaming club. I am convinced you would succeed where we men have failed to get La Carozza to talk!"
"Think: this is about getting a lead on one of the most dangerous criminals of all times. You would be doing your duty for society!"
"What! He is in the round room -- Where Carozza used to stay - ?!"
"This room shall be put in order immediately, Spoerri!"
"All right, tonight at police headquarters!"
"Miss Carozza - what a coincidence!!! Just think, they arrested me! At Schramm's! Then they dragged me to this place. I am outraged -- beside myself -- !"
"I have heard that they connect you with that terrible murder story! Ridiculous-! How do they get such an absurd notion! Were you even in the vicinity when the murder took place...?!"
"Are you not ashamed of yourself?"
"He's at his wits' end, this State Attorney! And now he's expecting help from me - ! Me, who is more miserable and lost than a stray dog - !"
"But after all, he did not mean to leave you - -- he is dead --"
"Who is dead -- ??!"
"Hull."
"Who could kill him? He can't even destroy himself."
"Who are you speaking of?"
"Who he is -- nobody knows! He is there! He lives! He towers over the city! He is damnation and eternal bliss! He is the greatest man alive! And he has loved me!"
"How can this be?"
"And now tell me, what could force me to betray such a unique man to you miserable creatures -- !"
"Forgive me, Miss Carozza. I did not know-- that you love him --"
Dear Mr. von Wenk, I agreed under false pretenses to sound out Miss Carozza in prison. I thought that I would find the paid tout of a notorious criminal -- only to find a woman full of love, before whose simple and unconditional feelings
I am not suitable to be your ally. Please forgive me if for that reason I have to disappoint you. Yours, Dusy Todd, Countess
The Great Game--
"What is your attitude toward Expressionism, Doctor?"
"Expressionism is mere pastime -- but why not? Everything today is pastime --!"
"Since everything is a pastime, Doctor, I hope you will not hold it against me if we now go over to play poker..."
"Your husband has luck in the game!"
"I have encountered something which until recently I did not believe existed -- something of greater value and more deeply stirring than even the strongest sensation --!"
"Love--"
"There is no love -- there is only desire! There is no happiness - there is only the will for power!"
"Told seems to have almost incredible luck -- !"
"Shall I give you some evidence of the power of will?"
"You Cheat!"
"Mine---!!!"
End of the First Part