Dr. M (film)
Dr. M. is a 1990 crime film co-written and directed by Claude Chabrol. The film is loosely based on the plot of Fritz Lang's Dr. Mabuse the Gambler, which was in turn based on Mabuse der Spieler by Norbert Jacques.[1]
| Dr. M | |
|---|---|
 French theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Claude Chabrol |
| Produced by | Hans Brockmann François Duplat Christoph Holch |
| Screenplay by | Claude Chabrol Sollace Mitchell |
| Story by | Thomas Bauermeister |
| Based on | Doctor Mabuse der Spieler by Norbert Jacques |
| Starring | Alan Bates Jennifer Beals Jan Niklas |
| Music by | Mekong Delta Paul Hindemith |
| Cinematography | Jean Rabier |
| Edited by | Monique Fardoulis |
Production company | N.E.F. Filmproduktion und Vertriebs Ellepi Films Italian International Film Cléa Productions Solyfic ZDF Telefilm Saar GmbH La Sept |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | West Germany France Italy |
| Language | English |
Plot
In the near future, there is an outbreak of dramatic suicides in Berlin. A police detective suspects that the suicides are really caused by a lone madman, Dr. Marsfeldt, who is using a form of mass hypnosis. His investigations lead him to a beautiful, enigmatic woman whose image is being used to manipulate the populace.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Alan Bates | Dr. Marsfeldt / Guru |
| Jennifer Beals | Sonja Vogler |
| Jan Niklas | Lt. Claus Hartman |
| Andrew McCarthy | The Assassin |
| Hanns Zischler | Moser |
| Benoît Régent | Stieglitz |
| Alexander Radszun | Engler |
| Daniela Poggi | Kathi |
| William Berger | Penck |
| Michael Degen | Reimar von Geldern |
| Wolfgang Preiss | Kessler |
| Jean Benguigui | Rolf |
| Isolde Barth | Mrs. Sehr |
| Béatrice Macola | Anna |
Critical reception
Steve Simels of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a C-:
[T]his is a standard-grade, low-budget European B movie. The plotting is absurd (with anachronistic elements; though the film is set in the future, the Berlin Wall has not yet come down); the stars — including the still fetching Jennifer Beals and the usually cool Alan Bates (doing what seems like an eccentric imitation of Albert Finney doing Hercule Poirot) — either overact or sleepwalk; and the pacing is lethargic verging on comatose.[2]
Jackson Adler of TV Guide gave the film 3 out of 4 stars:
Club Extinction is something of a mishmash. But it's a mostly engaging mishmash with Chabrol operating in a satirically sinister mode that should come as no surprise to his devotees... In contrast to many American genre pictures, the problems with Club Extinction stem from aiming too high rather than too low... [M]ostly to Chabrol's credit, the going never gets boring, no matter how many times one views it. Club Extinction is an absorbing and even amusing thriller with brains--even if it does take more brains than should be necessary to follow its helter-skelter plot.[3]
Release
See also
References
- Claude Chabrol (2011-08-04). "Docteur M. - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards". AllRovi. Archived from the original on 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- Steve Simels (1991-04-05). "Club Extinction Review". EW. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- "Club Extinction Review". TV Guide. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- "Club Extinction VHS". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-08-22.