Dr. Mabuse
by Norbert Jacques (translated by Lilian A. Clare)
This is the first non-Thea Von Harbou novel tie-in to a Fritz Lang film that I have read.
So far, what strikes me the most is how much Lang was able to build his reputation with the stories he was given. Sometimes he was able to rise above this with his visual representations; sometimes not.
A recap:
I am lukewarm about Von Harbou's The Spy * and * Lang's movie. But then again, I am at a loss as to how it could be filmed any better.
The best parts of Lang's Woman in the Moon surpass the best parts of the book. I say with two caveats:
1) the novel as a whole does have better characterization and in some ways is therefore superior.
2) I have not seen the missing footage of the film, so I might reverse myself if/when I do.And of course, Metropolis the film easily outshines the novel.
And now finally -
Dr. Mabuse, the novel, was somewhat of a disappointment to me. Lang's film, although it drags at times, does capture the evil omnipresence of Mabuse. It certainly has its atmospheric moments. The book that I just read does not. The characters Wenk, Hull, the Countess and of course Mabuse are all there but it falls pretty flat. I'll concede that some of the fault may lie with the translation.
Well, just one person's opinions.
written: 3/24/2002