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 |
| Screenplay by | Claude Chabrol Sollace Mitchell |
| Story by | Thomas Bauermeister |
| Based on | Doctor Mabuse der Spieler by Norbert Jacques |
| Produced by | Hans Brockmann François Duplat Christoph Holch |
| Starring | Alan Bates Jennifer Beals Jan Niklas |
| Cinematography | Jean Rabier |
| Edited by | Monique Fardoulis |
| Music by | Mekong Delta Paul Hindemith |
Production companies | 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 |
| Countries | West Germany France Italy |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (July 2017) |
In 1999, there is an outbreak of suicides in Berlin. While some of the suicides involve a person just killing themselves, other cause several casualties. With this "epidemic" causing hundreds of deaths, panic starts to creep in both sides of the Berlin Wall. In West Berlin, Lt. Claus Hartman, whose wife killed herself years before the outbreak after finding out she was pregnant, 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 woman whose image is being used to manipulate the populace.
Cast
edit| 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
editThis section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (July 2017) |
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
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Home media
editThe film was released in the United States as Club Extinction on VHS.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ "Club Extinction Review". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ Club Extinction VHS. ASIN 6301954882.