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 byClaude Chabrol
Screenplay byClaude Chabrol
Sollace Mitchell
Story byThomas Bauermeister
Based onDoctor Mabuse der Spieler
by Norbert Jacques
Produced byHans Brockmann
François Duplat
Christoph Holch
StarringAlan Bates
Jennifer Beals
Jan Niklas
CinematographyJean Rabier
Edited byMonique Fardoulis
Music byMekong 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
  • 24 May 1990 (1990-05-24)
Running time
111 minutes
CountriesWest Germany
France
Italy
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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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

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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

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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

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The film was released in the United States as Club Extinction on VHS.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Steve Simels (1991-04-05). "Club Extinction Review". EW. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  3. ^ "Club Extinction Review". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  4. ^ Club Extinction VHS. ASIN 6301954882.
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