Release
The film was scheduled for release on March 24, 1933 at the UFA-Palast am Zoo, the same theater that hosted the original premiere of Dr. Mabuse the Gambler during 1922. Adolf Hitler acquired power during January 1933 and on March 14, Hitler established the new Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda directed by Joseph Goebbels. Lang had not finished editing the film, and would not have a print for Goebbels to view until March 23. After a screening for Goebbels, he declared that the premiere would be delayed for technical reasons. Goebbels hosted a meeting at his home between himself, Lang and several other German filmmakers on discussions on what films would be permitted by Nazi censorship. Goebbels referred to Lang's films as the style that Hitler wanted for Nazi Germany. By March 30, the Ministry of Propaganda banned The Testament of Dr. Mabuse as a menace to public health and safety. Goebbels stated that he would not accept the film as it "showed that an extremely dedicated group of people are perfectly capable of overthrowing any state with violence". During the 1940s, Lang stated that a meeting occurred between Goebbels and himself with Goebbels wanting Lang to work for him to create films for the Nazis. This offer caused Lang to leave Germany to France that very night. Goebbels' diary makes no mention of such a meeting and Lang's passport also shows that he did not leave until June and made repeated trips between France and Germany throughout 1933.
The German version of The Testament of Dr. Mabuse premiered on April 21, 1933 in Budapest, Hungary with a playing time of 124 minutes. The French-language version was distributed through Europe. A subtitled version of the French version was released during 1943 with the title The Last Will of Dr. Mabuse in the United States. During 1951, the German version was released in a 75 minute version with the title The Crimes of Dr.Mabuse with featured an English dub. The English subtitles for the 1943 release and the 1952 dub added allusions to Adolf Hitler that were not part of the original script. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse was first shown publicly in Germany on August 24, 1961 with a 111-minute running time. During 1973, the unedited German version of the film was released in the United States with the title The Testament of Dr. Mabuse with English subtitles.
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