Introduction"The Secret of the Black Widow" is a 1963 German criminal offense movie directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and based upon the book of the same name by Louis Weinert-Wilton. The movie is the sixth installment in the series of German-language adjustments of thrillers by Edgar Wallace. The plot revolves around a criminal organization, a strange murderer who leaves a black widow spider as a calling card, and the taking place examination which causes thriller, intrigue, and threat.
PlotThe movie opens with a series of deaths that happen in various parts of the city, all of the victims being popular members of a criminal organization. Everyone is killed by a dart from a blowpipe, and a poisonous black widow spider is left on the scene as the murderer's signature. This provides the killer the moniker "The Black Widow".
The criminal company is led by a guy called G.G. Anderson (O.E. Hasse), who is covertly dealing with the cops to take apart the distribute. Among the victims, Van Helsing, had actually been sent a message from an unidentified party proposing a meeting at the "House of a Thousand Suns", which turns out to be the headquarters of G.G. Anderson's criminal empire. Van Helsing's child, Felizia (Kai Fischer), starts her own investigation to learn the fact behind her daddy's death.
Scotland Yard Inspector Cliff Mitchell (Karin Dor) and his partner Detective Murray (Horst Frank) start investigating the series of murders. The forensic proof indicate the use of poison darts from South America, and the private investigators discover that the blowpipes utilized for the murders were stolen from the London Museum. This leads them to a male named Dr. Christian Mabuse (Walter Giller), an entomologist focusing on spiders, who is also a member of G.G. Anderson's organization.
Investigations and TwistsAs Mitchell and Felizia both dive deeper into the case, they discover that a number of the members of the criminal organization have connections to the South American country of San Juan De Lastra, which is involved in a civil war. The investigation leads them to believe that the assassinations are politically motivated and focused on destabilizing the country's legitimate government, which is on the verge of signing a rewarding oil offer.
Upon further investigations, Mitchell discovers that a number of the organization's members have been secretly working versus Anderson, who appears to be the primary target. A conflict in between Anderson and the members causes the direct exposure of Dr. Mabuse as the mastermind behind the murders. Mabuse, who had been studying black widow spiders for many years, believed that he might use the toxin from the spiders to provide himself remarkable powers.
Climax and ResolutionIn a thrilling climax, Mitchell and Murray face Mabuse, who tries to flee the scene. He injects himself with the spider venom, hoping that it will approve him supernatural capabilities, however instead, it causes his painful and gruesome death.
With the revelation of Mabuse's identity and the dissolution of the criminal company, Anderson has the ability to complete his deal with the authorities. Felizia finds the reality about her daddy's participation with the organization, and although he had actually been eliminated while attempting to leave the criminal life behind, she finds solace in the truth that the company has actually been taken apart and the murders have actually been resolved. Mitchell and Murray are hailed as heroes for their efforts, and the movie ends on an enthusiastic note.
Conclusion"The Secret of the Black Widow" has all the ingredients of a traditional criminal offense thriller-- a strange killer with a signature calling card, a criminal company with ties to international politics, and a devoted group of private investigators on the path of the culprits. With its suspenseful plot, strong efficiencies, and climatic cinematography, "The Secret of the Black Widow" is a must-watch for fans of German criminal offense films and those searching for a lesser-known gem from the 1960s.
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