Introduction: Frederik Lang

In Ottinger's culturally critical feature film, Briel plays Dr. Spiegelwelt, editor-in-chief of a newspaper and antagonist to Dr. Mabuse (Seyrig), ruler of the international press conglomerates. His character represents the well-intentioned idea of ​​"explaining the increasingly complex connections in such a way that even the average reader can understand them," an idea dismissed by Dr. Mabuse as naive and out of touch with reality. Dr. Spiegelwelt, however, raises a moral objection to her plan to exploit the handsome and wealthy young man Dorian Gray, "to build him up, seduce him, destroy him, [...] thoroughly exploit him in image and text"—criticizing it as "an abomination!"—but this does nothing to change the diabolical plans.