A Japanese doctor, on a secret mission to Paris for his country, becomes romantically involved with a cabaret singer at a Parisian nightclub. His entire mission is put at risk when he kills a rival for her love, a French journalist and blackmailer.
Production and release
The film was produced by Wiene's own independent production company and shot at the Marienfelde Studios of Terra Film in Berlin. It was made around the time of the changeover from the Weimar Republic to Nazi Germany. In Germany the film was banned for several reasons, particularly what was perceived as the unflattering portrayal of Europeans in contrast to the noble Asian characters. The censors were also concerned that the incompetence of the French justice system would be taken by audiences to mean the German one, undermining their faith in it.[2]
The film had its debut in the Austrian capital Vienna. It was later released heavily re-shot under the alternative titlePolizeiakte 909. The new version dramatically altered its plot from the original and the Japanese are now portrayed as unsympathetic villains.[3] The new version was approved by German censors and released in 1934 although its critical reception was poor. It is possible that Wiene, who had left for Budapest in 1933 following the Nazi rise to power, did not personally work on the new version.[4]
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