The powerful criminal and leader of a spy ring Haghi (Rudolf Klein- Rogge) uses his spies that are infiltrated everywhere including in the secret service in attempts to steal documents from the French Embassy in Shanghai and from the Minister of Trade that is murdered. The press questions and mocks the officials in charge of security of state and the efficient Agent No. 326 a.k.a. the vagrant Hans Pockzerwinski (Willy Fritsch) is summoned by the Secret Service Chief (Craighall Sherry) to investigate the wave of crimes. Agent 326 immediately identifies that his chief's assistant Vincent is a spy that is providing inside information to the evil mastermind that no one knows how looks like. Meanwhile, Haghi saves the scoundrel Hans Morrier (Louis Ralph) from the gallows to serve him. Then Haghi, who is also the general director of the Haghi Bank, blackmails Mrs. Leslane (Hertha von Walther), who is the wife of the powerful Roger Lesland and habitué of an opium den, to get information of the Japanese Secret Treaty. When Haghi assigns his master spy Sonya Baranilkowa (Gerda Maurus) to get closer to the elegant Agent No. 326, they unexpectedly fall in love for each other affecting Haghi's evil scheme. Meanwhile his spy Kitty (Lien Deyers) lures and seduces the reserved and efficient Japanese agent Akira Matsumoto (Lupu Pick) to steal his documents about the recently signed Treaty that may bring war to the world."Spies" is a fantastic epic of espionage, romance, seduction and betrayal by Fritz Lang and I dare to say that James Bond stories might have been inspired in this film. I saw "Spies" yesterday in a restored authorized edition of the DVD released by Kino Video, and in the Extras there is the amazing story of the restoration of this film. The 35 mm archives in nitrate throughout the world were very damaged and incomplete, but this complex version was assembled from several copies using the guidance of the copy from Prague that was the most complete and also deteriorated. The result is a film of 143 minutes running time meaning 50 minutes longer than any version previously released. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Os Espiões" ("The Spies")

Spione seems like a spin off of the great and amazing Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler of six years earlier. Look at the parallels: both stories are about diabolical masterminds (Mabuse/Haghi) who commit grand crimes against society involving sabotage and high finance, carried out by a small army of agents planted in all the right places at the right time. The mastermind in both cases is played by Rudolf Klein-Rogge. Both films kick off with a spectacularly filmed theft of top secret contracts or treaties. In both films the criminal uses or kidnaps beautiful young women who are rescued by the hero in a cliffhanging climax. The main difference between Spione and its predecessor is the increased use of technology and gadgetry: everything from sophisticated radio and telephonic networks to a miniature lapel camera and of course invisible ink. Spione has more rapid action and no formal structure, but as a result is somewhat confusing. But as long as you know who the good guy is you can root for him, even if you're not quite sure what he's up to from scene to scene.Among the colorful cast is a gorgeous young actress named Lien Deyers as one of Haghi's minions who tricks a Japanese spy (Lupu Pick) out of his secret documents; she inexplicably faded into obscurity after this film. The main female star, Gerda Maurus, does very well in a demanding role as Haghi's main agent who falls in love with the enemy and pays dearly for the insubordination. Willy Fritsch is less macho than his "Mabuse" counterpart Bernhard Goetzke, but quite charming and persuasive as a government spy who first appears in disguise as a scruffy tramp. Fritz Rasp lends his well-honed creepiness to the role of an agent named Jellusic who is based on Col. Redl of Austria-Hungary.Spione is packed to the brim with mechanical cleverness and striking visual variety but it lacks one vital component: originality of plot and concept. It copies too much from Mabuse. Not the best of Fritz Lang. But even lesser Lang is better than the best of most other directors.

SPIES is a German thriller from director Fritz Lang. Low budget black & white silent with subtitles; only later drawing any appreciation. Lang co-scrips with his then-wife Thea Von Harbou. A very good plot involving Russian espionage and assassination in London, with a subplot concerning Japanese loyalties. Rudolf Klein-Rogge plays Haghi, the wheelchair-bound mastermind of Russian spies,that hides his true identity by playing a sideshow clown. His dirty dealing comes from a secret room in his own financial building. Haghi has trouble with a defecting spy Sonya(Gerda Maurus), who may be pulling a double-cross in protecting a good guy, Agent 326(Willy Fritsch), from harms way.Suspense builds to an unexpected climax. Very little actual special effects, no fade-outs and plenty of close-ups vacillating scene to scene. Other players: Lien Deyers, Fritz Rasp, Hertha Von Walther and Lupu Pick.

Fritz Lang's silent crime thriller pits a government agent (Willy Fritsch) against a scheming international banker who is stealing government documents. Considered an overlooked, but crucial part of Lang's impressive canon and an important influence on the thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock; it does have some first-rate cutting and painterly images of the city's dense layering. However, (this version at least) is simply way too long. One can anticipate what is going to happen later in the film with more than ½ hour to go. The film could easily afford to lose some where in the order of one hour of its footage. A necessary viewing for anyone interested in the work of Fritz Lang all the same.