lang filmed "the testament of dr. mabuse" at the end of 1932 and the beginning of 1933, desiring to have the film viewed worldwide. in his film, where gun-play, fires, or explosions are needed, lang often used real weapons. in the opening scene during a power outage, a stunt actor did the gun play. cinematographer fritz arno wagner stated that he spent most of the production in a state of panic due to the way lang would endanger his crew. the film is generally filmed in a realistic style with the exception of mabuse's ghostly appearances throughout the film. lang admitted later in interviews that if he could re-do the film, he would not have included these supernatural scenes.