The Copper

The Copper, or The Grasper, is a 1930 British-German crime film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Hans Albers, Charlotte Susa, and Margot Landa. It is the German-language version of the British film Night Birds, which was also directed by Eichberg but with an English-speaking cast. Both films were made by British International Pictures at their Elstree Studios at a time when such multiple-language versions were common. It was a success in Germany, launching Albers as a major star. In 1958, the film was remade with Albers reprising his role. Plot Scotland Yard's Sergeant Harry Cross investigates a brazen robbery at a London mansion in which a large dinner party was robbed of all their jewelry and valuables. A servant was stabbed with a throwing knife. Sergeant Cross and Chief Inspector Warrington immediately suspect Messer-Jack and his gang to be behind the robbery-murder. For some time now, they have been terrifying the residents of London with their brutal acts. A five-pound gaming chip found at the scene leads Cross to the Palermo nightclub. He suspects that the gaming chip came from a backroom gaming club. He asks around there and makes unwelcome acquaintances with Toothpick Jeff and Whiskey Dick, who feel disturbed by him playing. As Cross turns his back on the end of the round, a throwing knife flies just past him into the door frame. The knife is similar to the throwing knives used by Knife Jack. The knife thrower escapes undetected via a balcony. Cross then threatens nightclub owner Snorry to "blow up his shop" if he doesn't name the knife thrower by the following night. At the nightclub, Cross meets singer Dolly Mooreland, who performs both at the nightclub and in a popular revue at the Coliseum theater. He thinks she is an accomplice of the gang and tries to get closer to her in a charming way. Cross is correct in his assumption. When she later enters her house, Toothpick Jeff and Whiskey Dick are already waiting there and discuss how to proceed towards Cross.