The Copper (1930 film)

The Copper

Company type	Film
Industry	Film
Founded	1930
Founder	Richard Eichberg (director)
Headquarters	United Kingdom, Germany
Products	Crime film

The Copper, also known as The Grasper' (), is a 1930 crime film co-produced by Britain and Germany, directed by Richard Eichberg and featuring performances by Hans Albers, Charlotte Susa, and Margot Landa. This production serves as the German-language counterpart to the British movie Night Birds, which was likewise helmed by Eichberg but starred an English-speaking cast. Both films were created by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios during the period when multiple-language versions were commonly produced.

Achieving notable commercial success in Germany, the film propelled Albers into stardom. It was later remade in 1958, with Albers reprising his original role.

Plot

Sergeant Harry Cross of Scotland Yard investigates a burglary at a London mansion where guests have been robbed and a servant has been fatally wounded by a throwing knife. Cross teams up with Chief Inspector Warrington, and both suspect the involvement of Knife Jack's gang, infamous for their reign of terror across London.

A five-pound gaming chip discovered at the crime scene directs Cross to the Palermo nightclub, suspected of hosting illicit gambling activities. There, he faces hostility from patrons Toothpick Jeff and Whiskey Dick. When a throwing knife narrowly misses Cross, it confirms Knife Jack's gang's participation. Cross threatens nightclub owner Snorry with closure unless he reveals the identity of the knife thrower.

During his investigation at the club, Cross encounters singer Dolly Mooreland, who performs both there and at the Coliseum theater. Considering her a possible accomplice, he approaches her cautiously. Meanwhile, Inspector Sinclair returns from Canada to assist with the case and meets Cross's wife Alice, who voices concerns about her husband's interactions with women.

Cross foresees another robbery planned during the Coliseum revue. Disguised as a singer, he intervenes to foil the criminals' scheme and pursues them over London's rooftops.

Later at the Palermo nightclub, Sinclair and Alice join a gathering that includes Dolly, Jeff, Dick, and Josef Huber—a spy placed by Sinclair. Huber uncovers Knife Jack's identity but loses consciousness after consuming whisky; he is later presumed dead but vanishes under mysterious circumstances.

Dolly is taken into custody; however, Cross believes this arrest is unwarranted and secures permission to continue his inquiry. After Huber's body is found drowned in the Thames without indications of poisoning, Dolly is released. Following her leads, Cross confronts Jeff, Dick, and Knife Jack—who is revealed to be Snorry—in the club’s basement. After a fierce struggle, Cross overpowers them just as Warrington’s police arrive to make arrests.

Cast

• Hans Albers as Sgt. Harry Cross
• Charlotte Susa as Dolly Mooreland
• Margot Landa as Alice Cross
• Karl Ludwig Diehl as Snorry
• Eugen Burg as Chief Insp. Warrington
• Harry Hardt as Insp. Sinclair
• Hermann Blaß as Prater-Pepi
• Erich Schönfelder as Barker
• John Mylong as Zahnstocher-Jeff
• Hugo Fischer-Köppe as Whisky-Dick
• Milo de Sabo as Tänzer-Jonny
• Senta Söneland as Frau im Gefängnis
• Hertha von Walther as Flossie
• Wera Engels as Mabel
• Leo Monosson as Stimmungssänger
• Charlie Roellinghoff as Hausherr
• Lotte Stein as Hausfrau
• Peggy White as Zigarettenmädchen