The original German title referred to the successful TV series Stahlnetz, which is based on the US police series Dragnet (it even used the famous "Dragnet" theme song). The German theatrical trailer showed the actual title "Im Stahlnetz des Dr. Mabuse", whereas the voiceover of the trailer announces "Das Stahnetz des Dr. Mabuse" (which means "The steel net..." instead of "In the steel net...").