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IMDb > Mephisto (1981)
Mephisto
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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   2,805 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
István Szabó
Writers:
Péter Dobai (writer)
Klaus Mann (novel)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Mephisto on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 March 1982 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | War more
Plot:
A German stage actor finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Klaus Maria Brandauer is magnificent more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Klaus Maria Brandauer ... Hendrik Hoefgen
Krystyna Janda ... Barbara Bruckner
Ildikó Bánsági ... Nicoletta von Niebuhr
Rolf Hoppe ... Tábornagy
György Cserhalmi ... Hans Miklas
Péter Andorai ... Otto Ulrichs
Karin Boyd ... Juliette Martens
Christine Harbort ... Lotte Lindenthal
Tamás Major ... Oskar Kroge, színigazgató
Ildikó Kishonti ... Dora Martin, primadonna
Mária Bisztrai ... Motzné, tragika
Sándor Lukács ... Rolf Bonetti, bonviván
Ágnes Bánfalvy (as Bánfalvi Ágnes)
Judit Hernádi ... Rachel Mohrenwitz, drámai szende
Vilmos Kun ... Ügyelõ
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Additional Details

Runtime:
144 min | Spain:126 min
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Filming Locations:
Berlin, Germany more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Based on the novel "Mephisto" by Klaus Mann, which obviously portrays his former brother-in-law Gustaf Gründgens. Therefore, it was banned in Germany until 2000. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: As Hoefgen crosses a street, a car passes in front of him. The crew is reflected in the car's window. more
Quotes:
[Hendrik stumbles upon some soldiers beating up a Jew]
Hendrik Hoefgen: They must be drunk.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (2005-11-23)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Fruhlingsstimmen more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful:-
Klaus Maria Brandauer is magnificent, 8 October 2006
8/10
Author: faraaj-1 (faraajqureshi2401@gmail.com) from Sydney, Australia

Klaus Maria Brandauer, the celebrated German stage actor, is not really a big fan of cinema. Largely unknown to cinematic audiences, he made a big splash with his debut Mephisto.

Mephisto is the ancient legend of the man who sells his soul to the devil in return for worldly gains - as told by Faust. Klaus plays a Hamburg stage actor famous for his portrayal of Mephisto on stage. Flirting with socialism, he embraces the leadership of the Nazi party in order to move to Berlin and rise in the theatre hierarchy. He does rise and continues to ingratiate himself with the Nazi Generals and Prime Minister and rises to the very top where his full oratorical abilities can be displayed. He also shows a complete lack of self respect or conviction for anything but his personal worldly success and power - which he does use on occasion to save less favoured colleagues.

Klaus has given a remarkable performance in this film - all physicality. Throughout much of the movie he is poker faced and relies on his hands and his body to express himself fully. Its a very unique, one-of-a-kind performance that makes this film so watchable. The narrative itself is chopped and may sub-plots are introduced then cut short.

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The historical prime minister? ais_bn
Meaning of the last line Issus123
Question about Hendrik's wife (spoilers) brackenhe
Which language do they speak? ivanm1304
more great hungarian films perrote
Actor not just an Artist bejasus
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