Mephisto (1981)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

István Szabó

Writers:

Péter Dobai (writer)
Klaus Mann (novel)

Release Date:

22 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

A German stage actor finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Actor | Faustian | Historical | Theatre

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

144 min | Spain:126 min

Country:

West Germany | Hungary | Austria

Language:

English | Hungarian | German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R13 | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)

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.

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.

Quotes:

[Hendrik stumbles upon some soldiers beating up a Jew]
Hendrik Hoefgen: They must be drunk.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (2005-11-23)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Fruhlingsstimmen

Klaus Maria Brandauer is magnificent

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.