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:

Director Cameo: [István Szabó]A guest wearing a tuxedo on the theater reception party near the end of the film, complaining about the unnecessary expenses of the luxurious party.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the movie's final scene, the modern track is visible in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

Quotes:

Hendrik Hoefgen: What do they want from me now? After all, I am just an actor.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Lumpenlied

A Szabo Masterpiece

What a wonderful film!! Klaus Maria Brandauer brings all his talents to bear in the story about an actor who sells his soul to the Devil, in this case Nazism. The character of Hofgen is based on the real-life Gustav Grundens, an actor whose star rose with the rise of the Third Reich and who was championed by Goering (the General's character in the film). Grundens was a homosexual but this issue is sidestepped in the film and instead the character of Hofgen is involved with a beautiful female dancer. Brandauer is magnificent as the passionate but doomed actor who must renounce his family, betray his friends and throw aside his honor for the price of fame. In the end, like Faust, he must pay the devil for his success. The film starts a little slowly but stay with it to see an acting tour de force. You won't be disappointed.