Mephisto (1981)
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69% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
84% of users liked it
(2,782 ratings)
Based on Klaus Mann's novel, Mephisto details the rise of a Faustian character who figuratively sells his soul in exchange for greatness. Hendrik Hofgen (Klaus Maria Brandauer, offering an electric performance) is the star of a state-funded theater department who tires of his job. Like his… More Based on Klaus Mann's novel, Mephisto details the rise of a Faustian character who figuratively sells his soul in exchange for greatness. Hendrik Hofgen (Klaus Maria Brandauer, offering an electric performance) is the star of a state-funded theater department who tires of his job. Like his friends, he pays lip service to socialist ideals fashionable for artists of his time -- that is, until the Nazis rise to power. He then sees an opportunity to achieve his objective of fame: he will perform propaganda plays and thereby use the Nazis as a vehicle to spread his name across the country -- only too late does he realize his mistake. This well-adapted version of the book featured the first teaming of Brandauer with director Istvan Szabo; they would later reunite to make Colonel Redl and Hanussen. Brandauer first gained attention in the U.S. after the film's release and would be cast as the villain in Never Say Never Again as a result. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi
- Directed By
- István Szabó
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 29, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Few have dared what Brandauer accomplishes: showing us a good actor responding to the same neurotic drive for the center of the stage, the immortalizing role. His is a great performance, nothing less.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A disappointingly thin, conventional film.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Hungaro pic shows extraordinary period flair for the Germany of the 1920s and '30s, balanced acting by a multinational cast, and exemplary direction.
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, Time Out
A superbly modulated, fruitfully ambivalent central performance by Brandauer carries the emotional and intellectual weight of the political dilemma.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The actor is played by Klaus Maria Brandauer in one of the greatest movie performances I've ever seen.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Klaus Maria Brandauer
as Hendrik
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Krystyna Janda
as Barbara
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Ildikó Bánsági
as Nicoletta von Niebuhr
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Karin Boyd
as Juliette Martens
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Rolf Hoppe
as General
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Christine Harbort
as Lotte Lindenthal
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Peter Andorai
as Otto Ulrichs
- Irén Bordán
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György Cserhalmi
as Hans Miklas
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Jozsef Csor
as Joachim
- Istvan Komlos
- Geza Kovacs
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Tamas Major
as Oskar H. Kroge
- Hédi Temessy
- Terry Torday
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Karoly Ujlaky
as Sebastian
- Agnes Banfalvy
- Gyorgy Banffy
- Vilmos Kun
- Judit Hernadi
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Ildikó Kishonti
as Dora Martin
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Christian Grashoff
as Cesar von Muck
- Zdzislaw Mrozewski
- Teri Tordai
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David Robinson
as Davidson
