Mephisto (1981)

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:

Factual errors: Contrary to what is depicted in the film, Hitler was not named chancellor of Germany after the Nazis won a majority in the Reichstag. He was appointed chancellor in January 1933 without proper parliamentary confirmation, and the Nazi Party did not won an absolute majority of votes in the next election (March 1933).

Quotes:

Hendrik Hoefgen: Am I not the most dreadful villain you have seen?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#5.1)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Im Grunewald

Mephisto is magnificent

What can one say about this film apart from it being totally brilliant? Klaus Maria Brandauer is ideally cast in the role of Hendrik Hoefgen. The character of Hoefgen is a thinly disguised version of the famous German actor and Director of the Prussian State Theatre in Berlin, Gustav Grundgens. Grundgens compromised with the National Socialist authorities under Hitler to retain his role in the theatre. Others left as they did not want to be associated with the Third Reich and all its horrors. Marlene Dietrich was one such person. Grundgens remained. This film is a classic for any drama student as it shows the state of theatre in Germany before the rise of the Third Reich in Germany. It very clearly depicts theatre pre-1918 and also the early and important work of Bertolt Brecht. The thuggery of the Nazi German regime is clearly exposed with all the filth who polluted the upper echelons of society down to the working man. This is a brilliant piece of film making. Don't miss it as it is gripping drama.