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

Also Known As:

Mephisto (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Mefisto (Poland) [pl]
Mefisto (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Mefisto (Finland) [fi]
Mephisto (Greece) [el]

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.53)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Mephisto-Improvisation

Inner Darkness and Outer Exposure

We're all familiar with the archetypal Faustian Bargain, where, in exchange for your soul, the devil grants your wishes. But Why might someone might want to make such a bargain? I mean, there are the common lusts and desires; but, the question still remains: What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Mephisto suggests an answer. And it's not to be found in evil machinations of the Prince of Darkness and his minions, or any such nonsense. It's found in the human psyche.

Brilliantly played by Klaus Brandauer (Out of Africa, White Fang), Hendrik Hoefgen is a man haunted by insecurity. At the core of his being is shame. From the age of twelve, he tells his wife, he's always felt ashamed. So he always wears a mask, because he dare not expose his true identity to anyone, for fear of rejection. To hide himself and to medicate his feelings, he adopts a strategy that is all too common: he overcompensates. He buries himself in his work, identifies himself with his work, and becomes an empty creature playing to the crowds, a social chameleon who's a nobody adroitly playing a role. He constantly works on and perfects his social image, alert to the smallest hint of disapprobation in anyone. In this endeavor, his practiced talent of self deception aids him: He says to himself, after he's sold out to the Nazis, that he's satisfied with his success, because it means that many people love him. He's the perfect actor, even for himself. He's a public persona, nothing more. In the flower of his fame, he's a hollow shell. Mephisto is the most brilliantly produced drama on this subject I've ever seen. It's absolutely enthralling. I highly recommend it as one of the best films ever made, by anyone.