Mephisto

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Overview

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 ...
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Overview

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.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Tom Wiener
In films about wartime collaboration, Mephisto earns a special niche, because it also manages to include so many acute observations about the world of the theater, and, in particular, the delusions under which some artists operate. Hendrik Hofgen is an actor of some talent and even greater ambition. That ambition, to work on the best stages in Berlin after an apprenticeship in regional theater, also serves to blind him to the rise of Nazism and what it means to freedom-loving artists such as himself. Dismissing the Nazis as mere thugs, Hofgen believes that his status as a stage performer exempts him from dealing with them. If his wife's leaving Germany for France, where she works to undermine Hitler's regime, isn't enough of a signal, then the treatment accorded to his black mistress by the Nazis should be. Hofgen keeps living in denial until it is too late to back off from a cozy relationship with the regime. Klaus-Maria Brandauer's performance is flamboyant in all the best ways, and István Szabó's direction guides us without a misstep into Hofgen's dilemma.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 6/26/2001
  • UPC: 013131133530
  • Original Release: 1981

    • Rating:

  • Source: STARZ / ANCHOR BAY
  • Presentation: Subtitled
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Klaus Maria Brandauer Hendrik
Krystyna Janda Barbara
Ildikó Bánsági Nicoletta von Niebuhr
Karin Boyd Juliette Martens
Rolf Hoppe General
Christine Harbort Lotte Lindenthal
Peter Andorai Otto Ulrichs
Agnes Banfalvy
Gyorgy Banffy
Iren Bordan
György Cserhalmi Hans Miklas
Jozsef Csor Joachim
Christian Grashoff Cesar von Muck
Judit Hernadi
Ildiko Kishonti Dora Martin
Istvan Komlos
Geza Kovacs
Vilmos Kun
Tamas Major Oskar H. Kroge
Zdzislaw Mrozewski
David Robinson Davidson
Hedi Temessy
Teri Tordai
Terry Torday
Karoly Ujlaky Sebastian
Technical Credits
István Szabó Director, Screenwriter
Zsuzsa Csakany Editor
Péter Dobai Screenwriter
Manfred Durniok Producer
Agnes Gyarmathy Costumes/Costume Designer
Lajos Koltai Cinematographer
Lajos Ovari Production Manager
Jozsef Romvari Art Director, Set Decoration/Design
Zdenko Tamassy Score Composer
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