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Klaus Maria Brandauer, Krystyna Janda, Ildikó Bánsági, Karin Boyd, Rolf Hoppe ... see more see more... , Christine Harbort , Peter Andorai , Irén Bordán , György Cserhalmi , Jozsef Csor , Istvan Komlos , Geza Kovacs , Tamas Major , Hédi Temessy , Terry Torday , Karoly Ujlaky , Agnes Banfalvy , Gyorgy Banffy , Vilmos Kun , Judit Hernadi , Ildikó Kishonti , Christian Grashoff , Zdzislaw Mrozewski , Teri Tordai , David Robinson

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 pe... read more read more...rformance) 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

Flixster Users

85% liked it

2,694 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

16 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: István Szabó

Release Date: September 29, 1981

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DVD Release Date: June 26, 2001

Stats: 140 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (140)

  • vierasesine
    December 17, 2007
    vierasesine
    What would you do?

    The first hour or so was momentarily almost dreadfully dull, but luckily things became more interesting towards the end as he really started to contemplate his doings.
  • codyfranklin2
    February 27, 2009
    codyfranklin2
    Oscar winning film about a actor who sells his soul to advance as a actor and a citizen in the Nazi Germany.Klaus Maria Brandauer is great as a down and out actor who changes his beliefs to advance as Germany's greatest actor.The movie is a take on Faust and as the film continues... read more Klaus goes from the devil to Faust himself. I loved the idea and it is executed perfectly. The only problem is the film has a sudden ending that really doesn't have much resolve. The movie is over 2 hours and they could trim about 20 minutes and add more of a ending.
  • littlecharmer1959
    December 19, 2008
    littlecharmer1959
    A fantastic performance by Klaus Maria Brandauer.

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  • philliprenke
    January 10, 2011
    philliprenke
    A successful stage actor ignors a chance to leave Germany during the rise of the Third Reich and instead continues to pursue his fame entertaining the new Nazi regime. While good, this movie doesn't quite seem to have the impact that many other movies about Nazi Germany do.
  • WoadedCelt
    June 7, 2009
    WoadedCelt
    I thought this was going to be a great movie according to everything I read about it. But it turned out to be one of three movies in my life that I didn't watch until the end. I couldn't stand it anymore. I was bored, the acting wasn't that great, the story moved slowly and jump ... read morein time frames. I thought it was a great concept but I just couldn't get through it to make a final determination.
  • patbygeorge
    March 3, 2007
    patbygeorge
    One of my favorite foreign films - need to see it again though, as it was literally half a lifetime ago. Fantastic view of one person's slow moral erosion.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
July 28, 2008
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. Full Review

Dave Kehr
July 28, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

A disappointingly thin, conventional film. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 28, 2008
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. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The actor is played by Klaus Maria Brandauer in one of the greatest movie performances I've ever seen. Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Mephisto seems somewhat remote, without all the urgency of which Mr. Szabo has shown himself capable. Full Review

July 28, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

An inspired update of the Faust legend featuring a tour de force performance by Klaus Maria Brandauer. Full Review

David Parkinson
July 28, 2008
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine

Difficult subject, but well pulled off. Too long though. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

A superbly modulated, fruitfully ambivalent central performance by Brandauer carries the emotional and intellectual weight of the political dilemma. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Winner of the 1981 foreign lingo Oscar, Szabu's modern Faustian take is rather conventional in story and ideas, but it has strong emotional pull due to Brandauer's bravura performance. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 4, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Mephisto is a powerful parable about fame as a disease of the spirit. Full Review

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Mephisto Trivia

  • Ghost Rider villain Mephisto was portrayed by what 1960's motorcycle movie actor?  Answer »
  • Johnny Blaze, played by Nicholas Cage, sells his soul to devil. Peter Fonda plays Mephisto. Eva Mendes is also in movie. Name this 2007 film.  Answer »
  • Which German actor gave a tremendous performance in Istvan Szabo's magnificent "Mephisto"?  Answer »
  • Supervillains: - Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes - Immortality - Telepathy and Telekinesis - Magical energy manipulation for almost any purpose   Answer »
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