
Mephisto
1981, Drama, 2h 15m
24 Reviews 2,500+ RatingsYou might also like

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Where to watch
Mephisto Photos
Movie Info
Hendrik Hoefgen (Klaus Maria Brandauer) craves center stage. After years spent slogging it out in provincial theaters, he's grown sufficiently desperate that when the Nazi party effectively offers to make him a star, he doesn't hesitate. Great roles and plenty of praise accumulate quickly, and Hendrik revels in his success. He dreams of ultimately playing Mephisto, and to that end blithely overlooks the profound moral compromises of his situation.
Cast & Crew
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Hendrik Hoefgen
Hendrik Hoefgen
Krystyna Janda
Barbara Bruckner
Barbara Bruckner
Ildikó Bánsági
Nicoletta von Niebuhr
Nicoletta von Niebuhr
Karin Boyd
Juliette Martens
Juliette Martens
Rolf Hoppe
Tábornagy
Tábornagy
Christine Harbort
Lotte Lindenthal
Lotte Lindenthal
Critic Reviews for Mephisto
Audience Reviews for Mephisto
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Apr 02, 2022What's most interesting here is that the central character isn't really a fascist. He's an opportunistic conformist who embraces whatever the ruling ideology is so he can be at the very center of everything (hence why he's kind of a vague leftist before the Nazis come to power). It is all ultimately a performance which is why he collaborates so easily. Anyone who has ever been around actors knows that there is always a few who would easily embrace the most vile ideologies if it meant fame and fortune.Alec B Super Reviewer
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Jul 30, 2010An interesting exploration of how an actor can change his mind about political interests based upon the pursuit of fame, national identity and success. Not sure if the ending was an ending but I can see what they hoped to achieve. Not sure if the film is against or for National Socialism but they do show the movement as prominently confident and strong yet suppressive regarding anything outside their ideology/politics. The film is less stage and more his personal life and standing.Alexander C Super Reviewer
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Feb 27, 2009Oscar 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 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.cody f Super Reviewer
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Aug 30, 2008A fantastic performance by Klaus Maria Brandauer. <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view¤t=mephisto1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/mephisto1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Emily B Super Reviewer
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