In early-1930s Germany, a passionate stage actor faces a dilemma: renounce his apolitical stance and comply with the Reich's doctrine, or face oblivion. But, Faustian bargains never end well. What is the price of success?
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Klaus Maria Brandauer | ... |
Hendrik Höfgen
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| Ildikó Bánsági | ... |
Nicoletta von Niebuhr
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| Krystyna Janda | ... |
Barbara Bruckner
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| Rolf Hoppe | ... |
General
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| György Cserhalmi | ... |
Hans Miklas
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Péter Andorai | ... |
Otto Ulrichs
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Karin Boyd | ... |
Juliette Martens
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Christine Harbort | ... |
Lotte Lindenthal
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| Tamás Major | ... |
Oskar Kroge, színigazgató
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Ildikó Kishonti | ... |
Dora Martin, primadonna
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Mária Bisztrai | ... |
Motzné, tragika
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Sándor Lukács | ... |
Rolf Bonetti, bonviván
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Ágnes Bánfalvy | ... |
Angelika Siebert, naiva
(as Bánfalvi Ágnes)
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| Judit Hernádi | ... |
Rachel Mohrenwitz, drámai szende
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Vilmos Kun | ... |
Ügyelõ
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Ida Versényi | ... |
Súgó
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István Komlós | ... |
Kis Böck, Öltöztetõ
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Sári Gencsy | ... |
Bella Höfgen
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| Zdzislaw Mrozewski | ... |
Bruckner, tanácsos
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Stanislava Strobachová | ... |
Tábornokné
(as Stanislava Strobachova)
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Károly Ujlaky | ... |
Sebastian
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Martin Hellberg | ... |
Professor in Berlin
(as Prof. Martin Hellberg)
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Kati Sólyom | ... |
Miss Bernhard
(as Sólyom Katalin)
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György Bánffy | ... |
Faust
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József Csör | ... |
Joachim, jellemszínész
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Christian Grashof | ... |
Cäsar von Muck
(as Christian Grasshof)
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| Hédi Temessy | ... |
Egy nagybankos neje
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David Robinson | ... |
Davidson, kritikus
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| Géza Kovács | ... |
Müller, kritikus
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| Teri Tordai | ... |
Sculptor Laura
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Hans Ulrich Laufer | ... |
Radig, szerkesztõ
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Margrid Hellberg | ... |
Young Singer
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Kerstin Hellberg | ... |
Young Singer
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| Irén Bordán | ... |
Filmszínésznõ
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Oszkár Gáti | ... |
Filmszínész
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Tamás Balikó | ... |
A Tábornagy szárnysegéde
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Ödön Rubold | ... |
A Tábornagy szárnysegéde
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István Palotai | ... |
A Tábornagy szárnysegéde
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Bertalan Papp | ... |
A Tábornagy szárnysegéde
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Rózsa Balogh |
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Mónika Bognár |
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Béla Bolykovszki | ... |
(as Bolykovszky Béla)
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Erzsébet Czeglédi |
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János Dömölky |
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Mária Fekete |
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Katalin Fráter |
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Oszkárné Gombik | ... |
(as O. Gombik)
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Katalin Korancz | ... |
(as Katalin Karancz)
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István Karsai |
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Gizella Ramshorn | ... |
(as Gizella Ramschorn)
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Erzsi Sándor |
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András Sebestyén |
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Csilla Strébely |
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Mihály Szacsky |
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Bazsa Kiss |
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Géza Laczkovich |
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György Lencz |
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József Lukácsi |
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Sándor Majoros | ... |
(as Nándor Majoros)
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Rita Máté |
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Lajos Mezey |
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Vilmos Mosóczy |
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Tamás Philippovits | ... |
(as Tamás Philipovics)
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Fruzsina Pregitzer |
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Péter Tihanyi |
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Tamás Tóth |
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Vidor Török |
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Katalin Varga |
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Imre Zvoronics |
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| János Xantus |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Magda Kalmár | ... |
Soprano singer (singingVoice)
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Tamás Fésüs | ... |
(uncredited)
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| István Szabó | ... |
Theatre Party Attendant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| István Szabó | ||
Written by
| Péter Dobai | ... | (screenplay) and |
| István Szabó | ... | (screenplay) |
| Klaus Mann | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Manfred Durniok | ... | producer |
Music by
| Zdenkó Tamássy | ||
Cinematography by
| Lajos Koltai | ||
Editing by
| Zsuzsa Csákány | ||
Editorial Department
| Géza Fülöp | ... | color consultant |
| László Kovács | ... | restoration colorist / colorist: restoration (uncredited) |
| Kovács László | ... | colorist: restoration (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| József Romvári | ||
Set Decoration by
| János P. Nagy | ... | (as Nagy János) |
Costume Design by
| Ágnes Gyarmathy | ||
Makeup Department
| Edit Basilides | ... | makeup artist |
| Ábrisné Basilides | ... | makeup artist |
| Rozália Szegedi | ... | hair stylist (as Rozalia Szegedi) |
Production Management
| Lajos Óvári | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Mara Luttor | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| János Czakó | ... | stand-by props |
| Éva Martin | ... | construction manager |
Sound Department
| György Fék | ... | sound |
| Martin Steyer | ... | adr mixer |
| András Szeredás | ... | dubbing scenarist |
Stunts
| Lou Horvath | ... | stunts |
| Béla Kasi | ... | assistant stunt coordinator (as Bela Kasi) |
| Ferenc Novinecz | ... | stunts |
| Béla Unger | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Magda B. Müller | ... | still photographer |
| Gyula Kovács | ... | camera operator |
| József Marton | ... | chief lighting technician |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Judit Rákosi | ... | wardrobe |
| Gabor Szabo | ... | dresser |
Location Management
| Sándor Martosi Mórocz | ... | location manager (as Sándor Mórocz) |
| Jozsef Pleskonics | ... | location manager |
| Péter Rajczi | ... | location manager |
Script and Continuity Department
| János Rózsa | ... | script editor |
Additional Crew
| Zoltán Jekely | ... | translator |
| Mária Ligeti | ... | choreographer |
| Sarolta Lányi | ... | translator |
| Angelika Máté | ... | translator |
| Péter Máté | ... | translator |
| Bertalan Papp | ... | advisor |
| Béla Szirmai | ... | choreographer |
| Béla Vaszary | ... | set doctor |
| György Velezdi | ... | technician (as Velezdy György) |
| Sándor Zeidler | ... | advisor |
Thanks
| Barbara Stone | ... | special thanks |
| David C. Stone | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Mafilm
- Objektív Film
- Manfred Durniok Filmproduktion (in association with)
- Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) (in association with)
- Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) (in association with)
Distributors
- Analysis Film Releasing Corporation (1982) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Academy Film Distribution (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Cinegate (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1982) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Norma-Vigo (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Rock Film Distributors (1982) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Stiftelsen Svenska Filminstitutet (Sweden) (theatrical) (?)
- 3DD Entertainment (1981) (Non-US)
- ARTE (2022) (Germany) (tv) (internet)
- ARTE (2022) (France) (tv) (internet)
- Atlantic Film (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Levné Knihy (2006) (Czechia) (DVD)
- Noviy Disk (2009) (Russia) (DVD)
- Nox Film (2006) (World-wide) (tv)
- Palace Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Palace Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (video) (Betamax)
- Pole Vídeo Comunicações Ltda. (Brazil) (VHS)
- PolyGram Video (1993) (Germany) (VHS)
- RUSCICO (2004) (Russia) (video)
- Roadshow Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
- Solopan (1981) (Poland)
- Stiftelsen Svenska Filminstitutet (1994) (Sweden) (video)
- inD DVD (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A German stage actor finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance in a Faustian play as the Nazis take power in pre-WWII Germany. As his associates and friends flee or are ground under by the Nazi terror, the popularity of his character supersedes his own existence until he finds that his best performance is keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.
Written by Keith Loh |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| Goofs | 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 win an absolute majority of votes in the next election (March 1933). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Best Films of 1982 (1983). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Gräfin Dubarry See more » |
| Quotes |
Hendrik Hoefgen:
What do they want from me now? After all, I am just an actor. See more » |