Mephisto (1981): Cast & Plot
Mephisto is a 1981 drama starring Klaus Maria Brandauer as Hendrik Höfgen, Krystyna Janda and György Cserhalmi. It is based on Mephisto by Klaus Mann and Robin Smyth. It runs 2 hours 25 minutes.
German What Is Mephisto About?
The premise of Mephisto without spoilers, adapted from Mephisto by Klaus Mann and Robin Smyth. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A German stage actor attains sudden fame for his role in a Faustian play as the Nazis seize power in pre‑WWII Germany. As his colleagues flee or are crushed by the regime’s terror, the acclaim for his character eclipses his own identity, and he discovers his best performance is merely keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.
Mephisto Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nazi
- actor
- nazi germany
- success
- ambition
- nazism
- ethics
- price of fame
- theater
- expressionism
- reference to shakespeare's othello
- reference to conrad veidt
+38 more Show fewer
- faust by johann wolfgang von goethe
- reference to max liebermann
- reference to friedrich von schiller's the robbers
- reference to william shakespeare
- reference to shakespeare's as you like it
- reference to shakespeare's a midsummer night's dream
- quoting virgil's aeneid
- breaking the fourth wall
- reference to friedrich schiller
- reference to shakespeare's hamlet
- berlin germany
- theater director
- reference to moliere
- hamburg germany
- female nudity
- totalitarian state
- interracial relationship
- based on true story
- based on novel
- museum
- paris france
- germany
- female full frontal nudity
- female frontal nudity
- female rear nudity
- faust character
- mephistopheles character
- star the person
- faustian bargain
- power
- party member
- narcissist
- stadium
- spotlight
- firing squad
- black woman
- statue
- 1930s
Mephisto Cast & Characters
Klaus Maria Brandauer leads the cast as Hendrik Höfgen, with Krystyna Janda as Barbara Bruckner and György Cserhalmi as Hans Miklas.
- Klaus Maria Brandauer as Hendrik Höfgen
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Krystyna Janda as Barbara Bruckner - György Cserhalmi as Hans Miklas
- Rolf Hoppe as Tábornagy
Also Starring in Mephisto
· 17 more- István Szabó Theatre Party Attendant (uncredited)
- Ildikó Bánsági Nicoletta von Niebuhr
- Péter Andorai Otto Ulrichs
- David Robinson Davidson, kritikus
- Teri Tordai Laura, szobrásznõ
- Hédi Temessy Egy nagybankos neje
- Tamás Major Oskar Kroge, színigazgató
- Judit Hernádi Rachel Mohrenwitz, drámai szende
- Ágnes Bánfalvy Angelika Siebert, naiva
- Christine Harbort Lotte Lindenthal
- Ildikó Kishonti Dora Martin, primadonna
- Irén Bordán
- Vilmos Kun Ügyelõ
- Karin Boyd Juliette Martens
- Mária Bisztrai Motzné, tragika
- Sándor Lukács Rolf Bonetti, bonviván
Show all 21 cast members Show fewer cast members
Mephisto Plot Summary
What happens in Mephisto from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Höfgen, portrayed by Klaus Maria Brandauer, embodies a Mephistopheles-meets-Faustus dilemma: he trades conscience for a place at center stage, ingratiating himself with the Nazi Party to keep his job and climb the social ladder.
The first third follows his ascent in provincial theaters, where a restless, passionate actor toils for notice, occasionally dancing and singing and taking film parts to stay visible. He even founds a Bolshevik theater with a friend to generate work during the avant-garde surge of the early 1930s, all before the Nazis seize power. Initially, Hendrik is more successful in his social and romantic life than on the stage. Both threads collide when his new wife Barbara Bruckner, Krystyna Janda, watches him perform the ultimate role, Mephisto, just as the political climate grows dangerous.
Full summary
The whole story of Mephisto, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Mephisto?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the ambitious actor Höfgen in the film?
Cars in Mephisto
5 cars on screen, including the unknown and the unknown.
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unknown Minor role -
unknown Minor role -
1930 Citroën C6 F Background role -
unknown Background role
Mephisto Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Μεφίστο” and “靡菲斯特”.
- Also known as
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- Μεφίστο
- 靡菲斯特
- מפיסטו
- Мефисто
- Mefisto
- Мефісто
- 메피스토
Seen Mephisto?
Movies Like Mephisto
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Faust, Doctor Faustus and Parsifal.
Mephisto FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, cast, the book behind it, post-credit scenes and language of Mephisto, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mephisto?
Mephisto runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).
When was Mephisto released?
Mephisto was released on February 11, 1981.
Who is in the cast of Mephisto?
Mephisto stars Klaus Maria Brandauer as Hendrik Höfgen, Krystyna Janda as Barbara Bruckner and György Cserhalmi as Hans Miklas, among 21 credited actors.
Is Mephisto based on a book?
Yes. Mephisto is adapted from Mephisto by Klaus Mann and Robin Smyth.
Does Mephisto have a post-credit scene?
No. Mephisto has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Mephisto in?
The original language of Mephisto is German.
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