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The Mephisto Waltz (1971)

Director: Paul Wendkos

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A tale of diabolism with a plot familiar from Rosemary's Baby; but where Polanski's film developed into a complex investigation of doubt and fear as well as evil, this is anything but subtle. Alda plays an ex-musician turned writer of music ready to trade wife and child for a career, Bisset his down-to-earth, fearful wife who follows her man even into Satanism. The Devil-worshipping couple are a world famous concert pianist (Jürgens) dying of leukemia, and his daughter (Parkins), whose incestuous relationship is continued after her father's death through his usurping of the younger man's personality and hands. Wendkos seems prone to script troubles with his movies, and this is no exception; he goes all out to kill it, shooting with heavily greased lens from every conceivable angle, exiling normality to periphery. Bizarre and vulgar, certainly, but also very hard to follow.

Author: VG 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Davey Love said...
    Posted on Oct 24 2007 20:59 Mephisto waltz is a great movie, I love the dog at the party wearing the human face. That is one of the most rememerable visuals in the film. Pretty good story too. I've waited years for this to come out and now I have it on DVD. 1971 was a pretty good year for thriller/horror fans.
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Cast & crew

Director: Paul Wendkos

Producer: QuinnMartin

Cast: Alan Alda, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Parkins, Curd Jürgens, Bradford Dillman, William Windom, Kathleen Widdoes full cast

Duration: 109 mins


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