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The Mephisto Waltz (film)
Encyclopedia
The Mephisto Waltz is a 1971 American
horror film
about an occult
-murder mystery. It was directed by Paul Wendkos
and starred Alan Alda
, Jacqueline Bisset
, Barbara Parkins
, Bradford Dillman
and Curt Jürgens. The name of the movie is taken from the piano work by Franz Liszt
of the same name (see Mephisto Waltzes
).
, is now a music journalist
and interviews Duncan Ely, perhaps the world's greatest virtuoso
on the instrument. At first annoyed with Myles's presence, Duncan soon takes notice that Myles's hands seem perfect for the piano. From that point, Duncan and his adult daughter, Roxanne, strongly pursue a friendship with Myles and his wife Paula. Paula does not much like Duncan and especially dislikes Roxanne. While Paula is disturbed by the level of attention being paid to them by Duncan and his daughter, Myles is honored to be considered a friend by Duncan, who is dying of leukemia
. Unbeknown to Myles and Paula, Duncan and Roxanne are Satanists
. As Duncan's physical body nears its end, father and daughter perform an occult
ritual which transfers Duncan's consciousness into Myles's body.
Myles's ensuing change in personality, which includes his now being able to play the piano as well as had Duncan, is noticed by Paula, but she is initially unsuspecting of the cause. Though confused by the change in her husband, she also finds his new persona exciting and attractive. Soon, Myles is pursuing a career as a pianist, and is so successful that he is able to take over Duncan's concert schedule. Meanwhile, Paula has a disturbing nightmare in which she envisions Duncan telling her that he must kill Abby, the pre-adolescent daughter of Myles and Paula. Duncan tells her that he doesn't want to harm the girl, but that his Master has insisted upon it as "part of the bargain". Upon waking, Paula dismisses this as only a dream, but immediately thereafter, Abby takes ill and dies.
Abby's death sparks in Paula a further suspicion of Roxanne. As Myles seems to drift away from her into his new career, Paula investigates Roxanne's background. This includes visiting Roxanne's ex-husband, Bill, and a romantic relationship begins to form between the two. Paula eventually becomes fully convinced that Duncan and Roxanne struck a deal with Satan
to enable them to pursue an incestuous
relationship with one another, that they have placed Duncan's consciousness into her husband's body, and that they are responsible for Abby's death.
Soon, Bill dies in an apparent accident, and Paula herself nearly meets a similar fate. This leaves Paula certain that Roxanne and Duncan (in Myles's body) killed Bill and fearful that they will continue to try to eliminate her because she is aware of the truth about them. Further, she resolves that regardless of who the man inhabiting her husband's body truly is, she wants to be with that man. As a result, she turns to Satanism herself and strikes her own bargain with the devil. She then attacks Roxanne, knocks her unconscious, and employs the same dark magic that Duncan and Roxanne had used against Myles. Paula transfers her own consciousness into Roxanne's body, leaving her own body dead of an apparent suicide
.
In Roxanne's body, Paula returns to Duncan/Myles, who happily informs her of Paula's suicide. Without telling him who she really is, she embraces him, enthralled with the excitement of the beginning of their new relationship.
adapted his screenplay from the novel of the same name by Fred Mustard Stewart
.
in California
; the book took place in New York
.
, was originally given a cinematic release by Twentieth Century-Fox. In 1975 CBS acquired the distribution rights and aired it on television. It was released by CBS/FOX home video on VHS format in 1989 . The film has since been re-released again in both DVD and VHS by CBS Home Video in 2007.
. All Movie Guide
noted Alan Alda's performance as the film's only weak point, praising the "offbeat cinematography", "truly shocking setpieces", and Jacqueline Bisset's "chillingly effective" performance, stating that these elements build a pervading sensation of doom. The New York Times
gave the film a poor review.
issued an album of Jerry Goldsmith
's score in 1997, paired with a suite from his score for The Other
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
about an occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
-murder mystery. It was directed by Paul Wendkos
Paul Wendkos
Paul Wendkos was an American television and film director....
and starred Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
, Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
, Barbara Parkins
Barbara Parkins
Barbara Parkins is a Canadian television and film actress.-Early life and rise to stardom:Parkins was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the age of sixteen, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled at Hollywood High School and began to study acting, tap, ballet, and...
, Bradford Dillman
Bradford Dillman
-Early life:Bradford Dillman was born on April 14, 1930 in San Francisco, California, the son of Josephine and Dean Dillman, a stockbroker. He studied at Town School for Boys and St. Ignatius High School. Later he attended the Hotchkiss boarding school in Connecticut, where he became involved in...
and Curt Jürgens. The name of the movie is taken from the piano work by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
of the same name (see Mephisto Waltzes
Mephisto Waltzes
The Mephisto Waltzes are four waltzes composed by Franz Liszt in 1859-62, 1880–81, 1883 and 1885. Nos. 1-2 were composed for orchestra, later arranged for piano, piano duet and two pianos, whereas 3 and 4 were written for piano only...
).
Plot
Myles Clarkson, long ago frustrated in his hope for a career as a pianistPianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, is now a music journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
and interviews Duncan Ely, perhaps the world's greatest virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
on the instrument. At first annoyed with Myles's presence, Duncan soon takes notice that Myles's hands seem perfect for the piano. From that point, Duncan and his adult daughter, Roxanne, strongly pursue a friendship with Myles and his wife Paula. Paula does not much like Duncan and especially dislikes Roxanne. While Paula is disturbed by the level of attention being paid to them by Duncan and his daughter, Myles is honored to be considered a friend by Duncan, who is dying of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. Unbeknown to Myles and Paula, Duncan and Roxanne are Satanists
Theistic Satanism
Theistic Satanism, sometimes referred to as Traditional Satanism, Spiritual Satanism or Devil Worship, is a form of Satanism with the primary belief that Satan is an actual deity or force to revere or worship. Other characteristics of Theistic Satanism may include a belief in magic, which is...
. As Duncan's physical body nears its end, father and daughter perform an occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
ritual which transfers Duncan's consciousness into Myles's body.
Myles's ensuing change in personality, which includes his now being able to play the piano as well as had Duncan, is noticed by Paula, but she is initially unsuspecting of the cause. Though confused by the change in her husband, she also finds his new persona exciting and attractive. Soon, Myles is pursuing a career as a pianist, and is so successful that he is able to take over Duncan's concert schedule. Meanwhile, Paula has a disturbing nightmare in which she envisions Duncan telling her that he must kill Abby, the pre-adolescent daughter of Myles and Paula. Duncan tells her that he doesn't want to harm the girl, but that his Master has insisted upon it as "part of the bargain". Upon waking, Paula dismisses this as only a dream, but immediately thereafter, Abby takes ill and dies.
Abby's death sparks in Paula a further suspicion of Roxanne. As Myles seems to drift away from her into his new career, Paula investigates Roxanne's background. This includes visiting Roxanne's ex-husband, Bill, and a romantic relationship begins to form between the two. Paula eventually becomes fully convinced that Duncan and Roxanne struck a deal with Satan
Deal with the Devil
Deal With The Devil is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Lizzy Borden released in 2000 .A return to form, featuring a cover by Todd McFarlane.2 covers were recorded...
to enable them to pursue an incestuous
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
relationship with one another, that they have placed Duncan's consciousness into her husband's body, and that they are responsible for Abby's death.
Soon, Bill dies in an apparent accident, and Paula herself nearly meets a similar fate. This leaves Paula certain that Roxanne and Duncan (in Myles's body) killed Bill and fearful that they will continue to try to eliminate her because she is aware of the truth about them. Further, she resolves that regardless of who the man inhabiting her husband's body truly is, she wants to be with that man. As a result, she turns to Satanism herself and strikes her own bargain with the devil. She then attacks Roxanne, knocks her unconscious, and employs the same dark magic that Duncan and Roxanne had used against Myles. Paula transfers her own consciousness into Roxanne's body, leaving her own body dead of an apparent suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
In Roxanne's body, Paula returns to Duncan/Myles, who happily informs her of Paula's suicide. Without telling him who she really is, she embraces him, enthralled with the excitement of the beginning of their new relationship.
Cast
- Alan AldaAlan AldaAlphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
... Myles Clarkson - Jacqueline BissetJacqueline BissetJacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
... Paula Clarkson - Barbara ParkinsBarbara ParkinsBarbara Parkins is a Canadian television and film actress.-Early life and rise to stardom:Parkins was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the age of sixteen, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled at Hollywood High School and began to study acting, tap, ballet, and...
... Roxanne Delancey - Bradford DillmanBradford Dillman-Early life:Bradford Dillman was born on April 14, 1930 in San Francisco, California, the son of Josephine and Dean Dillman, a stockbroker. He studied at Town School for Boys and St. Ignatius High School. Later he attended the Hotchkiss boarding school in Connecticut, where he became involved in...
... Bill Delancey (as Brad Dillman) - William WindomWilliam Windom (actor)William Windom is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his work on television, including several episodes of The Twilight Zone; playing the character of Glen Morley, a congressman from Minnesota like his own great-grandfather and namesake in The Farmer's Daughter; the character of John...
... Dr. Roger West - Kathleen WiddoesKathleen Widdoes-Life and career:Widdoes was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of Bernice and Eugene Widdoes. Widdoes moved to New York City to pursue stage work and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris under a Fulbright scholarship. From 1964 to 1972 she was married to well known actor Richard Jordan, with...
... Maggie West - Pamelyn FerdinPamelyn FerdinPamelyn Ferdin is a former American television and film child actor, active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and has since appeared in several voice acting roles as late as 2009...
... Abby Clarkson - Curd JürgensCurd JürgensCurd Gustav Andreas Gottlieb Franz Jürgens was a German-Austrian stage and film actor. He was usually billed in English-speaking films as Curt Jurgens.-Early life:...
... Duncan Mowbray Ely - Antoinette BowerAntoinette BowerAntoinette Bower is a German-born film and television actress, whose career lasted more than three decades. She appeared on the television series Neon Rider for 42 episodes. She is a naturalized United States citizen...
... member of Ely's group (uncredited)
Writing
Ben MaddowBen Maddow
Ben Maddow was a prolific screenwriter and documentarian from the 1930s through the 70s. Educated at Columbia University, Maddow began his career working within the American documentary movement in the 30s.In 1936 he co-founded the short-lived left-wing newsreel The World Today...
adapted his screenplay from the novel of the same name by Fred Mustard Stewart
Fred Mustard Stewart
Fred Mustard Stewart was an American novelist. His most popular books were The Mephisto Waltz , adapted for a 1971 film starring Alan Alda; Six Weeks , made into a 1982 film starring Mary Tyler Moore; Century, a New York Times best-seller in 1981; and Ellis Island , which became a...
.
Locations
Exteriors were shot on location along the Pacific coastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; the book took place in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Distribution
The film, which was a Quinn Martin ProductionQuinn Martin
Quinn Martin was one of the most successful American television producers. He had at least one television series running in prime time for 21 straight years , an industry record.-Early life:...
, was originally given a cinematic release by Twentieth Century-Fox. In 1975 CBS acquired the distribution rights and aired it on television. It was released by CBS/FOX home video on VHS format in 1989 . The film has since been re-released again in both DVD and VHS by CBS Home Video in 2007.
Reaction
The film was noted for its stylistic imagery and soundtrack by Jerry GoldsmithJerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring....
. All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
Allrovi is a commercial database launched by the Rovi Corporation in 2011. It compiles information about music and movies from the former services Allmovie and Allmusic.-Content:...
noted Alan Alda's performance as the film's only weak point, praising the "offbeat cinematography", "truly shocking setpieces", and Jacqueline Bisset's "chillingly effective" performance, stating that these elements build a pervading sensation of doom. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
gave the film a poor review.
Soundtrack
Varese SarabandeVarèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
issued an album of Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring....
's score in 1997, paired with a suite from his score for The Other
The Other
The Other is a 1972 psychological horror film directed by Robert Mulligan, adapted for film by Tom Tryon, from his bestselling novel. It stars Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, and Chris & Martin Udvarnoky.-Plot:...
.
- Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare, 1953 version - Alfred NewmanAlfred NewmanAlfred Newman was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of music for films.In a career which spanned over forty years, Newman composed music for over two hundred films. He was one of the most respected film score composers of his time, and is today regarded as one of the greatest...
(:14) - Main Title (2:27)
- The Library (1:38)
- A New Miles (5:12)
- The Funeral (3:26)
- A Night In Mexico (2:16)
- Part Of The Bargain (3:41)
- The Hospital (2:18)
- The Latest Victim (5:14)
- Dogfight (2:07)
- Roxanne's Demise (1:37)
- End Title (3:45)
- The OtherThe OtherThe Other is a 1972 psychological horror film directed by Robert Mulligan, adapted for film by Tom Tryon, from his bestselling novel. It stars Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, and Chris & Martin Udvarnoky.-Plot:...
: Suite (22:02)