The Mephisto Waltz

Plot synopsis:
Myles Clarkson (Alan Alda), long ago frustrated in his hope for a career as a pianist, is now a music journalist and interviews Duncan Ely (Curd Jürgens) , perhaps the world's greatest virtuoso on the instrument. At first annoyed with Myles' presence, Duncan soon takes notice that Myles' hands seem perfect for the piano. From that point, Duncan and his adult daughter, Roxanne (Barbara Parkins), strongly pursue a friendship with Myles and wife Paula (Jacqueline Bisset).
Paula does not much like Duncan and especially dislikes Roxanne. While Paula is disturbed by the level of attention being paid to them, Myles is honored to be considered a friend by Duncan, who is dying of leukemia. Unbeknown to them, Duncan and Roxanne are Satanists. As Duncan's physical body nears its end, father and daughter perform an occult ritual that transfers Duncan's consciousness into Myles' body.
Myles' 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. Myles soon is pursuing a career as a pianist, and is so successful that he is able to take over Duncan's concert schedule.
Paula has a 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". Immediately after the dream, in which a blue substance is placed on Abby's forehead, Paula finds the blue substance actually on her daughter's skin. 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 (Bradford Dillman), 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.
Paula falls asleep and Bill dies in an apparent accident, though he has the same blue substance on his forehead. Paula nearly meets a similar "accidental" fate which leaves her certain that Roxanne and Duncan (in Myles' body) killed Bill and fearful that they will continue to try to eliminate her. 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 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 in the bath, 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.

Tags: cult, murder, melodrama

Review:
The film aided by an excellent Jerry Goldsmith score manages to create an unsettling and more and more threatening atmosphere as the true nature of these two becomes clearer and a journalist played by Alan Alda gets drawn into their web.
Quinn Martin Productions venture into theatrical films as opposed to its television work is a tidy little entry in the Satanic genre which the late 1960s and early 1970s were chock full of and it is sad that we do not see such films today.The stunning beauty Barbara Parkins and the irrepressible Curt Jürgens steal the show and turn in performances that dwarf the rest of the cast.
A dying pianist (Curt Jurgins) makes a bargain with Satan to have his soul put into a younger man's body (Alan Alda).
Modestly successful journalist Alan Alda suddenly becomes a successful concert pianist following a chance meeting with piano virtuoso Duncan Ely (Curt Jergens) and his darkly seductive daughter, Roxanne (Barbara Parkins).
Alda too, shines, as he acts out Ely's imperious manner at just the right moments, proving in those pre-MASH days that he was more than the humorously caustic Hawkeye Pierce.As good as the movie is, I can't help wondering if it might have been even better had the mystery not been exposed as early as it is.
There may have been good reasons for not taking this mystery route, but at least it's worth considering.Still and all, Waltz remains a fine example of movie horror done in both color and sunny surroundings, and with a lot of style and conviction.
This 1971 movie is definitely worth seeing, at least for a melancholically superb Jacqueline Bisset (at the same time, the other main character, Alan Alda, offers a lousy and histrionic performance).
All in all, the old Faustian theme is well depicted in this movie, with some interesting arabesques (but why do the Satan worshipers speak a terrible French in their rituals - that I do not know, a superb score (naturally, since it is about the world of pianists and music) and some subtle meditations about the condition of the artist today and always.
THE MEPHISTO WALTZ does well on this count.The film is about a couple who is coerced into the household of rich socialite-Satanists, led by Duncan Ely, who is played by Curt Jurgens, who is pretty good here.
One thing that definitely adds to the suspense of the film is Jerry Goldsmith's score: it rivals Herrman's PSYCHO score for violin-fueled, full-blooded accompaniment to a horror film.Overall, despite some problems of character development and loose ends, THE MEPHISTO WALTZ is a frightening film, and a devious twist on a concept used in such other films as THE SEVENTH VICTIM and ROSEMARY'S BABY, this one is a distinctive experience in the bizarre.
They play a relatively happy couple who become embroiled into the lives of an eccentric concert pianist (Jurgens) and his rather creepy daughter (Parkins.)  As Alda continues to find himself in the world of the very rich and very indulgent Jurgens, Bisset realizes that something is very wrong.
(It is emphasized that it's due to his incredible piano hands, not for any other esoteric things that Alda has to offer......though, truthfully, this is probably about the best Alda ever looked.)  Though Alda gets top billing, this is really Bisset's story as she tries to navigate the world of the devil cult before they can set their sights on her daughter who is next on the list of conquests.
(Oddly, no one in the film seems to particularly want to be Bisset, who is one of the most glorious women ever to be seen on film, even if here her hair is a bit fly-away and  she wears little make-up.)  The film has a sort of souped-up TV movie quality to it, no doubt due to the producer Quinn Martin who created so many memorable 1960's and 1970's TV series.
Mephisto Waltz is a marvelous piano work by Franz Listz, and as described by Ducan Ely (Curt Jurgen), the dance of the devil with his paramours.
In the early 70s, the fad of devil worship by the Hollywood Hills flower power generation was rampant chic, and into this setting stumbles naive Miles Clarkson (Alan Alda), a music journalist, and his wary wife, Paula (Jacqueline Bisset).
Disclosing that he is dying of leukemia, Roxanne's incantations with blue oil transfer the dying older man into the younger man's body, with sexually stimulating results for Paula, and overt interference by Roxanne into their marriage bed.Subtle performances by Parkins and Bisset set the stage for the ultimate cat fight for the new Miles' body, which for devil worshipers is the ultimate lover.
And although the movie (to it's credit) stays very faithful to the source material, the casting, and an incredibly poor script, deal a death blow to the film adaptation.The plot revolves around Myles Clarkson (Alan Alda), a failed musician-turned-journalist, who, still longing for his piano playing days, lands an interview with famous pianist Duncan Ely (Curd Jurgens) who at first is very hostile til he notices Myles hands.This is an important detail.
With an ending that's as disturbing as Paula's insane love for her husband which causes her to overlook the fact that he murdered their daughter as part of a deal with Satan and Ely.All of this, the novel conveys brilliantly.
By the time Twentieth Century Fox gave it a theatrical release under the Quinn Martin Production, the audience already seen Roman Polanski's ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968); and mostly because of both the movies shared a familiar theme in the story that set around a satanic cult ran by a large group of high society people, THE MEPHISTO WALTZ criminally received negative responses from the critics & the moviegoers "for being just another Rosemary's Baby-wannabe".
Although it wasn't as flawless as those popular horror classics were but still Mephisto Waltz was like many other Bava inspired late 60s & early 70s horror movies that's strikingly colorful, yet able to make the atmosphere effectively work as the story progress frame by frame.
Her stunning, gorgeous looks & the way she smartly portrayed the character made me think of she could be a great Bond girl for that memorable 007 era when it was shifting over from Sean Connery's legacy to Roger Moore's decades; even the wealthy pianist played by Curt Jergens later appeared as the main Bond villain for THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977).
All I can say without spoiling anything that you'd never see an ending like this today in a studio horror film for sure ;) It's an ending that may initially make you think why or how the hell he/she could make that choice but if you take a quick look back into the story then you'll surely find plenty of hints that surprisingly somehow makes everything sense and made it work in a weird way.I think a remake by Darren Aronofsky would be interesting with Ben Affleck portraying Alan Alda's role, Emily Blunt reprising Paula (Jacqueline Bisset's character), Bill Nighy as Duncan Ely and Rosamund Pike as his daughter Roxanne..
In the main though, helped especially by great performances from Jacqueline Bisset and Barbara Parkins, not forgetting a splendid central role from Curt Jurgens, this has a certain majesty about it.
Biggest flaw is casting Alan Alda in the central role as the pianist who inherits the musical talent of Curt Jurgens when the Satanist dies, bequeathing Alda with his body and soul.
Bisset is the wife who slowly comes to suspect that her husband has been taken over by someone else.Not quite as strikingly original as "Rosemary's Baby", it does have some effective horror moments, notably involving scenes with a rather ferocious black dog and a scene where the Devil is summoned but we never actually see him.
If you can believe that two gorgeous women like Jackie Bisset and Barbara Parkins would fight over Alan Alda .
It actually makes very good entertainment on the whole, because the visual side of the film is excellent (well, other than the dream sequences) and Jerry Goldsmith's music adds to the production too.
The film also offers a look at a young Alan Alda the year before before beginning his long residency on the MASH TV series.Unfortunately, we never for a moment buy the two leads as parents of a young daughter.
Like in so many horror films this kind the plot moves in such rapid pace between the creepiness and laughable, that it's better just to lean back and enjoy.There's still plenty to awe beginning with Jacqueline Bisset, truly one of the most gorgeous looking actresses in movies ever.
A good cast and a director have done their entertaining trick once again.The most memorable things after Jacqueline Bisset are the usual charismatic appearance of Curt Jurgens and the use of masks and strange blue goo during the invocation ceremonies.
Myles (Alan Alda), a frustrated musician and writer, is offered an interview with "the greatest pianist alive" Duncan Eli. Duncan (who, along with his "daughter" Roxanne, happens to be a Satanist) notices that Myles has "wonderful hands"...soon we learn that Duncan's sudden attention to Myles and his family is merely a ploy to switch souls (and bodies) with Myles so that he may continue living eternally, as Duncan, in his present body, is dying of leukemia.
Not afraid to combine the codes of many different genres (horror, thriller, mystery...), the director Paul Wendkos managed to build up an amazing atmosphere, beautiful and macabre at the same time.This is why the cinematography, being indubitably the strenght of this film, keeps the viewer captivated.
Jackie Bisset, a woman of incredible beauty but no discernible acting talent, is married to failed pianist-turned-music journalist Alan Alda.
I spent much of the movie wondering whether or not Alan Alda (the last person I ever expect to see in a horror flick) was playing the piano.
The movie is at least enjoyable to watch.Also starring Jacqueline Bisset, Brad Dillman and Curt Jurgens..
Similar to the story in Rosemary's Baby, a husband (Alan Alda) with a beautiful wife (Jacqueline Bisset) gets involved with a satanic cult, this time led by a dying concert pianist (Curt Jurgens) who sees the young man's body as the right "vehicle" in which to transplant his doomed soul.
Between the sex and the search for young bodies, and the bizarre satanic rituals and a weird New Year's Eve party, and lots of psychedelia trippy camera work, this even manages to surpass Rosemary's Baby in scope and reach, though not so much in the dark underpinnings of the story, under the direction of the underrated Paul Wendkos..
Minor Spoilers Myles Clarkson (Alan Alda ) is a music journalist and frustrated pianist, married with Paula (Jacqueline Bisset) and having a nine years old daughter.
When he is invited for an exclusive interview with the outstanding pianist Duncan Ely (Curt Jurgens), he is very welcomed by the famous pianist and his beautiful wife Roxanne Delancey (Barbara Parkins), and becomes friend of the couple.
"The Mephisto Waltz" could be a good low budget movie, with a better development of the story and the characters.
However, "The Mephisto Waltz" has a good atmosphere of horror and together with the astonishing beauty of Jacqueline Bisset are the best attractions in this confused movie.
I say there should be more of it.This "70's horror flick" comes complete with psychedelic dream sequences, devil-worshiping, terrifying morally bankrupt characters, and even a little campy acting.
The Mephisto Waltz is a 1971 horror film which brings a similar story into a modern day setting.
Alan Alda is clearly miscast in the leading role but the others do rather well, especially creepy Curt Jurgens and Barbara Parkins.
And for once Jacqueline Bisset gets the chance to rise above her usual pretty-but-wooden presence, giving a strong (some might say career-best) portrayal as a woman caught up in something more sinister than she can comprehend.Journalist Myles Clarkson (Alan Alda) once dreamt of being a concert pianist, but gave up his dream when his debut performance was heavily criticised.
As anticipated Ely soon passes away, but Myles' wife Paula (Jacqueline Bisset) quickly notices strange and inexplicable character changes in her husband.
He also seems rather taken with Ely's daughter Roxanne (Barbara Parkins), making Paula feeling less and less wanted.
At a time when you could barely get away with saying "hell" on t.v., how did they get away with a movie like this?Spoilers ahead:Alan Alda plays a music journalist who is tricked by an older musician who is a satanist, and his body is usurped by the older man's soul.
"Happy" ending.This teaches us:That the mind and soul are nothing, the body is everything (well, it is an American story); That beauty literally is only skin deep; that love is only as deep as your skin; that adults are willing to sell their souls instantly to get mortal happiness; that Satan can evict your soul any time he wants and replace it with someone elses, even without your permission; and that God won't interfere, as he isn't even mentioned in the movie.Not good lessons for nine and ten-year-old kids to watch as Alda and his wife are smooching on the way to bed at the end of the movie.How did they get away with this movie on t.v. at a time when kids were watching?
Mephisto Waltz could have been a rather interesting and chilling film along similar lines to Rosemary's Baby.
"Just add The Devil to a few vague plot ideas and mix" seems to be the way that it was created.Once the main premise has been set - a famous pianist (Jurgens as Ely) wants to live on after death in the body of a suitably matched person (played by Alan Alda) - and the diabolical (in several senses of the word) act has been carried out the plot chugs along with nowhere to go.
However it's Alan Alda who carries the film as the mild-mannered everyday kind of man who gets a soul transformation, he may not be totally believable but he's fun to watch.
Barbara Parkins is also good and unlikeable as the fiery Satanist while '70s fave Bradford Dillman is an unfortunate victim of the Satanic cult.While THE MEPHISTO WALTZ has a few scattered good moments (the dog with the human mask, the weird dreams, the twist ending) it never reaches the scale of becoming a full-fledged classic, which is unfortunate.
***SPOILERS*** It's when music reporter Myles Clarkson, Alan Alda, interviews world's famous pianist Drunken Duncan Ely, Curd Jurgens,he didn't quite realize what he was getting into.
What Duncan planned to do it through the black arts have a body transplant by having Myles become him, In Myles body, after he passes away which wasn't that far in the future.It turns out that Myles wife Paula, Jackien Bisset, smells a rat in her husband becoming a world famous pianist after his "Mentor" Drunken Duncan passed away as well as getting very touchy feely with Duncan's daughter, also a closet Satanist, Roxanne,Barbara Perkins.
Music journalist Myles Clarkson (Alda) goes to interview the dying master of the piano Duncan Ely (Jurgens).
Myles becomes good friends with both Ely and his pretty daughter Roxanne (Parkins).
Paula does some investigation and discovers that Ely and Roxanne made a deal with the devil so Ely could live on, as Duncan Ely's soul has invaded Myles body.
So it seems this is Alan Alda's take on the situation, as he plays a character somewhat like Hawkeye Pierce, but this time a gifted pianist who had to take up journalism as a result of bad reviews.
Only problem, a whole bunch of people end up "having to die," and it's left in the hands of Clarkson's wife, Paula (a stirring, epic performance from Jacqueline Bisset) to try and make things right.For a 1970's "Quinn Martin Production," the ending quite surprised me.
Myles (played by Alan Alda, here just 18 months away from his 11-year run on TV's "M*A*S*H") is a former pianist who now works as a musical journalist, while Paula (scrumptious Jacqueline Bisset) runs an antique and oddities shop near their L.A. home.
At their initial meeting in Ely's palatial mansion, Ely is so impressed with Myles' hands, and his talented-amateur playing abilities, that he cannot resist showing him off to his daughter, Roxanne (beautiful Barbara Parkins, who many viewers will recall from the 1967 film "Valley of the Dolls," and who older baby boomers may remember from her role as "bad girl" Betty Anderson on TV's first prime-time soap opera, "Peyton Place," in which she played opposite future Rosemary Woodhouse herself, Mia Farrow).
Poorly paced film is more about bitch craft than witchcraft with glamorous Jacqueline Bisset and Barbara Parkins going to devilish lengths to possess Alan Alda's body and soul.
Alan Alda and Jacqueline Bisset play the protagonists.
Alda is a no-talent music journalist who makes a pact with a famous musician, who is living as a closet Satanist, and has an incestuous relationship with his daughter (Barbara Parkins).
A normal couple -- the beautiful wife, Jacqueline Bissett, the husband, Alan Alda, a not-quite-fulfilled professional pianist -- are invited to the home of a weird couple -- a mysterious Curt Jurgens who dresses all in black and is a little too friendly, his daughter the gorgeous Barbara Parkins who also dresses in black and ties her hair severely back and never smiles.
Jurgens' soul is transferred by means of perfumes, pentagons, candles, and chants into the body of Alan Alda, who begins to make it with Barbara Parkins.
It still makes sense if you remember what Barbara Parkins looked like.On the other hand, it means that Alan Alda is ignoring the needs of his own wife, the supernal Jackie Bissett.