Horror

The Mephisto Waltz

- ...The Sound of Terror

A frustrated pianist himself, music journalist Myles Clarkson is thrilled to interview virtuoso Duncan Ely. Duncan, however, is terminally ill and not much interested in Myles until noticing that Myles' hands are ideally suited for piano. Suddenly, he can't get enough of his new friend, and Myles' wife, Paula, becomes suspicious of Duncan's intentions. Her suspicions grow when Duncan dies and Myles mysteriously becomes a virtuoso overnight.

Release Date : 1971-04-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Quinn Martin Productions (QM)20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Myles Clarkson

Original Name : Alan Alda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paula Clarkson

Original Name : Jacqueline Bisset

Gender : Female

Character Name : Roxanne Delancey

Original Name : Barbara Parkins

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bill Delancey

Original Name : Bradford Dillman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Roger West

Original Name : William Windom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Duncan Mowbray

Original Name : Curd Jürgens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maggie West

Original Name : Kathleen Widdoes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Abby Clarkson

Original Name : Pamelyn Ferdin

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Curt Lowens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Conductor

Original Name : Gregory Morton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agency Chief's Girlfriend

Original Name : Janee Michelle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Woman Writer

Original Name : Lilyan Chauvin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Zanc Theun

Original Name : Khigh Dhiegh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bennett

Original Name : Alberto Morin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Raymont

Original Name : Berry Kroeger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Member of Ely's Group (uncredited)

Original Name : Antoinette Bower

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Brooke

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Marta Kristen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Campanella

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Cosmo Sardo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pallbearer (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Carter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard

Original Name : Terrence Scammell

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2022-04-28

_**Alan Alda as a concert pianist with a satanic anointing**_ A music journalist in the Los Angeles area (Alda) meets an aging piano virtuoso (Curt Jurgens), not to mention his beautiful daughter (Barbara Parkins), and automatically becomes like family, but his wife isn't 'hip' with the curious situation (Jacqueline Bisset). "The Mephisto Waltz" (1971) is like "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) with slight nuances and switching the setting from an old New York City apartment building to sunny SoCal. It's on par and arguably better in some ways, especially the less one-dimensional setting, but the comic book approach to the black arts detracts. I can't help but think of Marvel's Ghost Rider, which would debut sixteen months later. Nevertheless, the ending works once you put the pieces of the puzzle together, which elicits a 'wow' reaction if you can get it (the movie makes it ambiguous). The drama is compelling and there's enough to entertain, like the wild New Year's Eve party, reminiscent of "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970) but without the camp. It would influence future flicks like "Summer of Fear" (1978), "Midnight Offerings" (1981) and "The Skeleton Key" (2005). Bisset is very youthful here, 26 years-old during shooting, while the mesmerizing Parkins was 28. Meanwhile Pamelyn Ferdin as Abby was the go-to girl in the late 60s-mid 70s for TV shows and movies. For instance, you might remember her from "The Beguiled" (1971) and, earlier, the Star Trek episode "And the Children Shall Lead." The film runs 1 hour, 55 minutes, and was shot in Century City, Los Angeles, with some scenes done on the nearby Pacific coast. GRADE: B