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 life of Myles changes completely, and he becomes a successful disciple of Duncan, and Paula believes that Duncan, Roxanne and their friends worship the devil. "The Mephisto Waltz" could be a good low budget movie, with a better development of the story and the characters. The film itself is very dated, with the type of psychedelic image, use of filters, and horrible work of edition, with weird cuts of many scenes. The story plagiarizes the storyline of "Rosemary's Baby", showing a community that worships the devil. The characters of "The Mephisto Waltz" are poorly developed along the story, and there are many flaws in the screenplay. For example, Abby Clarkson (Pamelyn Ferdin) has a mysterious disease and dies, and is forgotten in the rest of the story. Based on the last scenes, when Paula switches her soul with Roxanne's, was the desire of Paula for Myles so intense, that she decides to live with Myles having the soul of the man who traded the life of their daughter per a successful life? 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. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "Balada Para Satã" ("Balad For Satan")
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 life of Myles changes completely, and he becomes a successful disciple of Duncan, and Paula believes that Duncan, Roxanne and their friends worship the devil. "The Mephisto Waltz" could be a good low budget movie, with a better development of the story and the characters. The film itself is very dated, with the type of psychedelic image, use of filters, and horrible work of edition, with weird cuts of many scenes. The story plagiarizes the storyline of "Rosemary's Baby", showing a community that worships the devil. The characters of "The Mephisto Waltz" are poorly developed along the story, and there are many flaws in the screenplay. For example, Abby Clarkson (Pamelyn Ferdin) has a mysterious disease and dies, and is forgotten in the rest of the story. Based on the last scenes, when Paula switches her soul with Roxanne's, was the desire of Paula for Myles so intense, that she decides to live with Myles having the soul of the man who traded the life of their daughter per a successful life? 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. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "Balada Para Satã" ("Balad For Satan")