Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Alan AldaMyles Clarkson
- Jacqueline BissetPaula Clarkson
- Barbara ParkinsRoxanne Delancey
- Bradford DillmanBill Delancey
- William WindomDr. Roger West
- Curd JürgensDuncan Mowbray
- Kathleen WiddoesMaggie West
- Pamelyn FerdinAbby Clarkson
- Curt Lowens
- Gregory MortonConductor
Recommendations
- 70
Los Angeles Times
The film features some real mystery and suspense, a few laughably outlandish touches, one of Jacqueline Bisset's more watchable early roles, lots of Liszt and a reasonable amount of not-too-graphic scary fun. [07 Jul 1989, p.20] - 60
TV Guide Magazine
There are some genuinely chilling scenes, but it is still a made-for-TV-ish ROSEMARY'S BABY rip-off. - 50
Chicago Sun-Times
The Mephisto Waltz, which is inferior to "Rosemary's Baby" on all sorts of fundamental levels like direction, photography and acting, is fatally inferior in its understanding of the supernatural. If a horror movie is to be taken seriously, it has to pretend to take horror seriously. And this one doesn't. - 50
Village Voice
Paul Wendkos, a director with a cult-following is responsible, and he makes you appreciate Polanski's extraordinary discretion in the handling of similar material. [15 Apr 1971, p.69] - 40
The New York Times
This shrill, heavy-handed exercise only makes us appreciate "Rosemary's Baby" all over again. - 40
Time Out
Bizarre and vulgar, certainly, but also very hard to follow. - 40
Variety
Main fault is a tired script with more than a full quota of arch, laughable dialog, spouted with relish by performers struggling to keep their heads above water. - 40
The Observer (UK)
A confusing, unintentionally funny movie starring Jacqueline Bisset and a young Alan Alda. [23 Jun 2002, p.8]
