Faust
1960 · Germany · 128 min
- Director
- Gustaf Gründgens, Peter Gorski
- Producer
- Ilse Kubaschewski
- Music
- Mark Lothar
- Cinematography
- Günther Anders
- Editing
- Walter Boos
Awards: · 1 nominations
Cast
What it is about
A screen adaptation of Goethe's classic Faust (1808). The story follows a scholar who, dissatisfied with the limits of human knowledge, makes a pact with Mephistopheles. The film carries to the screen a stage production created for the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, keeping much of the original structure and tone of the play.
How it was made
Directed by Gustaf Gründgens and Peter Gorski, the film grew out of the Deutsches Schauspielhaus production in Hamburg, and its staging was carried over to the camera. Gründgens plays Mephistopheles and Will Quadflieg plays Faust, alongside a cast that includes Konrad Krauss, Heinz Reincke and Elisabeth Flickenschildt. Mark Lothar composed the score, Günther Anders shot the film and Walter Boos edited it. Gorski was Gründgens's adoptive son.
Reception and legacy
West Germany submitted it as its official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, though it did not receive a nomination. In 1961 it won the Deutscher Filmpreis for an outstanding documentary or cultural film. Today it is mainly remembered as a record of a celebrated stage production of Goethe's play.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
Family ties
Peter Gorski was the adoptive son of Gustaf Gründgens, who also plays Mephistopheles in the film.
German award
In 1961 the film won the Deutscher Filmpreis in the category of outstanding documentary or cultural film.
More films by Gustaf Gründgens
A City Upside Down
CapersOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.