MovieChat Forums > Mephisto (1982) Discussion > Mysterious Brother

Mysterious Brother

posted 18 years ago by zenkampf
3 replies | jump to latest

Sorry...should have posted this as a new topic.

I don't know whether you people will agree with me, but right from the time this brother of Barbara's was introduced, Szabo seemed to indicate some kind of mystery. Remember, the first time we see him, we observe him standing leaning against the door frame with a slight smile on his face. Barabara also seemed to be pretty attached to this brother of her's. But we don't hear a single dialogue spoken by this brother. Considering how important the brother was to the life of Barbara, and also....was Hoefgen jealous of him? can't be sure.....the brother seemed to be always accompanying the sister, it seems mysterious why the relationship wasn't explained with a little more detail. But maybe, it would have digressed from the main plot, but one cannot help feeling, Hoefgen did not like this brother from day one. Does it have anything to do with his very 'Aryan' features? I may be in troubled waters here as my idea of Aryan physiognomy may be based on stereo types...I'm not a German.

[–] palindromicevilolive 18 years ago

I read on Amazon.com that the real life actor Gustaf Grundgens, on whom Hoefgen was based, was rumored to have had a homosexual affair with his brother in law, Klaus Mann(Klaus Mann being the author of the book on which the movie is based).

[–] palindromicevilolive 18 years ago

(continuing from my previous post) I am guessing that the movie was subtly referring to this rumored affair by introducing the handsome bachelor brother-in-law. Perhaps Hoefgen pretended to choke so that he could get the brother-in-law alone with him.

[–] henrimaine 12 years ago

I was kind of dissapointed that the brother had so little screen time. After the brother was first shown, I expected him to be one of the main characters. His Aryan look would have made him an interesting addition to the film. But who knows, maybe the scenes involving the brother were simply cut. The film was already quite long.