christopher-underwood I enjoyed this and am pretty sure I have never seen it before. This is rather surprising given my interest in horror films particularly of the satanic bent but then this film seems to have suffered general neglect, probably due to several other and possibly better such films at this time. I liked the stylish opening credits and the Jerry Goldsmith score immediately and was similarly held throughout. Director, Paul Wendkos worked mainly for television and there are scenes here that have that rather flat, studio bound look. In the main though, helped especially by great performances from Jacqueline Bisset and Barbara Parkins, not forgetting a splendid central role from Curt Jurgens, this has a certain majesty about it. One is drawn in by a string of nasty and mysterious happenings and certainly my attention was held throughout. There was a promise all the time of a big satanic scene which never really happens but then there is the most wonderful and scary party scene that could have been longer as I don't think I have ever seen the like.

ctomvelu1 Tame occult mystery about soul transference. Shot much like a TV movie, which should come as no surprise when you know that Quinn Martin produced it. Jackie Bisset, a woman of incredible beauty but no discernible acting talent, is married to failed pianist-turned-music journalist Alan Alda. Alda goes to interview keyboard master Curt Jurgens, who is dying of leukemia. Unknown to Alda, Jurgens also is a satanist on the lookout for a new, younger body -=- someone who can also play the piano. Ice queen Barbara Parkins plays Jurgens' daughter, who also is a satanist. The movie could have used some violence (beyond one scene of a dog attacking Bisset) and nudity to spice it up for the guys in the audience. I would call this a chick flick that happens to involve the occult.

AZINDN Mephisto Waltz is a marvelous piano work by Franz Listz, and as described by Ducan Ely (Curt Jurgen), the dance of the devil with his paramours. In the early 70s, the fad of devil worship by the Hollywood Hills flower power generation was rampant chic, and into this setting stumbles naive Miles Clarkson (Alan Alda), a music journalist, and his wary wife, Paula (Jacqueline Bisset). An opportune interview with the great romantic concert pianist, Ely opens the door for Miles to return to the musical stage he left after his failed graduation concert at Julliard. But it is Clarkson's hands which draw Ely's attention -- his spread over the keys is necessary for a great pianist, a point he emphasizes to his stunning and incestuous daughter, Roxanne DeLancy (Barbara Parkins). Although arrogant, Ely draws Miles into his closest circle of swingers with champagne, dinners, and raucous holiday parties that Miles quickly adopts. Disclosing that he is dying of leukemia, Roxanne's incantations with blue oil transfer the dying older man into the younger man's body, with sexually stimulating results for Paula, and overt interference by Roxanne into their marriage bed.Subtle performances by Parkins and Bisset set the stage for the ultimate cat fight for the new Miles' body, which for devil worshipers is the ultimate lover. Alda's transformation from mild mannered Miles to alpha male Duncan is convincing as is the excellent performance of Curt Jurgen. But it is the discussion of god is dead, the devil is hip, and dogs with human head masks make this film a gem and wonderful slice of horror storytelling before slasher nonsense overtook the film industry. Body snatching, incest, and Satanic cults among the Hollywood beautiful people seem tame compared with the reality of the Manson family horror murders in the hills that took place only two years earlier. Nevertheless, the Mephisto Waltz makes for fun watching if only to see two of the most beautiful women of the era on screen with Hawkeye Pierce.

Juha Hämäläinen A colorful piece of 1970's California Gothic, which despite a very thin story and constant silliness, succeeds to entertain rather well. I don't think the makers of the movie bothered with logic and all that too much either, so why should we then? Like in so many horror films this kind the plot moves in such rapid pace between the creepiness and laughable, that it's better just to lean back and enjoy.There's still plenty to awe beginning with Jacqueline Bisset, truly one of the most gorgeous looking actresses in movies ever. Some viewers seem to find it hard to accept Alan Alda interesting enough to have his soul taken over by the evil and physical side lusted after by two ladies that beautiful. I think he's doing quite well and let's face it, it seems to be only his perfect piano player's hands that get him the job for starters. After all, he's only one more pawn in the game as all the characters are. Everybody wants something that seems terribly important to he or her, get it by a terrible way and end up as a victim one way or another. In the end when several souls and bodies have been switched it really doesn't matter anymore. A good cast and a director have done their entertaining trick once again.The most memorable things after Jacqueline Bisset are the usual charismatic appearance of Curt Jurgens and the use of masks and strange blue goo during the invocation ceremonies. I mean, what was that stuff, anyway? I want to buy and try some. See this creepily funny movie and try to find out.