Mephisto Waltz, The (1971)

The Mephisto Waltz (1971), directed by Paul Wendkos.

A variation on Rosemary's Baby (1968), where this time the satanists are after the husband instead of the wife. She figures it out and puts up a fight, even when it means bargaining with the devil.

It has some effective moments but is not a great entry in the genre: we get it, the satanists are putting their minds into stolen younger bodies. Could we move this along a bit faster? I have a hard time taking Alan Alda seriously in anything. The ending makes no sense: her husband is gone, why does she want to be in a new body with his body? Unless she is playing a long revenge game?

I review it only to pay homage to the talent and startling beauty of Jacqueline Bisset. Both she and Barbara Parkins have brief flashes of nudity, daring for proper actresses in 1971.

Jerry Goldsmith score.

Produced by Quinn Martin, his only feature film. He did a vast amount of television back then.