Sandor Szabo, Sr. Movies
Bela Tarr follows up on his seven-hour epic Satantango, considered by some critics as one of the finest films of the 1990s, with this elegant, haunting work about the cycles of violence that have dogged Eastern European history. Jancos (Lars Rudolph) is a wide-eyed innocent who works as an occasional postal worker and as a caretaker for Mr. Ezster (Peter Fitz). An outsider and a visionary, he marvels at the miracles of creation, from the planets rotating in the heavens to the sundry animals on earth. One day, a circus featuring jars full of medical anomalies and a massive dead whale entombed in a corrugated metal trailer visits Jancos' economically depressed village. Another more sinister attraction is a shadowy figure dubbed "The Prince," whose nihilist rants incite the town's disaffected to riot. Not long afterwards, Mrs. Ezster (Hanna Schygulla) cajoles her estranged husband to join a citizen's action group against the circus, threatening to move back into his house if he doesn't play along. Tension in the town builds until, after one of The Prince's hate-filled speeches, throngs of angry men with blunt instruments ransack and brutalize a men's hospital ward. When the dust clears, lives are irrevocably changed. This film was screened at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lars Rudolph, Peter Fitz, (more)
- 1993
There are many myths surrounding the giant storks which roost on top of houses and other high places in Europe for part of the year. They are thought to be birds of good omen, and to harm one brings harm to the person who harms it. In this story, set in 1956 in the Hungarian countryside, Zoltán is an eight-year old boy, living with his mother on his grandfather's farm (his father is a political prisoner). He is in the habit of wandering the countryside with his small rifle, taking potshots at various wild animals. One day he wounds a stork and soon gets stuck in a quagmire (literally) from which he must be rescued by his grandfather, who rescues the crane at the same time. Zoltán falls ill, and imagines many things while he is being nursed back to health, including that he can talk to the farm's animals. The crane, too, is recovering. During a brief revolt against the Communist puppet government, Hungarian political prisoners are released, including Zoltán's father. He knows the hated rulers will assert their power again, and that he will be imprisoned again. He and his family make plans to escape to more permanent freedom, and cross the border just as the crane is well enough to fly again for the first time. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandor Szabo, Sr.
While vacationing in Paris, Park Avenue socialite Helen Hollander (Connie Sellecca) cannot shake the feeling that she is being watched. Helen's instincts aren't failing her: Ever since disembarking from her plane, sinister-looking characters have been monitoring her every move. Flippant private eye Hank McCay (Ed Marinaro) tries to help Helen shake her pursuers, but he's not so good a detective that he notices the highly volatile contents of our heroine's suitcase. A US-Hungarian coproduction, the lighthearted TV-movie thriller Passport to Murder made its first appearance over NBC on March 7, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This four-part, four-hour British miniseries was a sequel to Malcolm Bradbury's 1990 TV effort The Gravy Train. Christoph Waltz returned to the role of Dorfman, a terminally idealistic member of the European Economic Council. This time around, the teeny-tiny Balkan state of Slaka hoped to join the Council in hopes of supping from the same public-fund trough as the rest of the European nations. It was up to Dorfman to cast the deciding "yea" or "nay" vote. The Gravy Train Goes West was seen over Britain's Channel Four from October 28 to November 18, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christoph Waltz, Ian Richardson, (more)
- 1991
- PG13
Meeting Venus is based on a play cowritten by the film's director, Istvan Szabo. Glenn Close plays a celebrated Swedish opera star Karin Anderson who is slated to appear in an internationally-telecast production of Tannhauser. Ms. Anderson balks at the notion of working with obscure Hungarian conductor Zoltan Szanto. The much-anticipated production may never get off the ground, thanks to labor-management difficulties, intramural jealousies, and clashing egos. Admidst all this chaos, the mismatched Anderson and Szanto fall in love. Filmed in Budapest, Meeting Venus was far from a box-office hit thanks in great part to an inadequate advertising campaign; hopefully it will gain the wide audience it deserves on videocassette. (PS: Glenn Close's singing is dubbed by real-life opera luminary Kiri Te Kanawa. We tell you this because the lyp-synching is done so well that you might actually believe that Close is performing those arias herself). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Close, Niels Arestrup, (more)
- 1985
Amateur and heavy-handed, this biography of the Hungarian composer of operettas Imre Kalman is informative but at the same time flat and unrealistic in its portrayal of human interactions. Kalman is already a musical prodigy at the age of four but grows up to be trained as a lawyer -- apparently as a much more sensible career. Jurisprudence lost an attorney when Kalman turned exclusively to music, becoming successful and marrying his first wife, a talented actress. When she dies 20 years later, the composer remarries and is living in Vienna just as fascism is on the rise in Europe. Refusing to write for the Third Reich as Hitler requested, the Jewish Kalman emigrates to the U.S. with his wife. He died in Paris in 1953.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Huszti, Ildiko Piros, (more)
- 1983
The Hungarian Maria's Day is set in that most fateful of years, 1848. The incredible changes and reverses in European politics and culture exert a potent influence on one aristocratic Hungarian family. Losing virtually everything in the way of creature comforts, the family tries to keep up appearances. Eventually every member of the clan falls victim to illness, syphilis and their own headstrong foolishness. The parallels drawn by director Judith Elek between the dissipation of 19th century Hungarian aristocracy and the corruption of Communist ideology in modern times are inescapable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eva Igo, Sandor Szabo, Sr., (more)
- 1980
In this standard Hungarian drama, the effects of sterility and jealousy on a marriage are played out against a backdrop of World War II and the rising Nazi persecution of Jews. Director Marta Meszaros usually focuses on issues like pregnancy, middle-age, and other topics without questioning the broader picture. In this drama, Sylvia (Lili Monori) cannot have children, and she convinces married Jewish woman Irene (Isabelle Huppert) to have a child and then give the child to her for adoption. The plan works but it also backfires. The way in which the child was adopted causes friction between Sylvia and her husband, and to make matters worse, Sylvia's husband falls in love with Irene. A crisis looms when he asks his jealous wife to give Irene her identity papers because Jews are being deported and Irene will die without their help. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isabelle Huppert, Lili Monori, (more)
- 1978
The year 1848 saw a revolution and two governments in France, a revolt in Czechoslovakia, another in Austria, and the abdication of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor. It also saw unrest throughout parts of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In this story, a group of Hungarian hussars who have served the time of their enlistment in the Imperial Austrian Army want to go home. They refuse military orders to fire on civilians in Crakow (a sometimes Polish city) and head back for their Hungarian home through Austrian military lines. Filled with archaic notions of honor, the 80 men in this unit are hunted and killed in barbaric fashion by their military commanders. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jozsef Madaras, György Cserhalmi, (more)
- 1978
A group of landless Hungarian peasants accept work as migrant-laborers on a farm in northern Germany where the wages are good, and the wives and family are allowed to accompany them. Though it is in the midst of World War II, they are relatively well-off. However, they glimpse the treatment accorded to POWs and others who are not so gently treated, and at the conclusion of the year's harvest, they choose to return to Hungary and are quickly swept up in the tides of war. This film is part of a series of films by award-winning, well-respected director Zoltan Fabri who devoted much time and effort chronicling the struggle against fascism. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabor Koncz, Bertalan Solti, (more)
- 1978
Flashbacks stimulated during one day and night are experienced by a man and his new wife who live as boarders in the home of a war widow and her young son. The boy's father, a heroic doctor who served in the resistance during World War II, was a widely recognized hero, and the young newlyweds have been asked by the widow to travel to a nearby village to be present at the dedication of a memorial plaque in his honor. Already thoroughly tired of his legend, they are forced to sit through lengthy reminiscences by many people who knew him. Some of these tales bring up painful bits of family history, as when a pair of sisters who were in love with the dashing doctor recount how they were separated from him by the boy's mother. However, being immersed in the human side of his father's legend removes the shadow that has dogged the young boy, and the newlyweds also emerge happier with one another. This story is based on a play by Imre Szasz. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klari Tolnay
- 1976
Ivan (Peter Huszti), the owner of a coal mine, must fend off buyout bids in the Viennese capital by a scheming financier, put out fires in the mine itself, and cope with his attraction for Evita (Szilvia Sunyovszky), one of the miner's daughters. Set in 1867, this story follows the owner through his adventures in one dramatic year. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Huszti, Peter Haumann, (more)
- 1976
After the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a young Hungarian, wanted by the police for political crimes, escapes to just this side of the Austrian border. When he discovers that his escape contact has been shot, he disguises himself as a woman and, posing as a maid, takes refuge at a tuberculosis sanatorium. He lives there as a woman for the entire winter before resuming his journey in the spring. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Filmed on locations ranging from Denmark to the Universal backlot, Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz is based on a novel by Leon Uris. Frederick Stafford, a veteran of European-filmed James Bond rip-offs of the 1960s, is cast as Andre Devereaux, a French secret agent assigned to snoop around Cuba in the months prior to the 1962 missile crisis. Someone is supplying Castro -- and, by extension, Moscow -- with NATO secrets; it is up to Devereaux to liquidate the "mole." Aiding Devereaux is CIA agent Nordstrom (John Forsythe) and aristocratic anti-Castro Cuban Juanita (Karin Dor), who happens to be the girlfriend of pro-Castroite Rico Parra (John Vernon). The director seems to be in awe of the fact-based storyline, and as a result, the film is more cut-and-dried than most Hitchcock efforts. Three different endings were filmed for Topaz; the Laserdisc version carries all three, as does the print available to the American Movie Classics cable service. According to the MPAA, the film was originally rated M but later changed to PG; however, a number of home-video issues of Topaz officially list it as "Not Rated." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederick Stafford, Dany Robin, (more)
- 1969
General Zek (Titos Vandis) conspires with munitions manufacturer Ismir Najiid (Sandor Szabo) to kill Middle Eastern potentate King Said (Joe E. Tata) with a truckload of nitroglycerin. The conspirators then plan to place the blame for the assassination on a neighboring country, thereby sparking a war that will enable Zek to assume command of both nations. To preserve the balance of power, the IMF must steal the highly volatile nitro, save the King, and discredit Zek. Mark Lenard, best known as Spock's father on Star Trek, makes his second Mission: Impossible appearance as Aristo Skora. Originally telecast on March 23, 1969, "Nitro" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, (more)
- 1968
Joe Cartwright, Candy and Kate Kelly (Celeste Yarnell) form a partnership to establish an ore-stamping mill. Though Joe and Candy know next to nothing about running the mill, they have no trouble courting Kate, with both partners showing up at the lady's doorstep on alternate evenings. But it isn't all fun and games: The boys must also contend with rival mine owner Miles Renfro (Paul Lambert), who doesn't cotton to the competition and has the guns to back up his objections. Dabney Coleman appears in the supporting role of Ivar Peterson. Originally shown on December 1, 1968, "Queen High" was written by Michael Fessier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Cliff Robertson essays a dual role in the made-for-TV Sunshine Patriot. He portrays a top secret agent as well as an American businessmen; both Robertsons are currently behind the Iron Curtain, both on "business." In order to evade a team of assassins and to smuggle valuable microfilm to the Good Guys, Robertson the spy switches passports and identities with Robertson the businessman. There are two points of particular interest in the moderately entertaining Sunshine Patriot. Donald Sutherland makes his American TV-movie debut in one of the many minor roles he essayed in his pre-MASH days. And, when Robertson goes to the opera in one sequence, we are treated to an extensive excerpt from the 1943 Universal Technicolor epic Phantom of the Opera. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Phil Karlson, well-regarded by film buffs for his tough, no-nonsense crime dramas, directed this adventure story shot partially on location in the Caribbean. Mike Cormack (John Payne) was once a District Attorney, until his fiancée, Janet Martin (Mary Murphy), left him to marry another man. Depressed, Mike began drinking heavily, and eventually his alcoholism cost him his job. Trying to pull himself back up after hitting bottom, Mike gets a job as a bouncer at a casino in Las Vegas. Barzland (Francis L. Sullivan), a handicapped criminal, approaches Mike with an unusual offer. Barzland will pay Mike $5,000 if he can locate a ruby that went missing following the disappearance of a plane in the West Indies. Mike discovers that the reason he was picked for this job is that the pilot of the plane, Eduardo (Paul Picerni), is the man Janet chose to marry, and Barzland and his men believe that she might have clues as to the ruby's whereabouts that Mike could uncover. However, when Mike arrives to meet with Janet, he discovers that Eduardo is now in jail, and Janet begins to snare Mike in a web of lies and deceit. Hell's Island was rereleased in 1962 under the title South Sea Fury. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Payne, Mary Murphy, (more)
- 1952
Dreamboat stars Clifton Webb as Thornton Sayre, the perfectionist professor of literature at a sedate Midwestern university. Widowed and with a pretty daughter (Anne Francis), Sayre has given no clue to his previous life before becoming a teacher. But thanks to television, everyone discovers that Sayre is actually Bruce Blair, a former silent screen star known as "America's Dreamboat." Sayre's onetime leading lady (Ginger Rogers) has made a comeback hosting screenings of her old films on TV, and the result is acute embarrassment for both the professor and his college. Sayre takes the case all the way to court, where he wangles a compromise agreement: he will permit his films to be televised as long as they're not "doctored" to accommodate commercial endorsements (this was based on a real-life lawsuit involving cowboy Gene Autry -- which Autry lost). The ensuing publicity costs Sayre his college job, but the renewal of interest in his old films results in a new movie contract. Although silent movies and singing commercials are easy satirical targets, Dreamboat still delivers the laughs, and it's fun to see Clifton Webb camping it up as a "Doug Fairbanks" type. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Webb, Ginger Rogers, (more)
- 1939
Puszta Princess was reportedly inspired by the real-life romance between Austro-Hungarian archduke Albrecht and a "commoner" schoolmistress (who claimed to be descended from royalty). The film's heroine is Erzsi (Eve Szerenyi), schoolmarm sweetheart of "student prince" John (Sandor Szabo) from a mythical mittel-European nation. So as to remain close to Erzsi, John fakes a plane accident and contrives to have her nurse his wounds. Unable to marry because of their vastly different stations in life, Erszi and John sadly resigned themselves to a lifetime of misery. Happily, John is able to alter the rules of marital protocol once he assumes the throne of his postage-stamp kingdom. Leading man Sandor Szabo, a former Olympic swimmer, later became a prolific Hollywood character actor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eva Szorenyi, Sandor Szabo, Sr., (more)
- 1936
Hecht and MacArthur's Once in a Blue Moon was an unsuccessful attempt to fashion a film vehicle for legendary Broadway comedian Jimmy Savo. The pixieish star is cast as Gabbo the Great, a circus performer in pre-Revolutionary Russia. A sensitive soul, Gabbo is afforded an opportunity to prove his loyalty to the Motherland by delivering an urgent message to a Russian general (Nikita Balieff, who died just after completing his role). Savo's great appeal lies in his whimsical pantomime, not his handling of dialogue; alas, he is saddled with reams and reams of satirical dialogue, very little of which was genuinely amusing. Though co-scripters Ben Hecht and Charlie McArthur are credited with the direction, it was an open secret in 1936 that most of Once in a Blue Moon was directed by cinematographer Lee Garmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nikita Balieff, Cecilia Loftus, (more)
