Mack the Knife (1989 film)

Mack the Knife
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Menahem Golan
Screenplay by	Menahem Golan
Based on	The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht Kurt Weill
Produced by	Stanley Chase
Starring	Raúl Juliá Richard Harris Julia Migenes Roger Daltrey Julie Walters Clive Revill Erin Donovan Rachel Robertson
Cinematography	Elemér Ragályi
Edited by	Alain Jakubowicz Henry Richardson
Music by	Kurt Weill Dov Seltzer (adaptation)
Production company	Golan-Globus Productions
Distributed by	21st Century Film Corporation
Release dates	17 November 1989 (1989-11-17) (Chicago) 2 February 1990 (1990-02-02) (United States)
Running time	120 minutes
Countries	Netherlands Hungary United States
Language	English
Budget	USD$9 million

Mack the Knife is a 1989 romantic comedy musical film written and directed by Menahem Golan, a film adaptation of the 1928 Brecht/Weill musical The Threepenny Opera.^[1][2][3][4] The film stars Raúl Juliá as Captain Macheath (reprising his Tony-nominated role from Richard Foreman 1974 revival of Opera), Richard Harris as Mr. Peachum, Julia Migenes as Jenny Diver, Julie Walters as Mrs. Peachum, and Roger Daltrey as the Street Singer. Brecht and Weill's score and libretto was adapted by Golan, Marc Blitzstein, and Dov Seltzer.

Plot

In 19th century London, young Polly Peachum falls for the famous womanizing criminal Macheath and they decide to get married, but because of her family's disapproval, her father ("the king of thieves") has Macheath arrested.

Cast

• Raúl Juliá as Macheath
• Richard Harris as Mr. Peachum
• Julia Migenes as Jenny Diver
• Roger Daltrey as The Street Singer
• Julie Walters as Mrs. Peachum
• Bill Nighy as "Tiger" Brown
• Rachel Robertson as Polly Peachum
• Clive Revill as Matthew "Money Matthew"
• Erin Donovan as Lucy Brown
• Louise Plowright as Dolly
• Elizabeth Seal as Molly
• Chrissie Kendall as Betty
• Mark Northover as Jimmy "Jewels"
• Iain Rogerson as Filch

Production

Juliá reprises the role of Macheath which won him a Tony nomination for a 1976 revival on Broadway. The film shows obvious signs of last minute editing, including several musical numbers that appear on the soundtrack album but are not in the final cut.^{[original research?]}

Home media

The film has never been released on DVD and as of today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has yet to announce any plans for a DVD or Blu-Ray release.

References

1. "Mack The Knife Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for Mack ... - T". movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
2. Maslin, Janet. "Mack the Knife (1989)". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
3. "Mack the Knife (1989)". mrqe.com. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
4. "MACK THE KNIFE". movieguide.org. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2014.

External links

• Mack the Knife at IMDb
• Mack the Knife at Rotten Tomatoes