"My Best Fiend" (Klaus Kinski)

[D-Man]

Werner Herzog's documentary on the late Klaus Kinski is a fascinating look into the genius, and the madness of one of the most volatile actors the world has ever known.  The stories about this man, related by Herzog, and other co-stars, are a jaw-dropping look into the life of a man who was known for his talents, as well as his hot temper. 

Here is a taste of what I'm talking about.  Brownie points to anyone who can tell me what he's saying.  I haven't studied German for years. 

nXyDfbzyOcM

[bladerunnerblues]

Not to be a dick,but the title is My Best Fiend.
Anything starring Kinski or directed by Herzog,count me in.

[Mofo Rising]

My goodness, it is My Best Fiend. I watched that whole movie and didn't notice.

The clip above is Kinski performing the Sermon on the Mount in a very, very psychopathic fashion. Well, maybe not the Sermon on the Mount specifically, but he's still performing as Jesus.

[frank]

Mofo's right. It's not the Sermon on the mount, but Kinski performing as Jesus in general, and a very angry one. That's what the audience has problems with obviously, that one guy with the mustache wants to add that Jesus was in fact rather calm, quiet and more likable. Much swearing and cussing from Kinski's side ensues. It is indeed hilarious, I'll give a more detailed translation later on.

Kinski's appearances at that time were rather popular. His readings of classical literature were splendid, but after this episode, people would try to enrage him and just see him freaking out, because they thought this much more entertaining. When he was disturbed and stormed off the stage, but decided (or was convinced) to return he would start all over again, so his shows tended to last a couple of hours. This was well before my time (in the 70s), but my dad once visited one of his performances and it made quite an impression on him.

[Pilgermann]

Oh, how I love the work of Herzog and Kinski (especially together). My Best Fiend is very good, but it truly needed more footage of Kinski.

I've spotted a box set of Klaus Kinski's spoken word recordings that I'd love to get.  I'd have no idea what he'd be saying, but I'd imagine that it would be entertaining:

[Raffine]

I love the story Herzog tells of helping Kinski write his autobiography, and them cooking up together outrageous profane names for Kinski to call Herzog in the book.

[peter johnson]

I watched this with subtitles quite a few years ago -- I love playing Kinski-spotting in other films --
The hunchback in "For a Few Dollars More" -- Eastwood strikes a match on Kinski's beard stubble.
The Bakuninist Revolutionary prisoner of the Bolsheviks in "Doctor Zhivago" -- "I am the only free man on this train!" he declares, then clanks his chains angrily at his Leninist guard.

"My Best Friend" is, for some, a very difficult film to watch.  It depends a bit upon your tolerance level for genuine, unmedicated, mental illness & psychotic violence.

peter johnson/denny crane

[Neville]

I thought it was fascinating, and indeed very clarifying about how Herzog & Kinski could work together so many years.

I remember when he explains he first met Kinski when he was living at his parents' boarding house. Can't believe he hired him after all the incidents he caused there. Hell, I'm surprised his parents didn't throw him out the nearest window.

And what about the chocolate story? Priceless! 

[Ryantherebel]

Undoubtedly the film that made me Kinski was "The Great Silence".  Even though  I've seen "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" I was more blown away from the direction of that film. But "The Great Silence" showed me how great an actor he was.
BTW while where on the subject of Kinski's temper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXB22GF8Ft8&feature=channel_page

[Neville]

True, his acting does wonders for that film.

On the subject of Kinski's erratic behaviour, I recently read a few words by director Fernando Colomo about the making of "Star Knight", an obscure Spanish medieval fantasy film.

He claimed that Kinski was imposible to deal with, that he wouldn't communicate to any members of the crew and that he was abusive to the other cast members. Allegedly, he injured Fernando Rey by throwing him over a slope, and only respected Harvey Keitel... because he physically threatened him the very first day of shooting.

However, he also said he was genuinelly charming to the gipsy animal handlers (I've also read stories of him being to friendly to these people in the days when he shot spaghetti westerns in Almeria, apparently he would spend days smoking hashish with them) and others, such as Jesús Franco, still speak of him with great affection.

[Trevor]

The one film that I'll always remember him in is James Glickenhaus' The Soldier where he played a character called Dracha. It is actually quite scary to see him in a tight fitting ski-suit ~ his buns are quite 

[Neville]

LOL The time I've seen him at his most scariest was in "Cobra verde", in the scene he's surrounded by an army of topless African warrior-esses. At one point he grabs an spear from one of them and instructs her how to use it properly. There something in his face and his movements in that particular moment that makes me think he was *this* close to actually hitting somebody. 

[Dr. Whom]

Well, he gives a whole new meaning to 'Blessed are the meek' in this fragment.