Klaus Kinski - wow...

[Cheepnik]

He has to be the greatest movie actor of all time who no non-cinephiles know about. I re-watched Nosferatu last night (with my thoroughly captivated 12-year-old), and he's just amazing -- menacing, funny, melancholy, full of depth. I don't think many actors are capable of making such a limited, overplayed stock horror character into an interesting person, let alone a depressed, existential, multifaceted monster. I remember being equally dazzled by him in Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Gotta see that one again, too.

I think everything I've seen Kinski in was directed by Werner Herzog. Now I want to see him in something directed by someone else, so I can see if the magic is still there when someone else is calling the shots. Any suggestions?

[tomcat]

Avoid "Kinski - Paganini" (directed by Kinski himself) at all cost. As overthetopmaniacdepressedmenacing he is (sorry, no better way to describe him), as silly and ridiculous is this movie.
There was the american time travel TV movie "Timestalkers" in which Kinski played some mad scientist from the future who escaped to the wild west in order to kill a future president. Actually I don't know why, but I like that movie.
His best one by far - also under the direction of Werner Herzog - is "Fitzcarraldo". Pure genius.

[Cheepnik]

Thanks. I always heard Fitzcarraldo was a tough slog, but I'll give it a chance.

[peterC]

I've always attached the word "wow" to his daughter! (not so much in recent years)

[Christopher J]

How about:
Crawlspace (1986)
Not entirely effective, but Kinski creeps the hell out of me here, so I say it's worth watching just for him. I think this is on DVD from MGM, paired with The Attic
Venom (1982)
Kinski, Oliver Reed, Sterling Hayden, a kidnapping and an absurdly deadly Black Mamba. You don't need anything else for a scenery chewing suspense film. On DVD from Blue Underground.
The Great Silence (1968)
Maybe one of Kinski's best bad guy performances and a very underrated Spaghetti Western. Not enough superlatives can describe this one, just see it ASAP. On DVD from Fantoma, not a great quality DVD, but an awesome movie.
Grand Slam (1967)
Nifty heist picture, with Janet Leigh and Edward G. Robinson. Kinski's part of an ensemble cast here, and among such heavy company, he still stands out. BTW, if you get the Blue Underground DVD do not read the chapter titles as they give the ending away!

And if you don't already have it, The Herzog/Kinski Collection is back in print and at less than $10 a movie from DeepDiscount, you can't miss. And for my money, Kinski Paganini has a certain train-wreck appeal to it. ;)

[FredCamp]

He is in "For A Few Dollars More," as I recall. Personally, I don't think he gets any better than AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD.

[Paul C.]

Try reading his autobiography - that's an eye-opener.

[Chris R]

Thanks. I always heard Fitzcarraldo was a tough slog, but I'll give it a chance.
I've seen Fitzcarraldo. Good movie. It was indeed a tough watch though. I still have the Popol Vuh soundtrack LP.