Mack the Knife (disambiguation)
Mack the Knife (in German Mackie Messer) is the nickname of Macheath, a character from The Threepenny Opera, and also the name of a song from that work. It is also the title of the US film adaptation of the opera.
Other uses of the term, presumably all based on the original use, include:
Mack the Knife
"Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife", originally "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer", is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their music drama Die Dreigroschenoper, or, as it is known in English, The Threepenny Opera. It premiered in Berlin in 1928 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. The song has become a popular standard recorded by many artists, including a US and UK number one hit for Bobby Darin in 1959.
The Threepenny Opera
A moritat (from mori meaning "deadly" and tat meaning "deed") is a medieval version of the murder ballad performed by strolling minstrels. In The Threepenny Opera, the moritat singer with his street organ introduces and closes the drama with the tale of the deadly Mackie Messer, or Mack the Knife, a character based on the dashing highwayman Macheath in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (who was in turn based on the historical thief Jack Sheppard). The Brecht-Weill version of the character was far more cruel and sinister, and has been transformed into a modern anti-hero.
Mack the Knife (film)
Mack the Knife is a 1989 film adaptation of the 1928 Brecht/Weill musical The Threepenny Opera.
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
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.
Home media
The film has never been released on DVD and as of April 2012, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has yet to announce any plans for a DVD release.
Mack the Knife (1995 film)
Mack the Knife, also known as Dr. Mack, is a 1995 Hong Kong comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by Lee Chi-ngai, based on the manga Dr. Kumahige by Buronson and Takumi Nagaysu. The film stars Tony Leung, Sean Lau, Alex To, Christy Chung, Andy Hui, Hilary Tsui and Gigi Leung in her debut film role.
Plot
Dr. Mack Lau (Tony Leung) is a cynical person on the surface, but he is actually very delicate and has a strong insight of the world. He despises the injustice of the health care system and runs his own clinic in a red-light district. Indulged in medical science, Mack possess superior medical skills and is passionate in treating underprivileged citizens. Among his patients include a brave policeman, Chiu (Sean Lau), his neighbor prostitutes and so on. Aside from healing his patient's wounds, Mack is also willing to listen to their thoughts and become their friend. However, Mack was later framed by his old friend and medical classmate, Roger Law (Alex To), and must face the crisis of his doctor's license being revoked.
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