watched the "My best Friend" dvd the other week, and I've read a little about Klaus Kinski on the web.

Was it all an act, or was this guy really insane?

I vote nutjob. Just watch him in Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Dude is nuts.

Did you know the title of that movie is really "My Best Fiend"? It's more fitting. I thought it was friend too for the longest time.

I have no doubt that he was mentally unstable. However, it seemed to be a thing that came and went. Judging from the documentary and the Herzog commentaries on various DVDs, I'd say Kinski would have moments of clarity and moments of relapse. Either way, he was an amazing actor.

did any of you guys read bits from his auto-biography?

Holy cow!

Yeah.

You got a problem with that?

"Leck Mich am Arsch, Mann!"

Definitely a loonie. Great actor though.

The part on "My Best Friend" where the Peruvian Indians (extras on Fitzcarraldo who were scared shitless of Kinski) offered Herzog to kill Kinski for him is a good indication of his, errr... mental state.

I think he was a loon, and temperamental, but I don't think he was quite as far gone as Aguirre or Cobra Verde. I would say he was frighteningly eccentric. I think he truly enjoyed losing himself in these characters, as if they were some kind of relief valve. It's like indulging safely in a taboo. So, yeah, I think some of it was an act, but he was also, to some degree, definitely a whacko.

I was at a screening of My Best Fiend with Herzog there doing a Q&A afterwards, and someone asked if Herzog had ever considered getting a psychological analysis on Kinski, and Herzog said something to the effect of: "Psychiatrists are the blood-letters of the 21st century. They should all be thrown into a pit and forgotten." He also said that hauling a ship over a mountain isn't crazy, it's just eccentric.

I would say he had some problems.
When Herzog started filming Cobra Verde, Kinski had just completed his own film, Paganini. Apparently Kinski was more out of control than usual and actually believed he was Paganini. Of course this was the last film that Herzog did with Kinski.

I also read in a magazine somewhere that Kinski developed a boil or something in the back of his throat. Herzog gave him the money to have an operation to lance it or whatever. Instead, Kinski performed the operation on himself with a knife, and took the money and went out and bought a car.

On the Tromadance DVD is a funny documentary by a gentleman who made a movie with Kinski. It's Called, Please kill Mr Kinski. My DVD is packed up for my move so I can't remember the guy's name, but he is convinced Kinski was insane.

I love that title. I swore I'd never buy another Troma dvd, but plese, let us know if that documentary is worth it. I may have to get it.

Holy Cow! You're right! I always thought it was friend.

It's actually a bunch of short films from the Tromadance film festival. Some are ok, some are less than ok. That one is pretty good. Might be 10 minutes. It was a director I'd heard of, but as I said, mt DVDs are in a box until I move in 2 weeks so I can't confirm.

I'd like to think of him as more eccentric than insane. He'd do virtually any film for a paycheck, but he never just walked through a performance. He's one of my favorites!

BTW, will anyone ever release Paganini on DVD??? I have a terrible VHS copy that I would love to replace. The movie is all over the place (no surprise) but its a great performance and has great music.