Editing Maximilian Schell (section)

=== 1955–1959: Early work and theater roles ===  
Schell's film debut was in the German anti-war film ''[[Kinder, Mütter und ein General]]'' (''Children, Mothers, and a General'', 1955). It was the story of five mothers who confronted a German general at the front line, after learning that their sons, some as young as 15, had been "slated to be cannon fodder on behalf of the Third Reich." The film co-starred [[Klaus Kinski]] as an officer, with Schell playing the part of an officer-[[deserter]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110520210410/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/135122/Kinder-Mutter-und-Ein-General/overview "Kinder, Mutter und Ein General (1955)"], ''New York Times'', accessed, 29 September 2013</ref> The story, which according to one critic, "depicts the insanity of continuing to fight a war that is lost," would become a "trademark" for many of Schell's future roles: "Schell's sensitivity in his portrayal of a young deserter disillusioned with fighting became a trademark of his acting."<ref name=Reimer>Reimer, Robert C. and Carol J., ''The A to Z of German Cinema'', Rowman and Littlefield (2008) pp. 258–260</ref>

Schell subsequently acted in seven more films made in Europe before going to the U.S.<ref name=Monush>Monush, Barry. ''The Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors'', Applause Theatre and Cinema Books (2003) pp. 666–667</ref> Among those was ''[[The Plot to Assassinate Hitler]]'' (also 1955).{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} Later in the same year he had a supporting role in ''[[Jackboot Mutiny]]'', in which he plays "a sensitive philosopher", who uses ethics to privately debate the arguments for assassinating Hitler.<ref name=Reimer/>

In 1958 Schell was invited to the United States to act in the Broadway play, "Interlock" by [[Ira Levin]], in which Schell played the role of an aspiring concert pianist.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/5319/Interlock ''Interlock''], ''Playbill'', 6 February 1958</ref> He made his [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] debut in the [[World War II]] film, [[The Young Lions (film)|''The Young Lions'']] (1958), as the commanding German officer in another anti-war story, with [[Marlon Brando]] and [[Montgomery Clift]]. German film historian Robert C. Reimer writes that the film, directed by [[Edward Dmytryk]], again drew on Schell's German characterisation to "portray young officers disillusioned with a war that no longer made sense."<ref name=Reimer/>

In 1960, Schell returned to Germany and played the title role in [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Hamlet]]'' for German TV, a role that he would play on two more occasions in live theatre productions during his career. Along with [[Laurence Olivier]], Schell is considered "one of the greatest Hamlets ever," according to one writer.<ref name=Boheme/> Schell recalled that when he played Hamlet for the first time, "it was like falling in love with a woman.&nbsp;... not until I acted the part of Hamlet did I have a moment when I knew I was in love with acting."<ref name=Ross/> Schell's performance of Hamlet was featured as one of the last episodes of the American comedy series ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' in 1999.