Editing Maximilian Schell (section)

===1980–2009: Career fluctuations ===
[[File:Maximilian Schell edit.jpg|thumb|left|Schell in 2006]]
He took roles such as the Russian emperor in the television miniseries, ''[[Peter the Great (TV Series)|Peter the Great]]'' (1986), opposite [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Vanessa Redgrave]], and [[Trevor Howard]], which won an [[Emmy Award]]; a comedy role with [[Marlon Brando]] in ''[[The Freshman (1990 film)|The Freshman]]'' (1990); [[Reese Witherspoon]]'s surrogate grandfather in ''[[A Far Off Place]]''; a treacherous Cardinal in ''[[John Carpenter's Vampires]]'' (1998); as [[Frederick the Great]] in a TV film, ''Young Catherine'' (1991); as [[Vladimir Lenin]] in the TV series, ''[[Stalin (TV film)|Stalin]]'' (1992), for which he won the [[Golden Globe Award]];<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQsfwqquZI |title=Maximilian Schell Wins Best Supporting Actor TV Series - Golden Globes 1993 |publisher=AwardsShowNetwork |date=26 January 2011 |language=en |via=YouTube}}, video, 2 minutes</ref> a Russian KGB colonel in ''[[Candles in the Dark]]'' (1993); the Pharaoh in [[Abraham (1993 film)|''Abraham'']] (1994); and [[Tea Leoni]]'s father in the science fiction thriller, [[Deep Impact (film)|''Deep Impact'']] (1998).

From the 1990s until late in his career, Schell appeared in many [[German language|German-language]] made-for-TV films, such as the 2003 film ''[[Alles Glück dieser Erde]]'' (''All the Luck in the World'') opposite [[Uschi Glas]] and in the television miniseries ''{{ill|Die Rückkehr des Tanzlehrers|de|3=Die Rückkehr des Tanzlehrers (Film)|lt=Die Rückkehr des Tanzlehrers}}'' (2004), which was based on [[Henning Mankell]]'s novel ''[[The Return of the Dancing Master]]''. In 2006 he appeared in the stage play of [[Arthur Miller]]'s ''[[Resurrection Blues]]'', directed by [[Robert Altman]], which played in London at the [[Old Vic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/11786/resurrection-blues|title=''Resurrection Blues'' review}}</ref> In 2007, he played the role of [[Albert Einstein]] on the German television series ''Giganten'' (Giants), which enacted the lives of people important in German history.<ref name=Reimer/><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_J6P9lSosw |title=Albert Einstein - Giants (1/4) |publisher=RichardDavidPrecht |date=18 December 2009 |language=en |via=YouTube}}, 10 min. video clip</ref>

[[File:Maximilian and Maria Schell - 1959.jpg|thumb|With his sister, actress [[Maria Schell]], in 1959]]

Schell also served as a writer, producer and director for a variety of films, including the documentary film ''[[Marlene (1984 film)|Marlene]]'' (1984), with the participation of [[Marlene Dietrich]]. It was nominated for an Oscar, received the [[New York Film Critics Award]] and the [[German Film Award]]. Originally, Dietrich, then 83 years of age, had agreed to allow Schell to interview and film her in the privacy of her apartment. However, after he began filming, she changed her mind and refused to allow any actual video footage of her be shown. During a videotaped interview, Schell described the difficulties he had while making the film.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RimHHAB4UsM |title=Maximilian Schell on Marlene Dietrich |via=YouTube |date=9 June 2013 |archive-date=27 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227085412/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RimHHAB4UsM |url-status=dead }}, 6-minute video</ref>

Schell creatively showed only [[silhouette]]s of her along with old film clips during their interview soundtrack.<ref name=Reimer/> According to one review, "the true originality of the movie is the way it pursues the clash of temperament between interviewer and star. . . . he draws her out, taunting her into a fascinating display of egotism, lying and contentiousness."<ref>''New York Magazine'', 1 December 1986 p. 166</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAwySztcrqQ |title=Marlene Documentary by Maximilian Schell |publisher=pickypicnic |via=YouTube |date=27 November 2009}}, video clip, 2 minutes</ref>

Schell produced ''[[My Sister Maria]]'' in 2002, an intimate documentary about his sister, the noted actress [[Maria Schell]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA95jl_j3vw |title=Meine Schwester Maria (Trailer) [My Sister Maria] (with english subtitles) |date=29 May 2012 |publisher=dani77744 |via=YouTube |language=de}}, video, 1 minute</ref> In the film, he chronicles her life, career and eventual diminished capacity due to illness.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} The film, made three years before her death, shows her mental and physical frailty, leading to her withdrawing from the world.<ref name=Reimer/> In 2002, upon the completion of the film, they both received [[Bambi (prize)|Bambi Awards]], and were honored for their lifetime achievements and in recognition of the film.<ref name=Boheme/>