Main Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre
Release Year: 1953
Country: US/IT/UK
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
Humphrey Bogart stars as one of five disreputable adventurers who are trying to get uranium out of East Africa. Bogart's associates include pompous fraud Robert Morley, and Peter Lorre as the German-accented "O'Hara", whose wartime record is forever a source of speculation and suspicion. Becoming involved in Bogart's machinations are a prim British married couple (Edward Underdown and blonde-wigged Jennifer Jones). As a climax to their many misadventures and double-crosses, the uranium seekers end up facing extermination by an Arab firing squad. The satirical nature of Beat the Devil eluded many moviegoers in 1953, and the film was a failure. The fact that the picture attained cult status in lesser years failed to impress its star Humphrey Bogart, who could only remember that he lost a considerable chunk of his own money when he became involved in the project. Peter Viernick worked on the script on an uncredited basis. Beat the Devil eventually fell into public domain, leading to numerous inferior editions by second and third-tiered labels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Director John Huston and actor Humphrey Bogart, who had previously collaborated on classics ranging from The Maltese Falcon to The African Queen, teamed up for the last time on Beat the Devil, the least known and most unfairly underrated of their five joint efforts. An exquisitely dry comedy with a witty script by Truman Capote, the film finds subtle, absurdist laughs in the misadventures of Bogart's tough customer, who becomes involved in a complex scheme to gain control of a patch of uranium-rich land in Africa. Indeed, the humor is played with such a straight face that many critics have suggested that the film's first audiences did not realize they were watching a comedy, contributing to its box office failure. Audiences in later years, however, have revived interest in the film, fully appreciating its bounty of comic riches. In addition to the well-plotted, always unpredictable script, the production is bolstered by uniformly excellent performances. Bogart treats his usual romantic cynic role with a pleasingly light touch, and establishes superb chemistry with Jennifer Jones, who portrays the female half of a seemingly proper British couple who may not be everything they seem. Especially strong laughs are provided by a memorably colorful rogue's gallery of supporting villains and kooks, including an especially nervous Peter Lorre. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Edward Underdown - Harry Chelm; Ivor Barnard - Major Ross; Bernard Lee - Insp. Clayton; Marco Tulli - Ravello; Al Silvani - Charles; Saro Urzi - Captain; Juan de Landa - Hispano-Suiza Driver; Mimmo Poli - Barman; Giulio Donnini - Administrator
Credit
Jack Clayton - Associate Producer, John Huston - Director, Ralph Kemplen - Editor, Franco Mannino - Composer (Music Score), Lambert Williamson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Freddie Francis - Camera Operator, Wilfred Shingleton - Production Designer, Oswald Morris - Cinematographer, Robert Haggiag - Producer, Truman Capote - Screenwriter, John Huston - Screenwriter, James Helvick - Book Author
