Themes: Unlikely Friendships, Political Unrest, Fighting the System
Main Cast: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Janette Scott, Eva Le Gallienne
Release Year: 1959
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 82 minutes
Plot
This film version of George Bernard Shaw's satirical take on the American Revolution had a troubled production history (with a director change in mid-production), but nevertheless boasts a cutting performance by Laurence Olivier. Shaw's tale depicts his version of how the British lost the American colonies: because of a stupid mistake at the War Office someone forgot to tell Lord North to join up with General "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne (Laurence Olivier) and smash the rebels. Burt Lancaster is on hand as the Rev. Anthony Anderson, a peace-loving parson who ends up becoming a belligerent firebrand of a rebel. Also is tow is Kirk Douglas as Dirk Dungeon, who, in typical Shawvian irony, starts out as a unrepentant, cowardly scamp and ends up as the personification of Christian virtues. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
The Devil's Disciple features one of Laurence Olivier's best screen performances, even though the actor would later express his doubts that he'd done justice to George Bernard Shaw's masterwork. The film, though, is frequently unfocused, with scenery-chewing performances from Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas that clash with Olivier's subtler approach. The film also presents a good chance to see Janette Scott fight something other than Triffids in one of the film's several strong supporting performances. Shaw's dialogue and wit are left substantially intact. Through his viewpoint character, British General "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne (Olivier), Shaw provides his trenchant view of how England lost its American colonies. This is a solid, entertaining film with moments of brilliance, even if it falls short of the masterpiece it might have been. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Edward Carrere - Art Director, Terence Verity - Art Director, Mary Grant - Costume Designer, Guy Hamilton - Director, Alan Osbigton - Editor, Richard Rodney Bennett - Composer (Music Score), John Hollingsworth - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jack Hildyard - Cinematographer, Harold Hecht - Producer, Leslie Hammond - Sound/Sound Designer, John Dighton - Screenwriter, Roland Kibbee - Screenwriter, George Bernard Shaw - Play Author
