Beat the Devil (1953 film)

''Beat the Devil'' is a 1953 adventure comedy film directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones and Gina Lollobrigida in her American debut. Huston and Truman Capote wrote the screenplay, loosely based upon the 1951 novel of the same name by British journalist Claud Cockburn writing under the pseudonym James Helvick. Huston intended the film as a sort of loose parody of his 1941 film '' The Maltese Falcon'', which also starred Bogart. Capote said, "John ustonand I decided to kid the story, to treat it as a parody. Instead of another ''Maltese Falcon'', we turned it into a... poofon this type of film."

The script, written on a day-to-day basis as the film was shot, concerns the adventures of a group of swindlers and their associates who try to claim land rich in uranium deposits in Kenya as they wait in a small Italian port to travel aboard a tramp steamer to Mombasa.

Plot

Billy Dannreuther is a formerly wealthy American who has fallen on hard times. He is reluctantly working with four crooks: Peterson, Julius O'Hara, Major Jack Ross and Ravello, who are trying to acquire uranium-rich land in British East Africa. Billy suspects that Major Ross murdered a British colonial officer who threatened to expose their plan. While waiting in Italy for passage to Africa, Billy and his wife Maria meet a British couple, Harry and Gwendolen Chelm, who plan to travel on the same ship. Harry seems a very proper and traditional Englishman, while Gwendolen is flighty and a compulsive fantasist. Billy and Gwendolen have an affair, while Maria flirts with Harry. Peterson becomes suspicious that the Chelms may be attempting to acquire the uranium themselves. Though this is untrue, it seems confirmed by Gwendolen, who lies about her husband and exaggerates his importance.

Billy and Peterson decide to take a plane instead, but their car runs over a cliff when they are pushing it after a breakdown, and they are wrongly reported to have been killed. In order to replace Peterson's lost capital, Ravello approaches Harry Chelm and explains their scheme. Just then, to everyone's surprise, Billy and Peterson return to the hotel unharmed, just as the purser announces that the ship is at last ready to sail. On board, Harry reveals that he knows about Peterson's scheme and intends to inform the authorities. Peterson orders Major Ross to kill Harry, but Billy thwarts the murder attempt. Disbelieving Harry's outraged accusations, the ship's drunken captain has Harry locked in the brig.

The ship's engine malfunctions and the passengers are told to escape by lifeboat. When Billy goes to rescue Harry, he finds that Harry has freed himself and left the ship, intending to swim ashore. The passengers land on an African beach, where they are arrested by Arab soldiers. They are interrogated by Ahmed, an Arab official who suspects that they may be spies or revolutionaries. Billy creates a distraction by fleeing the room and befriends Ahmed when he is recaptured by talking to him about Rita Hayworth, whom he pretends to have known. Billy then persuades him to send the party back to Italy by sailing boat.

After the party land, they are questioned by a Scotland Yard detective who is investigating the murder of the colonial officer. Gwendolen reveals Peterson's scheme, his involvement in the murder and his attempt to kill Harry. The detective arrests Peterson, O'Hara, Ross and Ravello. As the four crooks are taken in handcuffs, Gwendolen receives a telegram from British East Africa saying that Harry has acquired the land that the crooks had sought. Harry is now extremely wealthy and willing to forgive Gwendolen. Billy laughs happily, saying, "This is the end, the end!"

Cast

* Humphrey Bogart as Billy Dannreuther
* Jennifer Jones as Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm
* Gina Lollobrigida as Maria Dannreuther
* Robert Morley as Peterson
* Peter Lorre as Julius O'Hara
* Edward Underdown as Harry Chelm
* Ivor Barnard as Major Jack Ross
* Marco Tulli as Ravello
* Manuel Serrano as Ahmed
* Bernard Lee as Inspector Jack Clayton
* Mario Perrone as Purser on SS Nyanga
* Giulio Donnini as Administrator
* Saro Urzì as Captain of SS Nyanga
* Juan de Landa as Hispano-Suiza Driver
* Aldo Silvani as Charles, restaurant owner
* Alex Pochet as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
* Mimo Poli as Barman (uncredited)

Production

During the filming of ''Beat the Devil'', Humphrey Bogart lost several of his teeth in a car accident. Peter Sellers, unknown internationally but with a talent for imitating voices, was hired to dub lines while Bogart was adjusting to the loss of his teeth and unable to speak clearly.

Much of the film was shot at Ravello, above Italy's Amalfi Coast. The central piazza in front of the cathedral and various cafes around it are shown. Some scenes were also shot in nearby Atrani, including the pool area of the Hotel Convento Luna.

Stephen Sondheim worked as a clapper boy on the film.

Reception

Following previews, four minutes were cut from the film and it was reedited with a voiceover narration by Bogart and a flashback structure.

In a contemporary review for ''The New York Times'', critic Howard Thompson called ''Beat the Devil'' "a pointedly roguish and conversational spoof, generally missing the book's bite, bounce and decidedly snug construction" and wrote: " f the printed page and minus the glossy Hollywood trimmings it needs, the fun wears mighty thin. Even with the cast braving a doomed freighter and fantastically thrust into an Arabian uprising, the incidents remain on a naggingly arch and lagging verbal keel. And the business of wondering what will happen next isn't too beguiling when uneasily mirrored by about half the cast. Add to this the harsh, neo-realistic photography, which authentically stalks and X-rays the joke to death."

Bogart reportedly disliked the film, possibly because he lost much of his own money financing it. Roger Ebert, who included the film in his "Great Movies" list, observed that the film has been characterized as the first camp film. ''Beat the Devil'' has been in the public domain for many years, its copyright having never been renewed.

Len Deighton cited the film and its "terror and belly laughs" as the inspiration for '' The IPCRESS File''.

2016 restoration

In August 2016, an uncut version of ''Beat the Devil'' premiered at The Reel Thing Technical Symposium. The 4K restoration was done by Sony Pictures in collaboration with The Film Foundation and overseen by Grover Crisp. Five major differences between the two versions of the film were reported by Gary Teetzel for the website DVD Savant. Four minutes were restored, as compared to the original version, bringing the total running length of the film to 93 or 94 minutes. Unlike the original version, this restoration is copyrighted by Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures.

References

Bibliography

* Plimpton, George (1997). ''Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career''. New York, Nan A. Talese (an imprint of Doubleday). .

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beat The Devil (Film)
1953 films
1950s adventure comedy films
British black-and-white films
British adventure comedy films
British parody films
Films based on British novels
Films directed by John Huston
Films set in Italy
Films with screenplays by John Huston
Films with screenplays by Truman Capote
1950s parody films
Films shot in Italy
Ravello
Articles containing video clips
1953 comedy films
1950s English-language films
Films about treasure hunting
1950s British films
Films based on The Maltese Falcon (novel)
English-language adventure comedy films