''The Devil with Hitler'' (released in Great Britain as ''The Devil Checks Up'') is a

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

1942 comedy short

propaganda film A propaganda film is a film that involves some form of propaganda. Propaganda films spread and promote certain ideas that are usually religious, political, or cultural in nature. A propaganda film is made with the intent that the viewer will a ...

that was one of Hal Roach's Streamliners short film series. When the board of directors of Hell want

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

to take charge, the Devil tries to save his job by making the German dictator perform a good deed.

Plot

In the pits of Hell, the board of directors decides to replace Satan (

Alan Mowbray Alan Mowbray (born Alfred Ernest Allen; 18 August 1896 – 25 March 1969) was an English stage and film actor who found success in Hollywood. Early life Mowbray was born in London, England. He served with distinction in the British Army in W ...

) with Adolf Hitler (

Bobby Watson Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator. Music career Watson was born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He ...

). Satan persuades them to give him 48 hours to save his job by getting Hitler to perform a single good deed. Satan arranges for Hitler's valet, Julius (

Sig Arno Sig Arno (born Siegfried Aron, 27 December 1895 – 17 August 1975) was a German-Jewish film actor who appeared in such films as '' Pardon My Sarong'' and '' The Mummy's Hand''. He may be best remembered from '' The Palm Beach Story'' (1942) as T ...

), to appear to blunder several times, resulting in his replacement. Satan takes his place under the name "Gesatan". Italian dictator

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in ...

(Joe Devlin) and a Japanese representative,

Suki Yaki is a Japanese dish that is prepared and served in the '' nabemono'' (Japanese hot pot) style. It consists of meat (usually thinly sliced beef) which is slowly cooked or simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in ...

( George E. Stone), enter. Mussolini presents Hitler with a miniature airplane which he stole from Suki Yaki, who in turn stole it from the Americans. When Suki Yaki activates the airplane, it goes out of control and eventually strikes Hitler in the rear. After Satan causes more trouble, Hitler orders the execution of his astrologer, Louis (

Herman Bing Herman Bing (March 30, 1889 – January 9, 1947) was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited. Biography Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He was son of the opera ...

), who had promised him a peaceful, quiet day. He makes Satan his new chief adviser. Satan tells Hitler that he should do one good deed that day, but Hitler has other ideas. He has a bunch of traitors brought in. Insurance salesman Walter Beeter (

Douglas Fowley Douglas Fowley (born Daniel Vincent Fowley, May 30, 1911 – May 21, 1998) was an American movie and television actor in more than 240 films and dozens of television programs, He is probably best remembered for his role as the frustrated m ...

) joins the group to try to sell Hitler a policy. When Hitler questions Linda Kraus (Marjorie Woodworth), an agent sent to spy on the United States, Walter comes to her defense when she refuses to cooperate. Hitler orders the entire group imprisoned to await their execution. Satan persuades Hitler to get an insurance policy after all, telling him that the money could be used to fund hospitals and retirement homes. However, Hitler buys a policy from Walter for Suki Yaki. The intended victim orders a policy for Mussolini, who purchases life insurance for both Hitler and Suki Yaki. All three men hide alarm clock bombs under each other's pillow, but the bombs are discovered. Satan impersonates Hitler and releases Walter and Linda, but Hitler finds out and orders them shot by firing squad. Satan convinces everyone that Hitler is the imposter. Hitler is put in front of a firing squad, the same one from which Satan rescued Walter and Linda moments earlier. Suki Yaki and Mussolini pretend not to know him, until he agrees to give them the Pacific and Italy respectively. They chase Satan into a storage room filled with explosives. Satan locks the door, ignites a bomb and gives it to Hitler. Satan gives Hitler the key on condition that he release Walter and Linda. Hitler does so, and Satan returns home to Hell with his position secure. When Hitler arrives in Hell, Satan pays special attention to his punishment.

Cast

as The Devil, also known as "Gesatan" *

as Adolf Hitler * George E. Stone as

* Joe Devlin as

Marjorie Woodworth Marjorie Woodworth (June 5, 1919 – August 23, 2000) was an American actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she was a drum majorette at the University of Southern California. Woodworth appeared in the films '' Dance, Girl, Dance'', '' Road S ...

as Linda Kraus *

as Walter Beeter *

as Louis *

as Julius

Sequel

A sequel called '' That Nazty Nuisance'' was released the next year.

External links

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devil with Hitler, The 1942 films 1942 comedy films American World War II propaganda films Cultural depictions of Adolf Hitler Cultural depictions of Benito Mussolini American black-and-white films The Devil in film Films directed by Gordon Douglas Hal Roach Studios American comedy short films