Beat the Devil

While I have not seen many of John Huston's films, THE DEAD is a favorite and BEAT THE DEVIL has long been on my list. If interested, consult Roger Ebert's review; several of the other Customer Reviews here offer much in the way of background. I will only second how much I enjoyed the character actors and Jennifer Jones is a brilliant ham. This is being written as a warning: Amazon is not exactly The Criterion Collection. To the company's credit, Prime Video offers a fair number of movies that either predate 1970 or were made outside of Hollywood. However, the assumption is that we watch mostly for plot and acting, and not the image on the screen. There are clear signs in the blurred and grainy grays and whites that a crisp, restored print is worth seeking out. (I am not sure one is available.)

Bottom line 1st: Beat the Devil is an occasionally comic movie about would be con artists and their women and what we are told upfront will be a thwarted crime. Despite a stellar cast the direction of John Houston and the writing of Truman Capote the bumbling is not comic enough and the drama is not compelling enough. There are some very fine individual moments which spread out farther between as the movie drags on. Not a bad movie but what a lot of talent to achieve so little. Good for a family movie night or a film buffs date night but maybe not something you will see over and over.><><><><><><><><><><><><Because there is been some discussion of technical problems with certain versions of this DVD is identified as the Collector's Edition from Eco Bridge Home Entertainment. Sound quality was for me excellent. For a 1953 film I found the transfer slightly washed but I am willing to bet my viewing experience on this DVD was superior to what most people saw in the movie houses almost 65 years ago.There are a number of lovely moments In Beat the Devil. Gina Lollobrigida walks into a room wearing an otherwise modest but on her teasing dress and announces "tea for two"; earning the single biggest laugh in the movie. After that her character is mostly bland and could have been portrayed by any woman with an authentic Italian accent.The mostly invisible Peter Lorre receives some clever jabs based on the fact that he plays an escaped Nazi with the assumed name of O'Hara while living in South America. He will give us a lovely comic turn while delivering a homily to Humphrey Bogart. O'Hara, an underling henchman has been sent to a advise the Bogart character that it is important for people to avoid appearing suspicious even as Lorre is acting very suspicious. His character then mostly disappears from the movie having little more to contribute.Humphrey Bogart plays the most necessary man for the execution of the the crime but otherwise his character is a bland version of Humphrey Bogart as Rick in Casablanca.Robert Morley nearly makes this his movie. While he mostly portrays Robert Morley; his ability to be an overbearing but hollow and ineffectual bully nearly has him dominating the screen as he dominates his criminal conspiracy without ever impressing Humphrey Bogart.The pleasant surprise in this movie is Jennifer Jones. She sparkles and crackles and is very much the center of her every scene. It is given to her to leave out a trail of unnecessary and elaborate lies confusing and misdirecting virtually every other member of the cast. I'm tempted to say that her principal dialogue consists of alternate plot lines considered by Truman Capote and instead handed to her and brilliantly handled by her.The plot line is as neat a McGuffin as Hitchcock could have desired. But for all of its complexities and individual bright moments there is too much dead time in this movie with almost all of it piling up to stretch out the end. What we now know as the, comedy drama or dramedy would not be developed for at least 25 or 35 years. In its more modern formula there is a better sense of timing and of the mix of gag lines and danger. In 1953 the formula did not yet exist and so this movie has originality but it lacks balance.

Beat the Devil is a subtle comedy of manners. It's not a big Hollywood film, but a small independent (Bogart's own production company) that happens to have an amazing cast, is directed by one of the best (John Huston), with a Truman Capote screenplay. It's become one of my favorite off-beat films and can't recommend it enough.What's not to like? Quite a bit if you read some of the disgruntled reviews below! But don't be dissuaded, it's a gem. And remember, Pauline Kael was a huge fan of this movie; if she's a reviewer you trust, that might be enough for you.Other reviewers have outlined the plot so I won't go into that, and in any case, that's not the reason to watch this movie. The plot's certainly as good as any amusing Hitchcock film, with its MacGuffin and several surprising twists and comic suspense subplots unraveling throughout.There are subtleties to Beat the Devil that apparently escape many reviewers, who perhaps wanted another formulaic 'noir' classic or some kind of slapstick laff-fest. If you like New Yorker cartoons, you'll likely enjoy this movie as much as I do: I've watched this movie at least 5 times and still love it.Beat the Devil escapes categorization, except to say that it's a brilliant comic screenplay performed with skill and insight by several of the best actors of the 50s. Robert Morley is sublimely funny, and brings out the best in Peter Lorre and the other criminals in the gang.Jennifer Jones is sexy and charming in her role as a compulsive liar, as is her classic and earnestly doltish husband. They reek naive British charm and are marvelous together, providing a poignant tension in contrast to the gang of conniving scoundrels.Bogart himself has one foot in each boat, and much of the film revolves around the conflict he suffers in this double life, playing each off the other. As in most Bogie flicks, he's hilariously dry and sly, with lollapalooza actress Gina Lollobrigida playing his scheming wife. Everyone's on the make except Harry Chelm, Jennifer Jones' character's husband.There isn't the passion of a Bogie/Bacall film, and it's not the classic noir we all love with Bogart, so don't be disappointed.One word of warning: Beat the Devil slipped into the public domain, so the DVDs on the market are of varying quality. The one I have is ok, but only just... it's like watching an old movie, with herky jerky pops and cuts and some noise. It doesn't bother me that much though, and emphasizes the 'rare find' quality if you're feeling charitable. If you're a digital maniac, you'll be better served watching something Criterion's had its way with.Beat the Devil is one of the most unusual 50s movies I can think of, and I don't normally watch any movie as often as I've watched this one. With the possible exception of other Bogart classics.

This is coded for region b and will not play on a playstaton 5 in the u.s.otherwise its fine.review is for the bfi blu ray /dvd combo.

It should be noted that most, if not all, the ONE/TWO/THREE star reviews are NOT fot this new 2020 BFI Combo release. We watched the BLURAY and the picture (B/W) is very good as is the sound and the fairly good optional English subtitles (B/W films can have a few probs with subs unless they are on a strip). There are two words that spring to mind after watching this film...ODD and QUIRKY. Nonetheless, quite enjoyable if you are in the right frame of mind and are not expecting an hilaious comedy or spine tingling thriller, because believe me, this isn't either. What it is - is a gently paced light drama with a great ironic script, some good one liners, and a fair plot. It also benefits from Messrs Morley (on top blustering form), a rather wasted Lorre, Ivor Barnard as a phsycopath, and Saro Urzi (no, me neither) as the drunken crazy captain of their ship. Personally, I felt everyone else looked either uncomfortable or miscast or both. Bogart looked so ill, and why put Jennifer Jones in a blonde wig, and make her character unbelievable, as for La Lollo, she truly looked lost....Did I enjoy any of the film. Well it has my 4 stars. I loved the actors evn if they weren't at their best. The B/W photography is wonderful, and, without sounding facetious, it rather nicely passed 95 minutes during the awful lockdown. Just try and be aware this is not your run of the mill film. (As a footnote - BLURAY vs DVD - I watched 5 mins of the DVD immediatly after the BLURAy, and honestly? The DVD is so good quality wise that, as a non tecno expert, I would be hard pressde to tell the difference, but judging from the negative reviews fo older releases it doesn't appear that a good quality solo DVD is available (at a cheaper price). (P.P.S The booklet is n't bad, with a full cast and crew list.)

The film is an entertaining enough little get rich quickly comedy from the 1950s. It's not John Huston's best, but it's fun and the cast is rather good with Humphrey Bogart and the bewitching Gina Lollobrigida. Also worth mentioning is Robert Morley who is as enjoyable as ever in this.The low 2 star rating is for the absolutely dire picture quality of the particular DVD I bought. The picture is so fuzzy that even on an old non-HD TV with a small screen it's blurry. Not even with all the goodwill in the world is it possible to enjoy the film as presented here.

A group of people wait to board a ship to Africa to make their fortunes. Not quite Bogie at his best but still a fun and solid film with good performances from Humphrey Bogart reuniting again with director John Huston, Peter Lorre and Jennifer Jones. A fun comedy crime caper.

Everything good about the film has already been said. Fully recommend it. Happy days!!!

I avoided buying one of the other two versions of this film, by Elstree Hill Studios, because I had heard that the picture quality was of an unacceptable standard. The picture quality on this version, by Brightspark, is also of an inferior standard and I would suggest that customers should avoid it at all costs.There is another version, by Wienerworld Ltd., and I would appreciate any reviews.The still on the cover of the Brightspark production suggests a fine print but this, as I have said, is far from the case. Beat The Devil [DVD] [1953 ] Beat The Devil [DVD] [1953