The Devil Makes Three (1952)

1947: Captain Jeff Eliott returns to Germany to thank the Lert family, who hid him during ww-ii when his plane was shot down over Munich. However he learns that the parents died when their ... See full summary »

Director:

Andrew Marton

Writers:

Lawrence P. Bachmann (story), Jerry Davis (screenplay)

Stars:

Gene Kelly, Pier Angeli, Richard Rober

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Kelly	...	Capt. Jeff Eliot
Pier Angeli	...	Wilhelmina (Willie) Lehrt
Richard Rober	...	Col. James Terry
Richard Egan	...	Lt. Parker
Claus Clausen	...	Heisemann
Wilfried Seyferth	...	Hansig
Margot Hielscher	...	Cabaret Singer
Annie Rosar	...	Mrs. Keigler
Harold Benedict	...	Sgt. at Airport
Otto Gebühr	...	Mr. Nolder
Gertrud Wolle	...	Mrs. Nolder
Heinrich Gretler	...	Keigler
Charlotte Flemming	...	Girl in Telephone Booth
Charles Gordon Howard	...	Lt. Farris
Bum Krüger	...	Oberlitz

Storyline

1947: Captain Jeff Eliott returns to Germany to thank the Lert family, who hid him during ww-ii when his plane was shot down over Munich. However he learns that the parents died when their house was bombed, only their daughter Wilhelmina, now 18, is still alive. He finds the pretty girl working as nightclub hostess and shortly after starts dating her. She doesn't tell him that an underground Nazi organization compels her to work for them, and soon gets Jeff involved in their machinations, too.

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Plot Keywords:

germany | nazi | cabaret singer | neo nazism | neo nazi | 

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Genres:

Crime | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Des Teufels Erbe

Filming Locations:

Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 90 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Can Love Come Back Again?"
(uncredited)
Music by Bronislau Kaper
German lyrics by Friedrich Hollaender
English lyrics by Jack Brooks

User Reviews

Pier Angeli lifts the film above mediocrity

The film stands out because it chooses to look at the socio-political post-war Germany. It looks at the thin slice of the vanquished: the fate of beautiful orphaned girls in a society that has been reduced to poverty.

The story-line is commendable, the plot average. If anything the charming Pier Angeli makes the film worth your time. The director switches the dialogue from English to German frequently at important moments, depriving much of the entertainment of the viewer who might not know German very well. This is a film that deserved subtitling where necessary. Gene Kelly is a poor actor, capable of giving good performances in musicals where dance supersedes drama. This film underscores this fact. Ironically, the songs and dances in the film are good but Kelly has nothing to do with them.