IMDb > Beat the Devil (1953)
Beat the Devil
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Beat the Devil (1953) More at IMDbPro »

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Beat the Devil (1953) -- On their way to Africa are a group of rogues who hope to get rich there, and a seemingly innocent British couple. They meet and things happen...

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   2,985 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 105% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Huston
Writers:
James Helvick (novel)
Truman Capote (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Beat the Devil on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 December 1953 (Italy) more
Tagline:
Adventure at its boldest! Bogart at his best! more
Plot:
On their way to Africa are a group of rogues who hope to get rich there, and a seemingly innocent British couple. They meet and things happen... full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Bogart himself called it a "mess." more (85 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Humphrey Bogart ... Billy Dannreuther
Jennifer Jones ... Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm

Gina Lollobrigida ... Maria Dannreuther
Robert Morley ... Peterson

Peter Lorre ... Julius O'Hara
Edward Underdown ... Harry Chelm
Ivor Barnard ... Maj. Jack Ross
Marco Tulli ... Ravello
Bernard Lee ... Insp. Jack Clayton
Mario Perrone ... Purser on SS Nyanga
Giulio Donnini ... Administrator
Saro Urzì ... Captain of SS Nyanga (as Saro Urzi)
Juan de Landa ... Hispano-Suiza Driver
Aldo Silvani ... Charles - Restaurant Manager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julie Gibson
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Il tesoro dell'Africa (Italy)
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Runtime:
89 min
Country:
UK | USA | Italy
Language:
English | Italian
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
William Styron's second novel, "Set This House on Fire", describes a film crew on location - obviously based on director John Huston and gang during the shooting of this film. The town in the novel is Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Drive, where most of the film was shot. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When we see the newspaper article about Vanmeer's murder, early in the film, only the first paragraph belongs to the story; what we can see of the second and third paragraphs is about a need for new school buildings. more
Quotes:
Billy Dannreuther: Trouble with England, it's all pomp and no circumstance. You're very wise to get out of it, escape, while you can. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Same River Twice (2003) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
44 out of 53 people found the following comment useful.
Bogart himself called it a "mess.", 23 April 2005
7/10

The plot, if you can call it that, concerned a group of six stranded adventurers in an Italian port whose plan is to buy up some East African land that supposed1y contains uranium… Double-crossing quickly becomes the name of the game as Bogart and his fellow conspirators (including Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Gina Lollobrigida, and a seemingly endless parade of bizarre characters) outdo each other in inspired crazy way…

Bogart, trying desperately to maintain his composure, delivered such priceless lines as: 'I'm only in on this because the doctor told me I needed plenty of money. Without money I become dull, listless, and have trouble with my complexion." But his lines weren't the only offbeat ones… In a room where he's being questioned after being captured, while a firing squad goes about its routine work outside, he is asked straight-faced, "Now tell me, do you really know Rita Hayworth?"

The film is one of those rare items that viewers either seem to love or hate, no middle ground accepted… and declared that only the "phonies" thought it was really funny… Many reviewers thought the whole thing was a tasteless joke and decried the waste of time, talent, and money…

In any case, Bogart gave an immensely satisfying performance in his tongue-in-cheek role and the film itself has now become a regular attraction in Bogart film retrospectives… It is also an excellent example of how much Bogart had matured as an actor, since it is not easy to overcome apparently inept material and still give a performance with some meaning and substance…

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'Beat' the 'Devil'? What does that mean? tomtac
Trivia goof; this was the 4th, not the 3rd with Lorre fbm72751
Capote girlzwillbegirlz
Best quality DVD jbuchanan-1
A classic willowtree602
A Subtle Masterpiece cbakes
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