Bedevilled (1955)

Director:

Mitchell Leisen
(more)

Writers:

Jo Eisinger (screenplay)
Jo Eisinger (story)

Release Date:

28 April 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Nightclub singer fleeing the scene of a murder is protected by a young man who is studying for the priest hood. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Priest | Singer | Taxi | Paris France

Cast

Anne Baxter	...	Monica Johnson
Steve Forrest	...	Gregory Fitzgerald
Simone Renant	...	Francesca
Maurice Teynac	...	Trevelle
Robert Christopher	...	Tony Lugacetti
Joseph Tomelty	...	Father Cunningham
Victor Francen	...	Father Du Rocher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raymond Bussières	...	Concierge
Ina De La Haye	...	Mama Lugacetti
Jacques Hilling	...	Taxi Driver
Olivier Hussenot	...	Remy Hotel Manager
Jean Ozenne	...	Priest in Seminar
Joseph Cotten	...	Flight Announcer at the airport (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Mitchell Leisen
Richard Thorpe		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jo Eisinger		screenplay
Jo Eisinger		story

Produced by
Henry Berman	....	producer

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Freddie Young

Film Editing by
Frank Clarke

Art Direction by
Alfred Junge

Costume Design by
Jean Desses		(for Miss Simone Renant)
Helen Rose		(for Miss Anne Baxter)

Makeup Department
Charles E. Parker	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
A.W. Watkins	....	sound director
A.W. Watkins	....	sound

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special photographic effects

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Michel Rittener	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (f)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Quotes:

Monica Johnson:[to Gregory Fitzgerald] I interfere with you no longer.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 1955 Motion Picture Theatre Celebration (1955)

I Confess.....it's pretty bad.

In the 1950's, Baxter seemed to be on a roll when it came to tempting priests! First Monty Clift in "I Confess" and then Forrest in this film. Forrest (looking quite handsome and dashing) is on his way to Rome to take his priestly vows, but first has a layover in Paris. His roomie gets sick from the flight, so he sets out to catch a glimpse of The City of Lights. He's barely turned a corner when breathless Baxter hops in his cab, teary and worried. It turns out she's just been present at a murder and fears she is the next target. Forrest decides to help her, many times and in a variety of ways, often risking his own position and value system as a future man of the cloth. They scurry around Paris, the good parts and the bad, as he tries to help her exit the country. Eventually, they discover that they've been keeping some very important secrets from each other and this leads to a hyper-melodramatic resolution. The film is preposterous in the extreme and occasionally quite dull, though not without a few moments of unintentional hilarity. Forrest presents a calm, likable hero, even if his character doesn't always make a lot of sense in his decisions. Baxter is attractive, but unbelievable. Carrying on raspy conversations (often without looking at Forrest) as if she's narrating some film noir, she lays on the hard dame act in her best Claire Trevor impersonation. Amusingly, she skulks about Paris in a LOUD Helen Rose gown and sulks in an attic space wearing a cocktail dress and heels. One particularly ridiculous moment has the pair discussing incredibly sensitive information in the echoey and cavernous Napoleon's Tomb. Later, Forrest practically yells similar information during a quiet fashion show. No wonder they are always just one step away from being caught! What the film does offer is some striking and lovely location shots of Paris and some nicely photographed scenes throughout. Alfred Hitchcock was clearly an inspiration here, both in story and execution with an everyman and a blonde being thrown into a purportedly suspenseful situation. Unfortunately, the script and direction are nowhere near the level of Hitchcock product. The ending is not only ridiculous (and fall-down funny), but also pointless. If it were just a little worse, it may have ranked in Movieline magazine's "Bad Movies We Love". As it stands, it's worth a look for fans of the stars and an occasional hoot at the ludicrous goings-on.