The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Steven Hilliard Stern

Writers:

Mary Rodgers (story) and
Jimmy Sangster (story) ...

Release Date:

6 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

A new high in being lowdown.

Plot:

When Max dies in an accident, he goes straight to hell. But the devil Barney makes him an offer: if...

Plot Keywords:

Deal With The Devil | Afterlife | Supernatural | Kids And Family | Character Name In Title

Cast

Elliott Gould	...	Max Devlin
Bill Cosby	...	Barney Satin
Susan Anspach	...	Penny Hart
Adam Rich	...	Toby Hart
Julie Budd	...	Stella Summers
Sonny Shroyer	...	Big Billy Hunniker
David Knell	...	Nerve Nordlinger
Chuck Shamata	...	Jerry Nadler
Deborah Baltzell	...	Heidi
Ronnie Schell	...	Greg Weems
Jeannie Wilson	...	Laverne Hunniker
Stanley Brock	...	The Counterman
Ted Zeigler	...	Mr. Billings
Vic Dunlop	...	Brian
Reggie Nalder	...	Chairman of Devil's Council

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

During the UK 'video nasty' scare of the 1980's anti-censorship journalist Liam T. Sanford wrote a false letter petitioning against this film to the Police Watch Committee, claiming the movie to be 'sick and horrific', in an attempt to discredit local police forces and expose their lack of film knowledge. Sure enough the film was briefly seized by officers from video retailers before being hastily returned to the shelves.

Soundtrack:

Any Fool Can See

Sweet and charming

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and loving it. Recently, I watched again as an adult and found it to still be a sweet, charming little movie. The basic plot has Elliot Gould's character signing a pact with the Devil (Bill Cosby)to recruit three good souls and thus saving his own from eternal damnation. Gould gets three young people including an aspiring young singer (Julie Budd)and a fatherless young boy (Adam Rich), to sign a contract with the devil in exchange for making their dreams come true while on Earth. It all works out happily as all Disney films do, but there are several laughs, touching moments, and lesson learned along the way. I was really intrigued by Julie Budd after this film who more than resembled a young Barbra Streisand in both looks and talent. Loved the song that she sang in the film "Any Fool Can See." I wonder what happened to her after this film. Seems she never worked again.