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The Devil's Disciple

  • 1959
  • Approved
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, and Laurence Olivier in The Devil's Disciple (1959)
The black sheep of a family and the local minister discover their true vocations during the Revolutionary War.
Play trailer2:58
1 Video
99+ Photos
SatireComedyHistoryRomanceWar

The black sheep of a family and the local minister discover their true vocations during the Revolutionary War.The black sheep of a family and the local minister discover their true vocations during the Revolutionary War.The black sheep of a family and the local minister discover their true vocations during the Revolutionary War.

  • Directors
    • Guy Hamilton
    • Alexander Mackendrick
  • Writers
    • John Dighton
    • Roland Kibbee
    • George Bernard Shaw
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Laurence Olivier
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Guy Hamilton
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • John Dighton
      • Roland Kibbee
      • George Bernard Shaw
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Kirk Douglas
      • Laurence Olivier
    • 53User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:58
    Official Trailer

    Photos134

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    + 129
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    Top cast37

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    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • The Rev. Anthony Anderson
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Richard Dudgeon
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • Gen. Burgoyne
    Janette Scott
    Janette Scott
    • Judith Anderson
    Eva Le Gallienne
    Eva Le Gallienne
    • Mrs. Dudgeon
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Maj. Swindon
    Basil Sydney
    Basil Sydney
    • Lawyer Hawkins
    George Rose
    George Rose
    • British Sergeant
    Neil McCallum
    Neil McCallum
    • Christie Dudgeon
    • (as Neil Mc Callum)
    Mervyn Johns
    Mervyn Johns
    • Rev. Maindeck Parshotter
    David Horne
    David Horne
    • Uncle William
    Erik Chitty
    Erik Chitty
    • Uncle Titus
    Allan Cuthbertson
    Allan Cuthbertson
    • British Lieutenant
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Edict Sergeant
    Phyllis Morris
    • Wife of Titus
    Brian Oulton
    Brian Oulton
    • Mr. Brudenell
    Joe Beckett
    • British Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Steven Berkoff
    Steven Berkoff
    • British Corporal
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Guy Hamilton
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • John Dighton
      • Roland Kibbee
      • George Bernard Shaw
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    6.93K
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    Featured reviews

    6bobc-5

    Unfortunate waste of talent

    Laurence Olivier is a British general surrounded by mediocrity and outnumbered by rebel forces who won't give him a fair fight. Burt Lancaster is a pacifist minister trying to protect his innocent parishioners, most of whom haven't yet taken any side in the Revolutionary War. Kirk Douglas is a bright-eyed ne'er-do-well, interested only in himself. Put three great actors like this together and you're bound to get great results, right?

    Wrong. I completely fail to see how this movie can get such good reviews here. The first 50 minutes of the movie just barely avoid being downright awful. Olivier and Lancaster do next to nothing, while Douglas hams it up so bad that even the audience should feel embarrassed. Janette Scott, as Lancaster's wife, is forced to play a character with no discernible intelligence or personality whatsoever.

    Have some patience, however, and you will eventually be rewarded. Lancaster and Douglas both experience sudden character changes. Lancaster gets a chance to be entertaining while Douglas' performance becomes excellent once he tones it down a bit. Allowed finally to interact with these two, Olivier becomes a valuable asset. The resulting 30 minutes is a high-spirited action adventure film with a light comedic touch and occasional witty dialogue. With the handicap of the terrible start, however, this is still nothing more than a pleasant but unremarkable diversion.
    wallner-2

    Better than just good !

    It has been years since I've actually seen the movie and was disappointed that it can't presently be found on DVD. Yet, while fiction, it is a tight, well acted piece of near dark comedy placed in a revolutionary war setting.

    Lancaster's portrayal is akin to his as the somewhat self-righteous Wyatt Earp in O.K. Corral. Probably the wittiest scene is played between the prisoner Douglas and Sir Laurence (Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne) as a straight man with a bit of a twinkle in the eye. First with Olivier near whining to Kirk how he'd think better of him if he only knew how much he'd paid for his commission - a common practice in German George's British army.

    Convicted and scheduled to hang, Douglas demands a soldier's firing squad only to talked out of it by Gen'l. Burgoyne decrying - with wry historical accuracy, the woeful state of marksmanship of the average Red Coat then serving in the Colonies. "Well then, by all means hang me !"

    Delightful, well paced, funny, and even a tad dramatic with Burt, like Disney's Lambert the Bashful Lion, finally roaring to the height of minuteman steel in the final scenes.
    Lady X

    A wonderful film!

    Kirk Douglas plays the title character with charm and panache, Lancaster delivers one of his best performances, and Olivier is an absolute delight in his smooth-as-silk portrayal of "Gentlemanly Johnny!" A pleasure to watch -- Bravo!
    9coop-16

    Overlooked , underrated gem

    Oddly enough, very few good films have been made about The American revolution, and this is one of them.Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster put in very fine performances, with Lancaster acting against type as the priggish, self-righteous minister who transforms himself into a dashing, wickedly, hero, and Kirk Douglas as the sardonic, cynical, Satanic, selfish, and utterly delightful Dick Dudgeon, who transforms himself inot an altruistic, self sacrificing hero. Laurence Oliviers performance is little too langourous and flat, until he delivers the films great punch-line, "history will lie, as usual." Of course, it may be that the films sharp-eyed, toughly ironic view of the revolution has militated against it ever gaining the popularity it deserves
    otter

    Sparking fun

    Sparkling adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's witty play set in American's revolutionary war. It has everything; a wonderful script (most of Shaw's play is let be), lively direction, and a top-notch cast. Kirk Douglas gives his lightest and most charming performance as the self-professed Devil's Disciple, there's no trace of the usual heavy-handed ham, he completely steals the film. Burt Lancaster doesn't have as much to work with in the part of a virtuous minister, but he does what he can and I consider a man who looks that great to be above criticism.

    The only disappointment is Laurence Olivier as General Burgoyne. Olivier castigated himself in his autobiography for botching one of Shaw's most hilarious roles, his personal griefs were overwhelming him at the time. He's nervous and unfocused, line after wonderful line falls flat. (He returned to form shortly after in "Spartacus" and "The Entertainer")

    So, this isn't just a fun film that can be enjoyed by any level of sophistication, it's something every film buff has to see... A movie where Kirk Douglas acts rings around Laurence Olivier!!! Surely the stars must have fallen out of the sky in pure shock!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character of The Reverend Anthony Anderson was loosely based on the historical figure of Peter Muhlenberg, known as the "Fighting Parson of the American Revolution".
    • Goofs
      Several times while going through the forest, the British refer to "snipers." However, the term sniper didn't come into being until about 40 years after the American Revolutionary War. The term came into usage in 1824, while the war ended in 1783.
    • Quotes

      Major Swindon: What will history say, sir?

      General John Burgoyne: History, sir, will tell lies, as usual!

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits appear over a map of North America during the Revolutionary War, which then zooms into an animated battle played out by paper models.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Bells Are Ringing (1960)
    • Soundtracks
      Yankee Doodle
      (uncredited)

      traditional 18th Century Anglo-American folk song

      Heard under main title

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 1959 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Djavolov ucenik
    • Filming locations
      • Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions
      • Brynaprod
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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