Beat the Devil (1953)
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67% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(2,756 ratings)
Humphrey Bogart stars as one of five disreputable adventurers who are trying to get uranium out of East Africa. Bogart's associates include pompous fraud Robert Morley, and Peter Lorre as the German-accented "O'Hara", whose wartime record is forever a source of speculation and… More Humphrey Bogart stars as one of five disreputable adventurers who are trying to get uranium out of East Africa. Bogart's associates include pompous fraud Robert Morley, and Peter Lorre as the German-accented "O'Hara", whose wartime record is forever a source of speculation and suspicion. Becoming involved in Bogart's machinations are a prim British married couple (Edward Underdown and blonde-wigged Jennifer Jones). As a climax to their many misadventures and double-crosses, the uranium seekers end up facing extermination by an Arab firing squad. The satirical nature of Beat the Devil eluded many moviegoers in 1953, and the film was a failure. The fact that the picture attained cult status in lesser years failed to impress its star Humphrey Bogart, who could only remember that he lost a considerable chunk of his own money when he became involved in the project. Peter Viernick worked on the script on an uncredited basis. Beat the Devil eventually fell into public domain, leading to numerous inferior editions by second and third-tiered labels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Huston
- Written By
- John Huston, Truman Capote
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 17, 1953 Wide
- On DVD
- Mar 29, 2005
- Studio
- American Pop Classics
Critic Reviews
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
If Beat the Devil puzzled audiences on its first release, it has charmed them since.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
he film ranges from the diffident to the grotesque, with Huston selecting his lenses to make the performers look as freakish as possible.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It looks like it's going to be a riot, but turns out almost laugh free.
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Phil Hall, Film Threat
An all-star home movie.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Perhaps the oddest film Humphrey Bogart ever made.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Humphrey Bogart
as Billy Dannreuther
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Jennifer Jones
as Gwendolyn Chelm
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Gina Lollobrigida
as Maria Dannreuther
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Robert Morley
as Peterson
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Peter Lorre
as O'Hara
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Edward Underdown
as Harry Chelm
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Ivor Barnard
as Major Ross
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Bernard Lee
as Insp. Clayton
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Marco Tulli
as Ravello
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Al Silvani
as Charles
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Saro Urzì
as Captain
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Juan de Landa
as Hispano-Suiza Driver
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Mimmo Poli
as Barman
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Giulio Donnini
as Administrator