Humphrey Bogart, Gina Lollobrigida in John Huston & Truman Capote's "Beat the Devil" (1953)

Published 2024-08-04

Billy Dannreuther (Humphrey Bogart) is a formerly wealthy American who has fallen on hard times. He is reluctantly working with four crooks: Peterson (Robert Morley), Julius O'Hara (Peter Lorre), Major Jack Ross (Ivor Barnard), and Ravello (Marco Tulli), who are trying to acquire uranium-rich land in British East Africa.

While waiting in Italy for passage to Africa, Billy and his wife Maria (Gina Lollobrigida) meet a British couple, Harry (Edward Underdown) and Gwendolen (Jennifer Jones) Chelm. Billy and Gwendolen have an affair, while Maria flirts with Harry.

On board the SS Nyanga, Harry reveals that he knows about Peterson's scheme and intends to inform the authorities. Peterson orders Major Ross to kill Harry, but Billy thwarts the murder attempt. Disbelieving Harry's outraged accusations, however, the ship's drunken Captain (Saro Urzì) has Harry locked in the brig.

The ship's engine malfunctions and the passengers are told to escape by lifeboat. When Billy goes to rescue Harry, he finds that he has freed himself and left the ship, intending to swim ashore.

The passengers land on an African beach, where they are arrested by Arab soldiers. They are interrogated by Ahmed (Manuel Serrano), an Arab official who suspects that they may be spies or revolutionaries. Billy creates a distraction by fleeing the room, and befriends Ahmed when he is recaptured by talking to him about Rita Hayworth, whom he pretends to have known. Billy then persuades him to send the party back to Italy by sailing boat.

After the party lands, they are questioned by a Scotland Yard Inspector Jack Clayton (Bernard Lee) who is investigating the murder of the Colonial officer. Just as he seems taken in by Peterson's smooth talk, Gwendolen reveals Peterson's scheme, his involvement in the murder, and his attempt to kill Harry. The detective promptly arrests Peterson, O'Hara, Ross, and Ravello. As the four crooks are led away in handcuffs, Gwendolen receives a telegram from British East Africa saying that Harry has acquired the land where Peterson and the others were aiming to enrich themselves; he is now extremely wealthy and willing to forgive Gwendolen. Billy laughs happily, saying, "This is the end, the end!"

A 1953 Black & White adventure comedy film directed by John Huston, screenplay by John Huston & Truman Capote, based on the novel "Beat the Devil" (1951) by Claud Cockburn under the pseudonym James Helvick, cinematography by Oswald Morris starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Edward Underdown, Marco Tulli, Manuel Serrano, Bernard Lee, Mario Perrone, Giulio Donnini, Saro Urzì, Juan de Landa and Aldo Silvani. Final screen appearance of Ivor Barnard.

Huston and Truman Capote wrote the screenplay, loosely based upon the 1951 novel of the same name by British journalist Claud Cockburn writing under the pseudonym James Helvick. Huston made the film as a sort of loose parody of the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, which Huston directed and in which Bogart and Lorre appeared. Capote said, "John [Huston] and I decided to kid the story, to treat it as a parody. Instead of another Maltese Falcon, we turned it into a... [spoof] on this type of film."

Gina Lollobrigida maker her American debut.

This was the fifth and last movie that Humphrey Bogart would make with Peter Lorre. The other four were, "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), "Casablanca" (1942), "All Through the Night" (1942), and "Passage to Marseille" (1944).

Stephen Sondheim got his start in films working as a clapper boy (a member of a motion-picture camera crew who works the clapper boards and holds the slate up to be photographed) on the film.

Truman Capote wrote the script while on the set as the film was shot, working two to three days ahead of the shooting schedule.

Jack Clayton, the Scotland Yard inspector played by Bernard Lee, is named after the film's associate producer, Jack Clayton, who went on to become a well-known director, and later hired Capote to write "The Innocents" (1961).

Humphrey Bogart was involved in a serious automobile accident during production of this film, which knocked out several of his teeth and hindered his ability to speak. John Huston reportedly hired a young British actor, Peter Sellers, noted for his mimicry skills to rerecord some of Bogart's spoken lines during post-production looping.

Peter Ustinov anonymously dubbed several Italian actors.

Following previews, four minutes were cut from the film and it was re-edited with a voice-over narration by Bogart and a flashback structure.

Roger Ebert, who included the film in his "Great Movies" list, observed that the film has been characterized as the first camp film.

This tongue-in-cheek, off beat, spoof of the film-noir genre of the 1940's never overplays its hand, maintaining a low key tone that sets off the wickedly funny script to delightful effect, and is one of Bogart's more unusual films. A cult classic, fun romp, and worth watching.

@MsZeeZed 3 days ago

Fun little movie for those who wanted more international capers like Maltese Falcon etc. There’s a small problem identifying a “hero” here, what the hell let’s say it’s Bogart as he’s not a cold blooded killer or complete maniac here unlike practically everyone else!

@johnnyboy666 3 days ago

Perfect locations,.....perfect cast......A great Film.

@Rahatlakhoom 3 days ago

A caper of innuendos led by nincompoops. It is pulled off brilliantly somehow. It's fantastic.

@brunodesamber5714 3 days ago

A. Top. Classic. Movie. 🎞 just. Perfect. To. See. This. Old. School. Pictures. Again. 📽 and. Don't. Forget. The. Top. Cast. 🎥 🎉🎉🎉 thanks. P. 💯💢💥💫 👌

@philfletcher3434 yesterday

This should be in the top ten of all time greats.:trophy-yellow-smiling::trophy-yellow-smiling::trophy-yellow-smiling::trophy-yellow-smiling::trophy-yellow-smiling:

@ronaldstrange8981 2 days ago

A really super film. Grfeat cast, plot, scenery and script. Many thanks. England, August, 2024.

@michaelstewart8535 3 days ago

Excellent!

@sharonpolikoff7282 2 days ago

I love the little spoof of Prince Ali Kahn's infatuation with Rita Hayworth.

@rubytroy7756 3 days ago

Give it a go ❤ thank you 🎉

@brucelee-wo5ge 3 days ago

Jeez, I knew that GL was a good sort but Jennifer Jones was also a classical beauty!

@ElkoJohn 3 days ago

Much obliged.

@karinteves1412 3 days ago

I saw Gina Lollobrigida many times over the years at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, her residence there. She always wore a large camera around her neck, ready to make a photo.