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Beat the Devil

Play trailer Poster for Beat the Devil Released Mar 12, 1954 1h 32m Romance Comedy Crime Drama Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Billy and Maria Dannreuther are among a number of travelers stranded in Italy en route to Africa. While the Dannreuthers seem like an average couple, they have the same goal as Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm and some of their other shifty companions -- to lay claim to property that is supposedly rich with uranium.
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Beat the Devil

Critics Reviews

View All (19) Critics Reviews
Kevin Maher Times (UK) It’s wilfully nutty, but the dialogue from Truman Capote is sublime. Rated: 4/5 Apr 29, 2022 Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire It operates under the assumption that everyone in it is drunk, lusty, a little crooked, and a little crazy, and once you tune in to their wavelength, it's fun to just hang out with them for an hour and a half. Feb 17, 2017 Full Review Howard Thompson New York Times For all the studiedly suave professionalism, though, "Beat the Devil" ends up beating itself. Aug 8, 2006 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia I don't know what John Huston was thinking to direct 'Beat the Devil', but to tell the truth his adventure comedy starring Humphrey Bogart seems a bit dull to me. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 5/10 Oct 30, 2020 Full Review Jesús Fernández Santos El Pais (Spain) An informal comedy that is at times critical, entertaining, and even discursive. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 16, 2019 Full Review Josephine O'Neill Daily Telegraph (Australia) Their production is sheer picaresque adventure, which darts from point to point as their fancy takes it -- and sparkles with mordant humor. Apr 2, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (141) audience reviews
Steve D Thin but quite entertaining with snappy dialog. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Scott H Really appreciated the goofiness of this film...snappy dialogue (Huston and Truman Capote teamed up for it). Very clear on the narrative as well, unlike the Maltese Falcon. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/23 Full Review Deke P ALL STAR CAST! BOGART, LORRE, MORLEY, JENNIFER JONES, GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA. Despite the interesting story of how it was put together, it is an entertaining film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/23 Full Review Josh G A Funny, Quirky, well acted vintage film. Peter Lorre is a stand out and great in comedy. Humphrey Bogart is going thru the motion and having fun. It predictable and fun, But doesn't wow. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review r b It had some interesting scenes, but the sequences were often disjointed. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Russ G Bogie: "I can make a movie without Jack Warner; I'l show him!" Me: Um, no, Mr. Bogart, you can't! OK, you have your old buddy John Huston to direct the film, and shooting in Europe stretches the meager budget, but it might be nice to have a SCRIPT from which to shoot instead of winging it! The presence of Robert Morley standing in for Sydney Greenstreet and a now rotund Peter Lorre don't save this, but at least Bogie got to appear opposite another movie bombshell in the person of Gina Lollobrigida. Every Bogie fan should see this to appreciate how bad it is. Another Vanity Project; What Could Go Wrong? Well, Bogie lost his shirt on this and eventually he even lost his YACHT, the Santana, after which he'd named his production company. OK, the Studio System may have sucked, but at least it kept Bogie and Bacall in booze and butts! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/22 Full Review Read all reviews
Beat the Devil

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Movie Info

Synopsis Billy and Maria Dannreuther are among a number of travelers stranded in Italy en route to Africa. While the Dannreuthers seem like an average couple, they have the same goal as Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm and some of their other shifty companions -- to lay claim to property that is supposedly rich with uranium.
Director
John Huston
Producer
John Huston
Screenwriter
James Helvick, Truman Capote, John Huston
Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Video, Madacy Entertainment Group Inc. [us], Reel Media International [us], United Artists, LS Video, Hollywood Classics
Production Co
Romulus Films Ltd., Dear Film, Santana Pictures Corporation
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 12, 1954, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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