“Beat the Devil” is a 1954 adventure-comedy film directed by John Huston and written by Huston and Truman Capote. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, and Peter Lorre.
The story follows a group of international adventurers who gather in a small Italian coastal town while waiting for a ship to take them to East Africa. Among the group are Billy Dannreuther (Bogart) and his wife Maria (Jones), a British couple (Edward Underdown and Ivor Barnard), a German (Peter Lorre), and a beautiful Italian woman (Gina Lollobrigida).
The group is approached by a mysterious stranger named Peterson (Robert Morley), who offers them a chance to invest in a uranium mine in Africa. The group agrees to the offer, but soon realizes that Peterson is not what he seems and that they are caught up in a dangerous game of deception and betrayal.
As they wait for their ship to arrive, the group becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures, including car chases, plane crashes, and encounters with dangerous criminals. Along the way, they must outwit Peterson and his henchmen, who are determined to get their hands on the uranium mine.
In the end, the group manages to foil Peterson’s plans and escape with their lives. However, they soon discover that the uranium mine was a hoax, and they have been duped out of their money. Despite this setback, the group remains optimistic and looks forward to their next adventure.
“Beat the Devil” is a witty and entertaining film that satirizes the conventions of the adventure genre. It is also notable for its impressive cast and for being one of the first films to use an improvised script.
Directors:
John Huston
Writer:
Claud Cockburn, Truman Capote, John Huston
Stars:
Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida
