SHOP BEAT THE...
IMDb >
Beat the Devil (1953)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBeat the Devil (1953)
| Photos (see all 40 | slideshow) |
Overview
Release Date:
17 December 1953 (Italy) moreTagline:
Adventure at its boldest! Bogart at his best! morePlot:
On their way to Africa are a group of rogues who hope to get rich there, and a seemingly innocent British couple. They meet and things happen... full summary | add synopsisUser Comments:
Brilliant Dry Humor moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Humphrey Bogart | ... | Billy Dannreuther | |
| Jennifer Jones | ... | Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm | |
| Gina Lollobrigida | ... | Maria Dannreuther | |
| Robert Morley | ... | Peterson | |
| Peter Lorre | ... | Julius O'Hara | |
| Edward Underdown | ... | Harry Chelm | |
| Ivor Barnard | ... | Maj. Jack Ross | |
| Marco Tulli | ... | Ravello | |
| Bernard Lee | ... | Insp. Jack Clayton | |
| Mario Perrone | ... | Purser on SS Nyanga | |
| Giulio Donnini | ... | Administrator | |
| Saro Urzì | ... | Captain of SS Nyanga | |
| Aldo Silvani | ... | Charles - Restaurant Manager | |
| Juan de Landa | ... | Hispano-Suiza Driver | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Julie Gibson | |||
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
89 minColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Spain:T | Switzerland:14 | UK:U | West Germany:6MOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
William Styron's second novel, "Set This House on Fire", describes a film crew on location--obviously based on director John Huston and gang during the shooting of this film. The town in the novel is Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Drive, where most of the film was shot. moreGoofs:
Revealing mistakes: When we see the newspaper article about Vanmeer's murder, early in the film, only the first paragraph belongs to the story; what we can see of the second and third paragraphs is about a need for new school buildings. moreQuotes:
Purser: Do you know that your associates are all in hoosegow? Oh, not that I'm a bit surprised. I put them down as thoroughly bad characters, right off the bat. But then there are so many bad characters nowadays. Take mine, for instance. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Beat the Devil (1953)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Jones was so annoying... | Sam_Collins99 |
| Best quality DVD | jbuchanan-1 |
| A classic | willowtree602 |
| A Subtle Masterpiece | cbakes |
| Capote | girlzwillbegirlz |
| Opening scene | clive-ihd |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| The English Patient | Marie Galante | Jungle Drums of Africa | The Stunt Man | Two-Gun Caballero |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Adventure section | IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |

















Most of the reviews of 1953's "Beat the Devil" regard it as a Humphrey Bogart picture. Certainly his company produced it, but it is truly a John Huston film. Huston's legendary dry wit suffuses the whole enterprise from start to finish. Essentially, a comedy of errors, Huston's script, co-authored by Truman Capote, also serves up wry social commentary on a range of subjects from social position to the industrial world's exploitation of Africa, a place near and dear to Huston's heart. Jennifer Jones' prophecy that Africa will become an ugly place with "all those holes," has long since become a reality. A brilliant cast, with Bogie playing his typical world-weary existentialist, spiral avarice and misconception into hilarity; a comic exposition of the proverb, "What a tangled web we weave . . ." Often criticized for being unrealistic, Huston's and Capote's comic script has none-to-funny real parallels in the present day debacles of Enron and WorldCom. In "Beat the Devil," greed and deceit are brilliantly juxtaposed to reveal the ultimate folly of even the most devious criminal enterprise. This is a superior black comedy that plays even better today than it did 52 years ago.