The Worst Film Ever

Powerful

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

What a wonderful comedy! In every scene it is evident how the director enjoyed filming it with such formidable actors cutting out such hilarious figures, all excelling each other in eccentric idiosyncracy. It's difficult to say who is best, they are all on top, Jennifer Jones as the flirty young wife, Gina Lollobrigida at her most beautiful and seductive, Robert Morley as the king of fools, Peter Lorre and all the others, and Humphrey Bogart giving probably his heartiest last laugh in all his films. It's a criminal comedy at its best bordering on parody all the way but with great irony and wit - the dialogue is thoroughly enjoyable and thick all the way, and the diction is perfect, even for those who speak with accents. I saw it 50 years ago and had forgotten everything except the car ride, the centerpiece of the comedy, and least of all did I remember that it was so hilariously funny. The only serious figure enters the last, and he has very little to say under the circumstances. This must be John Huston's funniest film.

Only Sydney Greenstreet is missing from the cast of "Beat the Devil," an entertaining comedy-adventure-mystery. But, Robert Morley fills his place very well. So, the cast is there, the plot and script are there, and one fine movie is the result. This film has a little bit of many things – intrigue, adventure, action, murder. And lots of other things – mayhem, romance, and comedy. Humphrey Bogart is Billy Dannreuther, a man who once had money and an estate in Southern France, but who now must deal with some shady characters for his future income. Morley plays Peterson, who heads a shady foursome that is out to swindle some wealthy mineral deposits out from under the nose of the government in Africa. The others of his quartet are Peter Lorre as Julius O'Hara, Marco Tulli as Ravello and Ivor Barnard as Maj. Jack Ross. Ross is their "hit man."Gina Lollobrigida plays Billy's wife, Maria. Saro Urzi plays the captain of the SS Nyanga. And into this assortment of characters come an English couple, Harry and Gwendolen Chelm, who are going to South Africa to run a small coffee plantation. They are played by Edward Underdown and Jennifer Jones, respectively. Each of the women in this slightly sinister but mostly hilarious farce is openly attracted to the other's husband. Or so it would seem – so obvious to all. The story has some undertones of crime, but comedy and skulduggery rule the day. Distrust among crooks, unhappy marriages, fantasies of wealth and status, and just plain wild imaginations are the vehicles of the comedy in "Beat the Devil." Look for the humor in many places. For one, there's Peter Lorre's name. He's an Irishman by the name of Julius O'Hara. That's laughable enough, but then his own companion, Ravello, can't pronounce "O'Hara." The hit man, Jack Ross, is a pint-sized Nazi fascist. Everyone contributes to the humor in some way. Underdown is hilarious as the English snob, Chelm. Jones steals her scenes as Mrs. Chelm with her wild fantasies of her husband's past and her dream life. This is a sophisticated comedy that spoofs many conventions of the time. Even the mode of travel for this coterie of crazy characters is a sham – a broken-down cargo ship out of a southern French port. The movie is based on a book by British journalist and novelist Claud Cockburn. Truman Capote and John Huston wrote the screenplay. Huston also directed the film. The script for this film is quite crispy. Humorous subtleties are sprinkled throughout the story. Here is a sampling of funny lines and exchanges.Peterson sits down at a café table with Mrs. Chelm. Peterson says, "I find it rather hard to believe that a man of your husband's position would go to Africa just for the coffee planting." Mrs. Chelm: "You're rather quick aren't you? In point of fact, he isn't. In point of fact he has a very special reason." Peterson: "So I suspected." Mrs. Chelm: "It has to do with sin." Peterson: "Sin?" Mrs. Chelm: "Since the war, my husband has been almost exclusively concerned with spiritual values. He feels that if he can get away there – in the heart of Africa, he will come face to face with essentials. He wants to work out the problem of sin." The expression on Peterson's face is hilarious. "Sin!?" he repeats, as though he hadn't heard her further remarks. Mrs. Chelm: "Why yes, of course. Isn't that what we're all most concerned with – sin?"Billy: "My conduct? Who do they think I am – their hired hand?" Maria: "But you are, Billy. You are." Billy: "How kind of you to remind me. How good. How true. How kind."Peterson: "Or perhaps you have even other reasons?" Billy: "Such as?" Peterson: "That's for you to know and for us to find out."The major: "Mussolini, Hitler, and now Peterson." O'Hara: "A great man. A great loss." Ravello: "I'm going upstairs and read my Bible."Mrs. Chelm: "I was in love with him." Chelm: "What did you say?" Mrs. Chelm: "I was in love with him." Chelm: "Really darling, have you no control over your romantic fantasies? Mrs. Chelm: "Please go away." Chelm: "He's dead, and I'm married to a fool like you. I'll just take these (aspirin) to Maria."Ship's steward in the hotel: "Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the glad tidings. The captain is sober and the SS Myanga will sail at midnight."The shady foursome walks out onto the ship's deck at sea, and Mrs. Chelm is at a distance on the bow of the ship doing stretching exercises. Peterson calls out to her, "Good morning, Mrs. Chelm." He lowers his voice and mumbles to his comrades, "Let's hope she breaks her neck."

Just desserts are dished out with glee in this 'crime drama'. Each character is built up to be disliked enough that when the hammer comes down on them, the result are hilarious. No character ever rises above 'amoral' and most are just downright sleazy, so when each little plot is foiled, it's just more icing on this cake of a movie. The supposed main plot of the movie is vague, and takes a back seat to the characters who slowly sink in the quicksand of their behavior throughout the movie. Humphrey Bogart plays the 'arranger' for a quartet of the most inept criminals in movie history. How they got together, no one knows. What they did before: who cares? What their brilliant caper is? Something about uranium and Africa I think. None of that matters. What matters is the expressions on their faces as one by one their ideas fail, their schemes implode, their Machiavellian machinations collide like bumper cars at the amusement park. They discuss murder, robbery, infidelity with banter lighter than air. Each of the actors plays their parts perfectly straight, one has to wonder if any of them were clued in on this prank noir. This is John Huston to the hilt, no holds barred, no character flaw left unexploited. A must see for any Huston fan. People that take their movies too seriously, may not 'get it', so your mileage may vary.

A very pleasing JOHN HUSTON directed movie, back when great actors and dialog were the real special effects. The cast is stellar and wonderfully over the top - a cornucopia of various European accents. Ivor Barnard is particularly hilarious.Humphrey Bogart looked slightly jaded. His character wasn't too well etched. And the film isn't very cleverly put together and they seemed to be working on a low budget - most of the scenes have been shot indoors.But even then, it was a pleasure to watch. The dialog by Truman Capote is hilarious (we are at sea in more ways than one :) ) and politically incorrect.