12 years after playing Sam Spade in Maltese falconHumphrey Bogart starred in Defeat the devil An underrated parody of the 1941 classic. Directed by John Huston Maltese falcon has a well-deserved reputation as one of Humphrey Bogart's best films. This is perhaps his second most famous film after Casablanca. It was also one of the films that helped make the actor a household name in Hollywood, as Bogart's many films of the 1930s actually did little to establish him in the industry.
An excellent example of the noir genre. Maltese falcon Bogart's interpretation of the character Sam Spade famously investigated the death of his partner in the private detective business and became embroiled in the search for the much-coveted bird statue. The murder mystery culminated in an ending quite unlike most Hollywood films of the time, as Bridget O'Shaughnessy Mary Astor, Spade's love interest, was implicated in the murder. However, the story of Sam Spade did not end there, since a continuation could have been made. But Bogart never returned to this role. However, he headlined a film that was deliberately like Maltese falcon.
What is Beat The Devil about?
Its history is very different from that of the Maltese falcon.
Maltese falcon connection with Defeat the Devil Let's start with the cast and crew. Both directed by John Huston, with Humphrey Bogart in the male lead.. Peter Lorre, who often appeared in Humphrey Bogart's noir films, and the actor who played Joel Cairo in Maltese falconappears in Defeat the Devil and also, once again in a supporting role. In the film, Bogart portrays Billy Dunreuther, a once successful businessman struggling to make a living. To this end, he becomes involved with a small team of unscrupulous characters, each of whom seems untrustworthy, but each of whom is crucial to their scheme to get rich.
Connected
The narrative that follows is admittedly significantly different from Maltese falcon. While Sam Spade is not a flawless protagonist, he is a hero nonetheless. his character in Defeat the Devil is an active participant in a criminal conspiracy put on board the ship. But even if that's the case, Defeat the Devil still manages to make Bogart the protagonist, a character trying to unravel the mysteries of history. Because just like Maltese falconthe murder raises his suspicions about several key characters. Almost every member Defeat the Devil The cast has a backstory, motives, and perhaps a reason to backstab the others.
How Beat The Devil parodies The Maltese Falcon
Beat The Devil humorously imitates some elements of the Maltese Falcon
Despite the differences in history, Defeat the Devil contains some interesting parallels with Maltese falcon it goes beyond the actors and the director. Defeat the Devil uses several character archetypes and plot devices found in Maltese falcon, but takes a much more over-the-top approach. This allows it to appear as a comedic take on both. Maltese falcon and film noir in general. Unlike The Maltese Falcon and countless other noir films like it, Defeat the Devil doesn't try to take himself seriously as it gradually unravels its mysteries and develops its characters.
One example of this is the partnership between Peter Lorre's Julius O'Hara and Robert Morley's Peterson. This dubious duo is reminiscent of a previous pairing from several other noir films, namely Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. The two were Sam Spade's antagonists in Maltese falconWith Defeat the Devil seem to take inspiration from their roles, although Morley replaced Greenstreet. In both films, Lorre is an expendable pawn of his more calculating and sinister partner.
Moreover, Bogart himself seems to rely on Maltese falcon V Defeat the Devil. In Billy, Bogart captured some of the same quirks that made Sam Spade and some of his other characters staples of the noir genre, but deliberately portrayed them in a more satirical manner.
There is also a dynamic between Bogart and one of the two main characters, Mrs. Gwendolen Chelme, played by Jennifer Jones. In some ways it feels like an homage to Mary Astor's character in Maltese falconGwendolen is initially portrayed as a seemingly innocent (but married) woman who has fallen in love with Bogart's protagonist, but there is the inevitable notion that there is something nefarious lurking behind her interest in him.
"Beat The Devil" is worth watching, but it's not as good as "The Maltese Falcon"
There's a lot to like about Beat The Devil
As evidenced by the lack of Oscar recognition and 68% Rotten Tomatoes check, Defeat the Devil hardly a cinematic icon, Maltese falcon is. However, this does not necessarily spoil the impression of the film, given that Maltese falcon is recognized as one of the best films of its kind, not to mention what it means for Humphrey Bogart's legacy in Hollywood. For obvious reasons, Defeat the Devil fails to live up to that standard and doesn't even rank among Bogart's best work. But nevertheless, it still manages to entertain.
It is important to note that Defeat the Devil exists only as a parody of film noir; he never tries to recreate the magic Maltese falconnor does it attempt to act as a solid representative of the genre. However, knowledge of film noir, especially films starring Humphrey Bogart, including Maltese falcon - go a long way towards creating Defeat the Devil an even more rewarding viewing experience. Noir cartoons work best when the viewer already understands their roots and what came before them. Plus, there's Humphrey Bogart's penchant for one-liners; his dry humor and serious approach are well suited to Defeat the Devil scenario.
However, humor is not the only thing that makes Defeat the Devil A quality film by Humphrey Bogart. Its characters are intriguing enough to keep the film interesting, Bogart shines as usual, and he offers plenty of memorable quotes, especially thanks to the likability of the headliner. Not only that, but its plot and tone stand in stark contrast to many films of the period, not to mention all of Humphrey Bogart's other films. Its twists and turns may be predictable as they copy beats from the best of the noir genre, but with its comedic flair and witty dialogue there is a lot to appreciate. Defeat the Devil.