COMEDY NOIR COLLECTION: BEAT THE DEVIL / THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING

**** (Audio: C+, Video: C+, Features: B)

"Beat the Devil": Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre. Directed by John Huston. Written by Truman Capote and John Huston from the novel by James Helvick. Produced by Jack Clayton. Released by Slingshot Entertainment. 1953. 89 minutes. Not rated."That Uncertain Feeling": Merle Oberon, Melvyn Douglas, Burgess Meredith, Alan Mowbray, Olive Blakeney. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Written by Donald Ogden Stewart and Walter Reisch from the play "Divorcons" by Victorien Sardou and Emile de Najac. Produced by. Released by Slingshot Entertainment. 1941. 86 minutes. Not rated.

"Taxi Turvy" Popeye cartoon, "Tales of Mystery and Suspense" radio show (1949) with Mickey Rooney.
Despite the quality of the source prints, which leaves something to be desired in spits, the Slingshot double feature of "Beat the Devil" and "That Uncertain Feeling," makes for a smart pairing as part of the "Comedy Noir" collection.

The strongest film of the two is arguably the second one, one of Ernst Lubitsch's lesser known but more enjoyable efforts, once again adapted (as is much of his work) from a work of the European theater. An excellent cast, including Merle Oberon and Melvyn Douglas as well as a very young Burgess Meredith, give this black-and-white classic more sass and style than Lubitsch's earlier silent filming of the story in "Kiss Me Again." It's a bit of a stretch to call this anything close to a "noir" although it doesn't matter much here. The screwball triangulation centers most on the two women and is still timeless enough to raise the roof with laughter. Insomnia and hiccoughs were never so hilarious.

The desaturated color hues of "Beat the Devil," starring Humphrey Bogart and directed with vigor by John Huston, take something away from a film which, in pristine form, is gorgeous to look at. Here it's acceptable enough, but regrettable, though most will rightfully focus on the story which, in a sense, satirizes Huston's and Bogart's own work in "The Maltese Falcon." It's somewhat convoluted but that's really the point.

A humorous, exotic intrigue, set in Africa and centering on the search for Uranium, "Beat the Devil" may be a Bogie/Huston effort, but is also bears the unmistakable imprimatur of co-writer Truman Capote on its clever, sometimes too clever, dialogue.

Extras on the disc include a Popeye short and a Mickey Rooney mystery radio show from 1949. All together, it's enough for a rich and nostalgic 1940s-themed DVD night.-By Wade Major

Collector Rating: WORTH FULL PRICE

review source: www.boxoff.com

 

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