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