It occurred to me while watching "The Devil's Disciple" that there aren't that many films set during the Revolutionary War. This one brings together three of the screen's greatest actors - Lancaster, Douglas and Olivier - in a dramatic, yet oftentimes funny perspective on British attempts to stifle revolt in the Colonies. The picture had me reflecting on how ordinary citizens might have been conflicted about their real loyalties, much in the same way most Americans were opposed to entering World War II until Pearl Harbor. Just too much trouble to be worth it, you know, why upset the applecart? After all, it's just easier to pay those taxes and tribute to an absent king.
That argument is stood on it's head by the devil's disciple of the title, the irascible Dick Dudgeon, played to mischievous perfection by Kirk Douglas. You can tell he just loves to zing both sides, the hypocrisy of his fellow Springtown citizens, and the imperious British under the command of 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne (Olivier). It's been a long time since my parochial school history lessons, but I still remember that it was Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga that turned the Revolution in favor of the colonialists. The picture takes place roughly three weeks before that historic event, with no inkling of an ultimate British defeat.
What makes the film intriguing to me is it's deft use of the King's English, based as it is on a play by George Bernard Shaw. One is forced to listen carefully to pick up the subtleties, and it would be difficult to say who had the best lines. However the scene that garners the most from it's writing is when Dudgeon, still mistakenly taken for Parson Anderson (Lancaster), parries with Burgoyne over his method of execution. Under 'real' circumstances, I'm not so sure anyone, least of all Dudgeon, would be as flippant about his survival chances, but it makes for clever entertainment.
The only difficulty with the story is Judith Anderson's (Janette Scott) mid-picture turn for Douglas's character. I'm not convinced that colonial Puritan norms would have been challenged by a reverend's wife in such manner, considering how uptight the rest of society was at the time. Her quizzical flip-flop at the end of the story was just too much of a stretch, and it didn't seem like she wound up with much choice in the matter.
That argument is stood on it's head by the devil's disciple of the title, the irascible Dick Dudgeon, played to mischievous perfection by Kirk Douglas. You can tell he just loves to zing both sides, the hypocrisy of his fellow Springtown citizens, and the imperious British under the command of 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne (Olivier). It's been a long time since my parochial school history lessons, but I still remember that it was Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga that turned the Revolution in favor of the colonialists. The picture takes place roughly three weeks before that historic event, with no inkling of an ultimate British defeat.
What makes the film intriguing to me is it's deft use of the King's English, based as it is on a play by George Bernard Shaw. One is forced to listen carefully to pick up the subtleties, and it would be difficult to say who had the best lines. However the scene that garners the most from it's writing is when Dudgeon, still mistakenly taken for Parson Anderson (Lancaster), parries with Burgoyne over his method of execution. Under 'real' circumstances, I'm not so sure anyone, least of all Dudgeon, would be as flippant about his survival chances, but it makes for clever entertainment.
The only difficulty with the story is Judith Anderson's (Janette Scott) mid-picture turn for Douglas's character. I'm not convinced that colonial Puritan norms would have been challenged by a reverend's wife in such manner, considering how uptight the rest of society was at the time. Her quizzical flip-flop at the end of the story was just too much of a stretch, and it didn't seem like she wound up with much choice in the matter.