Review of Shake Hands with the Devil

American medical student studying at Ireland's College of Surgeons in 1921 becomes a revolutionary for the Irish Republican Army in a battle against Britain's Black and Tans, soldiers used to forcibly shut down Irish forces fighting for their independence away from the British government. Story of rebels and martyrs has moments of interesting drama, but has to fight itself against a curiously old-fashioned and artificial production (this despite being filmed partly in Dublin). James Cagney--whose character is sarcastically referred to as "pure and noble"--is student Don Murray's professor and a leader in the IRA. Cagney attempts to bring off a maniacal side to his role, and he most likely had a great deal of conviction in the work he was doing, but his star presence stands out obtrusively among the cast (he isn't actually treated as visiting royalty, yet this moldy part is pretty much a glorified cameo). Murray comes off a bit better (though he's bland, as usual), however Glynis Johns is terrific as a barmaid unafraid of using her wiles to get out of danger and Sybil Thorndike has a riveting moment in court playing an elderly woman arrested for aiding an IRA leader after his escape from prison. Financed by Marlon Brando's company, Pennebaker Productions; Erwin Hillier was the cinematographer (his finest shots come at the very end); Michael Anderson directed, lugubriously. ** from ****