Classic Film Guide

Devil's Disciple, The (1959)

This is rather odd historical fiction, based on a play by George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion (1938)), with some great performances by three heavyweight actors, and one actress, set during the Revolutionary War. Burt Lancaster plays a preacher, married to Janette Scott's character, who's more or less "forced" to fight against the British when their leadership (particularly the Major played by Harry Andrews) makes bad decisions relative to keeping the peace, and the rebels in line. Kirk Douglas plays a would-be rebel, after his father is mistakenly hanged, who, when caught, pretends to be the wanted preacher in his absence for reasons unknown, other than perhaps to get closer to Scott's character. Laurence Olivier plays General Burgoyne, the most humane of the British officers, who ends up with a feeling similar to "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of the shoe, the horse was lost; for want of the horse, the rider was lost; for want of the rider, the battle was lost ..." as he laments his own country's bureaucratic incompetence. Directed by Guy Hamilton.