The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959 film)

The World, the Flesh and the Devil
The World, the Flesh and the Devil
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ranald MacDougall
Written by	Ranald MacDougall
Screenplay by	Ranald MacDougall
Based on	novel The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel; story End of the World by Ferdinand Reyher
Produced by	Sol C. Siegel; George Englund; Harry Belafonte (uncredited)
Starring	Harry Belafonte; Inger Stevens; Mel Ferrer
Cinematography	Harold J. Marzorati
Edited by	Harold F. Kress
Music by	Miklós Rózsa
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	April 23, 1959 (Cleveland);
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,659,000
Box office	$1,085,000 (rentals)

The World, the Flesh and the Devil is a 1959 American science fiction^[3]^[4] doomsday film written and directed by Ranald MacDougall. The film stars Harry Belafonte, who was then at the peak of his film career. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world with very few human survivors. It is based on two sources: the 1901 novel The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel^[5] and the story "End of the World" by Ferdinand Reyher.

Plot

Mine inspector Ralph Burton (Harry Belafonte) becomes trapped in a cave-in in a mine in Pennsylvania. He can hear rescuers digging towards him, but after a few days they slow down and then stop completely. Alarmed, he digs his own way out. Reaching the surface, he finds a deserted world. (No bodies are seen at any time in the film.) Discarded newspapers provide an explanation: one proclaims "UN Retaliates For Use Of Atomic Poison", another that "Millions Flee From Cities! End Of The World". Ralph later plays tapes at a radio station that reveal that an unknown nation had used radioactive sodium isotopes as a weapon, producing a dust cloud that spread around the world and was completely lethal for a five-day period.

Travelling to New York City in search of other survivors, he finds the city vacant. Ralph busies himself restoring power to a building where he takes up residence. Just as the loneliness starts to become intolerable, he encounters a second survivor: Sarah Crandall (Inger Stevens), a white woman in her twenties. The two become fast friends, but Ralph grows distant when it becomes clear that Sarah is developing stronger feelings for him. Despite living in a post-apocalyptic world, Ralph cannot overcome the inhibitions instilled in him in a racist American society.

Ralph regularly broadcasts on the radio, hoping to contact other people. Eventually, he receives a signal in French, indicating there are at least a few other survivors. Then ill white man Benson Thacker (Mel Ferrer) arrives by boat. Ralph and Sarah nurse him back to health, but once he recovers, Ben sets his sights on Sarah and sees Ralph as a rival. Ralph is torn by conflicting emotions. He avoids Sarah as much as possible, to give Ben every opportunity to win her affections, but cannot quite bring himself to leave the city.

Ben finally grows tired of the whole situation, realizing he stands little chance with Sarah as long as Ralph remains nearby. He warns Ralph that the next time he sees him, he will try to kill him. The two armed men hunt each other through the empty streets. Finally, Ralph passes by the United Nations headquarters, climbs the steps in Ralph Bunche Park, and reads the inscription "They shall beat their swords into plowshares. And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war any more", from the Book of Isaiah. He throws down his rifle and goes unarmed to confront Ben, who in turn finds himself unable to shoot his foe. Defeated, he starts walking away. Sarah appears. When Ralph starts to turn away from her, she makes him take her hand; then she calls to Ben and gives him her other hand. Together, the three walk down the street to build a new future together. The film ends not with "The End", but with "The Beginning".

Cast

Harry Belafonte as Ralph Burton
Inger Stevens as Sarah Crandall
Mel Ferrer as Benson Thacker

Production

Harry Belafonte was paid $350,000 against 50% of the net profits.^[6]

Release and reception

The film had its premiere in Cleveland, Ohio on April 23, 1959.^[1] According to MGM records the film earned theatrical rentals of $585,000 in the US and Canada and $500,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $1,442,000.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b The World, the Flesh and the Devil at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ "World, the Flesh and the Devil, The". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
^ Jeff Stafford. "The World, the Flesh and the Devil". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
^ Shaw, Arthur (1960). Belafonte: An Unauthorized Biography. New York: Chilton. p. 288.
^ Scheuer, Philip K. (July 20, 1958). "Top Stars' Strangle Hold on Film Profits Poses New Woe to Beleaguered Studios". Los Angeles Times. p. e3.
^ Stafford, Jeff. "The World, the Flesh and the Devil". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

External links

[AFI-1] The World, the Flesh and the Devil at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[Mannix-2] The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[3] "World, the Flesh and the Devil, The". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.

[4] Jeff Stafford. "The World, the Flesh and the Devil". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 12, 2013.

[5] Shaw, Arthur (1960). Belafonte: An Unauthorized Biography. New York: Chilton. p. 288.

[6] Scheuer, Philip K. (July 20, 1958). "Top Stars' Strangle Hold on Film Profits Poses New Woe to Beleaguered Studios". Los Angeles Times. p. e3.

[7] Stafford, Jeff. "The World, the Flesh and the Devil". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

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