The Devil's Disciple (1959 film)

Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Films

Company type	Film production company
Industry	Film production
Founded	1950s
Founder	Harold Hecht, Burt Lancaster, James Hill, Kirk Douglas
Products	Films
Parent	None

The Devil's Disciple is a 1959 film co-produced by British and American studios, adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s 1897 theatrical work. Directed by Guy Hamilton, the movie features leading performances by Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Laurence Olivier. The production, managed by Harold Hecht under the banner of Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Films, operated with a budget of $1.5 million and generated around $1.8 million in rentals across the US and Canada. Mary Grant Price was responsible for the costume design.

Lancaster and Douglas appeared together in several prominent films, such as I Walk Alone (1948), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), and Seven Days in May (1964).

Plot

Set in colonial Websterbridge, New Hampshire, Richard "Dick" Dudgeon (Kirk Douglas) is regarded as an outsider upon his return after his father has been mistakenly executed as a rebel. Challenging British rule, Dick recovers his father’s remains for burial and inherits the majority of his estate, much to the displeasure of his relatives.

While local minister Reverend Anthony Anderson (Burt Lancaster) shows Dick respect despite societal tensions, Anderson’s wife Judith (Janette Scott) disapproves of Dick’s defiant attitude. When British soldiers arrest Dick under the false assumption that he is Anderson, Dick chooses to maintain this deception to shield the minister, securing Judith’s promise to keep the truth confidential.

During a military tribunal presided over by General Burgoyne (Laurence Olivier), Dick continues the charade but ultimately condemns himself through outspoken defiance toward British authority. Concurrently, Anderson abandons his clerical duties to join the rebel cause, planning a tactical assault on British forces and negotiating with Burgoyne to secure Dick’s freedom.

Judith transfers her loyalty from Anderson to Dick after observing their bravery, while Anderson earns renewed admiration for his dedication as a rebel leader. The narrative concludes with British troops retreating under terms established by the rebels, signaling a pivotal moment in the conflict.

Cast

• Burt Lancaster – Reverend Anthony Anderson
• Kirk Douglas – Richard "Dick" Dudgeon
• Laurence Olivier – General John Burgoyne
• Janette Scott – Judith Anderson
• Eva Le Gallienne – Mrs. Dudgeon
• Harry Andrews – Major Swindon
• Basil Sydney – Lawyer Hawkins
• George Rose – British sergeant
• Neil McCallum – Christopher (Christie) Dudgeon
• Mervyn Johns – Reverend Maindeck Parshotter
• David Horne – Uncle William
• Erik Chitty – Uncle Titus
• Allan Cuthbertson – British captain
• Percy Herbert – British lieutenant
• Phyllis Morris – Wife of Titus
• Brian Oulton – Chaplain Brudenell
• Jenny Jones – Essie
• Sheree Winton – Platinum Blond
• Steven Berkoff – British Corporal

Production and reception

Originally acquired in 1938 by Gabriel Pascal, the film rights to Shaw’s play were later purchased from Pascal’s estate by Burt Lancaster and Harold Hecht’s production company in 1955. Filming occurred at Associated British Studios in Elstree, England, from late July through mid-October 1958. Early during production, director Alexander Mackendrick was replaced by Guy Hamilton.

Critics observed that this adaptation significantly departed from Shaw’s original script. According to The New York Times, extensive modifications transformed the work from Shaw’s incisive satire into an inconsistent blend of comedy and melodrama with an emphasis on action sequences, diminishing the nuanced character development and sharp wit that defined the stage play.

See also

• List of American films of 1959
• List of films about the American Revolution
• List of television series and miniseries about the American Revolution