Beat the Devil (film)

Beat the Devil is a 1953 film directed by John Huston. The screenplay was by Huston and Truman Capote, loosely based upon a novel of the same name by British journalist Claud Cockburn, writing under the pseudonym James Helvick. It is a parody of Hustons The Maltese Falcon 1941 and films of the same genre.

Billy Dannreuther Humphrey Bogart is a formerlywealthy American who has fallen on hard times. He is reluctantly working with four crooks Peterson Robert Morley, exNazi Julius OHara Peter Lorre, Major Jack Ross Ivor Barnard and Ravello, who are trying to acquire uraniumrich land in British East Africa. Billy suspects that Major Ross has murdered a British Colonial officer who had threatened to expose their plan. While waiting in Italy for passage to Africa, Billy and his wife Maria Gina Lollobrigida make the acquaintance of a British couple Harry Edward Underdown and Gwendolen Chelm Jennifer Jones, who are planning to travel on the same ship. Harry is a very proper and traditional Englishman, while Gwendolen is flighty and fanciful and a compulsive liar. Billy and Gwendolen have an affair, while Maria flirts with Harry. Peterson becomes suspicious that the Chelms may be attempting to acquire the uranium themselves. His suspicians are unfounded, but they seem to him to be confirmed by Gwendolen, who lies about her husband and exaggerates his importance.Billy and Peterson are involved in a car accident and wrongly reported to have been killed. In order to replace Petersons lost capital, Ravello approaches Harry Chelm and explains their scheme. Just then, to everyones surprise, Billy and Peterson return to the hotel alive and unharmed. The purser announces that the ship is at last ready to sail. On board, Harry reveals that he knows about Petersons scheme and intends to inform the authorities. Peterson orders Major Ross to kill Harry however, Billy thwarts the murder attempt. Harrys outraged accusations alienate the ships drunken captain, who locks Harry in the brig, where he is uncomfortable but safe from Major Ross. ........

Source: Wikipedia