Movie1950·FR, IT·1h 36min

The Beauty of the Devil

Name: The Beauty of the Devil
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
Released: 1950-03-16T00:00:00Z
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 7.22
Cast: Michel Simon, René Clair, Gérard Philipe, Nicole Besnard, Simone Valère

La Beauté du diable

Rene Clair - whose genius has created masterpieces...now brings his magic touch to the screen in a new achievement!

Drama Comedy Fantasy

7.2/ 10

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Premiere

Mar1950

Studios

ENIC Franco London Films Universalia Film

About

Synopsis

The Beauty of the Devil (La Beauté du diable, 1950) — René Clair's watch-online French fantasy on iFILM. An aging professor meets Mephistopheles, who brings the familiar offer: youth, strength, and beauty for one soul.

What makes Clair's take different is the casting arrangement. Gérard Philipe plays a smooth, impatient devil; Michel Simon takes the professor through a body swap that leaves Mephistopheles suddenly wearing old flesh and the professor walking around with young legs and no signature on the pact. A gypsy girl's prayers complicate Hell's schedule further.

Made just after the war, the film's wry comedy sits over something darker. Clair was never interested in thunder and brimstone — he got at the same ideas through lightness. Stream The Beauty of the Devil (1950) online on iFILM.

Cast