The Beauty of the Devil
Seen it?1950 | 96 min | Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and fantasy fans.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 36 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1950: an older pace and style.
Henri Faust, retiring after 50 years as a professor in a circa-1700 French university, despairs at the ravages of old age ... whereupon Mephistopheles, agent of Lucifer, appears as a virile, handsome young man and exchanges bodies with him to induce Faust to sign a pact to exchange his soul for renewed youth, riches and power. But though the "new" Faust is attracted by the material improvements in his life, he remains wary of signing, while Mephistopheles, now posing as the aged professor whose body he inhabits, must find a way to trick him into signing the pact - and dissuade him from the love of a gypsy girl who prays for his soul - or find himself damned by his own Master...
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 3K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by René Clair
- Michel SimonMephistopheles / Old Prof. Henri Faust
- Gérard PhilipeYoung Henri Faust / Young-Looking Mephistopheles
- Nicole BesnardMarguerite the Gypsy Girl
- Simone ValèreThe Princess
- Carlo NinchiThe Prince
- Raymond CordyAntoine the Servant
- Paolo StoppaOfficial
- Tullio CarminatiThe Diplomat
- Gaston ModotGypsy