The Devil's Disciple

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The Devil's Disciple ★★★ 1959

Entertaining adaptation of a minor George Bernard Shaw play set during the American Revolution. British Gen. Burgoyne (Olivier) and his troops are stuck in a northeastern village in 1777 awaiting orders and dealing with rebels. This includes troublemaking Richard Dudgeon (Douglas), whose father has been hanged by the Brits, and pastor Anthony Anderson (Lancaster), working in secret with the rebels. There's also a modest romantic triangle between the two men and Anderson's wife Judith (Scott). Film suffers from choppy direction, but the excellent cast more than makes up for it. 82m/B VHS . GB Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Janet Scott, Eva LeGallienne, Harry Andrews, Basil Sydney, George Rose; D: Guy Hamilton; W: John Dighton, Roland Kibbee; C: Jack Hildyard; M: Richard Rodney Bennett.