The Devil (1921 film)

The Devil is a surviving 1921 silent drama film directed by James Young and starring stage actor George Arliss in a film version of his 1908 Broadway success of Ferenc Molnár's play, The Devil (aka Az ordog) [1].^[2][3] Long thought to be a lost film, a print was discovered in the 1990s and restored by the Library of Congress.

The Devil
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Directed by	James Young
Written by	Edmund Goulding
Based on	play The Devil by Ferenc Molnár[1]
Produced by	Associated Distributors Incorporated Harry Leonhardt Andrew J. Callaghan
Cinematography	Harry Fischbeck
Production company	Pathé Exchange
Distributed by	Associated Exhibitors
Release date	January 16, 1921 (1921-01-16)
Running time	60 minutes[2]
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

George Arliss in character.

This was George Arliss' first film following a successful career on Broadway. Arliss' wife Florence Arliss co-starred with him in the film, and continued to do so until he died in 1946. Director Young was silent screen star Clara Kimball Young's ex-husband. Future Oscar-winner Fredric March had an uncredited bit part in the film.^[2]

Plot

The Devil, in the guise of a human named Dr. Muller (Arliss), meets a young couple (Marie and her fiance Georges) who remark upon looking at a Renaissance painting of a martyr that Evil could never triumph over Good. The Devil, taking this as a challenge, decides to bring about the couple's downfall. In the end, Marie resorts to the power of prayer and a shining crucifix appears that causes the Devil to disappear in a burst of flames.

Cast

• George Arliss as Dr. Muller
• Lucy Cotton as Marie Matin
• Roland Bottomley as Georges Roben
• Sylvia Breamer as Mimi
• Florence Arliss as Marie's Aunt (credited as Mrs. George Arliss)
• Edmund Lowe as Paul de Veaux
• Fredric March as Bal Masque Participant (uncredited)

Preservation status

A copy of The Devil is preserved in the Library of Congress collection and the Archives Du Film Du CNC, Bois d'Arcy.^[4][5]