The Devil Pays Off

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
Original title The Devil Pays Off
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1941
length 70 minutes
Rod
Director John H. Auer
script Lawrence Kimble
Malcolm Stuart Boylan
production Albert J. Cohen
for Republic Pictures
music Mort Glickman
Paul Sawtell
Music Director: Cy Fire
camera John Alton
cut Murray Seldeen
Howard O'Neill
occupation

The Devil Pays Off is a 1941 American spy drama directed by John H. Auer . A former Navy officer attempts to restore his honor by uncovering illegal business dealings by a shipping tycoon with the enemy during World War II . The script is based on a story by George Worthing Yates and Julian Zimet.

action

Former Marine Lieutenant Chris Waring from Gilhooey is awakened by the police at an advanced time and taken to Admiral Curtiss, his former commanding officer. Curtiss had once campaigned in vain for Waring when he was fired for antics in the service he'd committed while drunk. The admiral calls on Waring to assist with an undercover operation. It's about the shipowner Arnold Debrock, who sells ships to the United States, but then, in an extremely mysterious way, falls into the hands of hostile powers. Knowing that Chris is very popular with women, Curtiss asks him to make advances to Debrock's wife Valerie. However, he flatly refuses, but changes his mind only a little later when he sees Valerie board a ship to Havana and takes up the pursuit of the beautiful woman.

He actually manages to flirt violently with Valerie and to get her to go to his cabin with him. There, however, to Chris 'great surprise, both meet Joan Millard, Admiral Curtiss' secretary. When Valeries asked who she was, she introduced herself as Chris' wife, whereupon Valerie also revealed who she was and that she had left her husband. Joan tells Chris, who is quite speechless, that Curtiss sent her to support him. So the couple starts their investigation against their will.

Some time later a shipwrecked man is brought on board, who is Capt. Jonathan Hunt acts. He tells Chris that he is in the service of the Debrock shipping company and was ousted by his crew when he refused to obey Debrock's orders to dock in a foreign port. He was then taken from his ship. Captain Brigham and the ship's doctor had previously tried to drug him to force him to work with them, but he refused.

Capt. Brigham believes Hunt fell victim to the sea. After the ship docks in Havana, Chris and Joan try to get more information from Valerie. Brigham, meanwhile, is tackled harshly by Debrock, upset that Hunt was sent to certain death as everyone believed. However, he protests against the allegations, as this measure was taken to prevent Hunt from talking about what had happened.

Shortly thereafter, Debrock tries to make it clear to Valerie that he will soon withdraw from the business in order to retire with her into private life. However, Valerie means to her husband that she no longer loves him, which hits him very much and also influences his further course of action. Debrock's henchman Greb tries a little later to shoot Chris because Debrock wants him out of the way. However, it misses its target. By the way, Chris now learns that Carlos Castillo-Martinez, who he thought was a craftsman, actually belongs to the Cuban military intelligence service, has been put at his side for protection and was also involved in the investigation against Debrock.

Only a little later Chris attends a farewell dinner organized by Debrock with Joan, Carlos and Hunt, which is supposed to serve that Greb kills Chris on behalf of his boss. When Debrock sees Hunt, however, he is very insecure and believes that he is seeing a ghost who wants to hold him accountable. Hunt prevents further orders from Debrock to instruct his ships to dock in enemy ports. Carlos arrives and orders the arrest of all those involved in alliance with Debrock, while Chris forces Debrock to order his ships to call at American ports. While trying to get Chris's gun, Debrock falls out of the window during the fight between the two men. After the case is resolved, there is a happy ending for Chris and Joan, both want to get married as soon as possible.

Production and Background

The film was shot between September 19 and October 4, 1941 in Republic Studios in Hollywood , a district of Los Angeles , California . The budget for the film was around $ 84,528. The working title was: Alibi at Midnight .

On November 10, 1941, the film was first shown in the US. In Portugal it was performed on March 6, 1944 under the title Oiro Traiçoeiro . The film was not released in Germany.

William Wright was loaned to Paramount Pictures for this production . According to the Hollywood Reporter News , Binnie Barnes was slated to play a role in the film.

criticism

The New York Times spoke of a busy espionage melodrama in which the Paramount loaned William Wright was then reduced to the third role after J. Edward Bromberg and Osa Massen. It was also said that one should watch out for the horror movie star Dwight Frye, who plays a radio operator in this film.

Award

Charles L. Lootens was nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Sound" at the Academy Awards in 1942 , but had to admit defeat to Jack Whitney and the British drama Lord Nelson's Last Love .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Devil Pays Off hints at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  2. ^ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi: The Devil Pays Off In: The New York Times , accessed January 1, 2016.