BEAT THE DEVIL (1954) IN SOUTH AFRICA

Beat the Devil is a 1953 film directed by John Huston. Thescreenplay was by Huston and Truman Capote, loosely based upon a novelof the same name by British journalist Claud Cockburn, writing underthe pseudonym James Helvick. It is a parody of Huston's The MalteseFalcon (1941) and films of the same genre. In this John Huston film -- which features an unusual mix ofadventure, comedy and crime elements -- Billy (Humphrey Bogart) andMaria Dannreuther (Gina Lollobrigida) are among a number of travelersstranded in Italy en route to Africa. While the Dannreuthers seem likean average couple, they have the same goal as Mrs. Gwendolen Chelm(Jennifer Jones) and some of their other shifty companions -- to layclaim to property that is supposedly rich with uranium.