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The Beauty of the Devil streaming

Original title: La Beauté du diable
1950 Movie France Drama, Comedy, Fantasy 96 min Ages 0+
By: René Clair With: Simone Valère, Paolo Stoppa, Michel Simon, Carlo Ninchi, Nicole Besnard

Professor Henri Faust, retiring after 50 years as an alchemist in a circa-1700 university, despairs at still knowing nothing of the true secrets of nature...whereupon his old acquaintance Mephistopheles, servant of Lucifer, appears and grants him youth and a new life. But with youth, Faust's interest is diverted from science to women. And Mephistopheles, who has taken on the guise of the elderly Faust that was, sets many snares for his young friend's slippery soul...

Filmium rating
73%

Mood

Fantastical
Melancholic
Tragicomic
Whimsical

Cast & Crew

René Clair
Armand Salacrou
Michel Simon
Carlo Ninchi
Gérard Philipe
Simone Valère
Raymond Cordy
Nicole Besnard
Paolo Stoppa
Gérard Philipe As Young Henri Faust
Michel Simon As Mephistopheles
Nicole Besnard As Marguerite

Adaptation

Based On Faust
Classic Tale
Literary Adaptation

Cinematic Technique

Art Direction
Compelling Visuals
Creative Storytelling
Innovative
Stylized
Visual Effects

Narrative Structure

Adaptation
Adapted
Fantastical
Linear
Loose Adaptation
Reinterpretation

Pace

Dynamic
Moderate
Rhythmic

Style

Artistic
Cinematic
Stylish
Visual

Time-Period

Around 1700S
Early 19Th Century
Historical Setting

Central Conflict

Deal With Devil
Deal With The Devil
Despair Over Aging
Existential Crisis
Immortality
Personal Sacrifice

Characters

Gypsy Girl Marguerite
Henry Faust
Mephistopheles

Ending

Bittersweet
Moral Dilemma
Tragic

Historical Context

Early 19Th Century
Enlightenment Era

Key Plot Points

Devil'S Bargain
Tragic Consequences
Youth Granted

Plot

Alchemist'S Aging
Devil'S Offer
Eternal Youth
Moral Conflict
Temptation

Setting

19Th Century
Circa 1700 French University
European
Fantasy World
Historical Backdrop

Shooting Location

Around 1700S
French University

Theme

Dealing With Aging
Existentialism
Moral Ambiguity
Temptation
Youth And Age

Genre

Drama
Fantasy
Tragicomedy

Audiences

Adults
Art-House Viewers
Fantasy Enthusiasts
Literature Enthusiasts
Literature Lovers

Titles

Beauty And The Devil
La beauté du diable
The Beauty of the Devil

Awards

Bafta Nomination
Silver Ribbon Awards

Critical Reception

Interesting Reinterpretation
Positive Reviews
Stylish Cinematography

Reception

Award-Winning
Awards For Acting And Production
Bafta Nominated
Bafta Nomination
Critically Acclaimed
Critically Recognized

Production Countries

France
Italy

Release Year

Nineteen Fifty
mowizz ID: 9993f119-04cf-4f25-9326-f0e2ef2e3f7e
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