The title of this Italian melodrama translates to Pact with the Devil. However, His Satanic Majesty does not appear in the film. Rather, this expensively produced period piece is more along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, with young love threatened by warring families. In his first Italian film, Hollywood veteran Eduardo Cianelli goes through his usual villainous paces as the scheming father of the male lead (Jacques Francois). The most fascinating performance is rendered by Umberto Spadaro, as the village idiot, or is he? Patto col Diavolo makes the most of the visual dynamics of Italy's mountainous Calabrian region.
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Cast
19 people
Isa Miranda
Marta Larocca
Known for
Summertime
The Night Porter
Jacques François
Andrea Mola
Known for
The Gendarme and the Gendarmettes
The Toy
Annibale Betrone
Old Laroccha - Marta's father
Also in
Piccolo mondo antico
Tormento
Eduardo Ciannelli
Giacomo Mola
Known for
Boot Hill
Foreign Correspondent
Ave Ninchi
Signora Mola - Giacomo's wife
Known for
Purple Noon
Cops and Robbers
Luigi Tosi
Rocco
Known for
Don Camillo's Last Round
Robinson Crusoeland
Anne Vernon
Andrea's sister
Known for
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Il conte Max
Fiore Davanzati
Sarina
Also in
Heart
The Opium Den
Umberto Spadaro
Scoppola - the killer
Known for
Don Camillo's Last Round
Seduced and Abandoned
Guido Celano
Il sottuficiale dei carabinieri
Known for
I due carabinieri
Don Camillo's Last Round
Lamberto Picasso
The priest
Also in
Everybody's Woman
Casta diva
Camillo Pilotto
Also in
Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal
Abuna Messias - Vendetta africana
Luigi Chiarini Director · Sergio Amidei Writer Mario Serandrei Writer
First release August 31, 1949 · Produced in Italy · Original title Patto col diavolo
Production
ENIC
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Patto col diavolo
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
Italian
Release dates
Italy · August 31, 1949
Premiere
Italy · January 11, 1950
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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