Pact with the Devil

Drama · 1950

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.

Starring

Sergio Amidei, Annibale Betrone, Mario Serandrei, Guido Celano, Mario Serandrei, Suso Cecchi d'Amico, Eduardo Ciannelli, Maria De Matteis, Fiore Davanzati

Director

Luigi Chiarini