Rare Flix: The World, The Flesh & The Devil (1959)

An important Film that didn't gets its due nearly 60 years ago.  This is The World, The Flesh and the Devil, a 1959 Film that tackled both Race, Society and Culture.  The Film was not a hit at the time.  Can I give it a break now?  

The Plot involves 3 survivors of a vague apocalypse (something about nuclear waste-style gas).  They must deal with their past.  They must deal with each other.  They must decide whether to try to live anew in a broken world.  

The Film was a clear passion project for its Star- Harry Belafonte- and he even took a cut from the back end as his pay to get it made.  

If this Plot sounds familiar, then you might be thinking of Z for Zachariah.  Strangely, that Film claims to be based on the Book/Play (and BBC Film).  That Story, however, is clearly based on this Film.  

To further muddy things up, this Film is based in part on TWO different Stories!  It's rare that I cover Films that are meant to be Social Commentary, so enjoy this break from awful Monster Movies and the like.  

To find out if this is worth digging up, read on...

A man- Belafonte- survives in a Mine Shaft when something seems to destroy the surface.

To note: this is how Pine's Character supposedly survived in Zachariah.

He makes his way out and tries to find more people, crossing the Country to get to New York.

A famous Black Actor surviving an Apocalypse alone in NYC- unheard of!

Once there, he stumbles across a GIANT 1950's Computer to finally learn what happened- we basically gassed ourselves out of existence.  

Oops.

Apparently, he's not quite alone in this City though...

Meanwhile, he tries to cope with the loneliness of this new World by talking to mannequins.

So does Will Smith owe someone money now?

The two finally unite and the woman- Inger Stevens- is interested in taking things farther.

In a nice turn, she has no issue with his Race- he just reflexively-assumes otherwise.

So now here's the extra weird thing- after her tragic death in 1970, an African-American Actor came forward to say that they had been married in secret. 
It was kept hidden- he said- to help her career.  

So, possibly, art is imitating life here!

While they try to work through their issues, conflict arises in the form of Mel Ferrer, another survivor.  He has no qualms about making a play for her.

I mean, can you blame him (or her)?

It all comes to a head as Belafonte and Ferrer agree that they can't co-exist.  

One will live and one will die!

Belafonte is driven to peace by a not-so-subtle sign (see the Stinger) and both make peace.  The trio join hands and walk together.  It's not The End- it's the Beginning.

Nice and deep stuff.  The Film is pretty simple in its execution.  It only has 3 people in it.  It has big, sparse sets.  

They filmed it in NYC in the early, early hours of the day.  Back in 1959, you could do that.  Now you'd have random stoners walking through the shot, people vaping around every corner and pizza rats aplenty.  

Decades ahead of 28 Days Later showing you a barren London, this Film makes New York City look like a ghost town!  

Aside from just the setting, the Film is well-written, well-acted and well-shot.  It's not even remotely the most subtle Film you'll see.  It maybe has an air of self-importance about it that may bother some people.  

In spite of that, The World, The Flesh and the Devil is a good, mostly forgotten Drama that needs to be seen.  I mean, the writing is on the wall for you if you don't...

Next up, something probably a lot trashier and dumber.  Don't think that I'm the 'serious' Site now.  Stay tuned...