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ActionDrama

Shake Hands with the Devil

- A story of love and hate...and the sudden sound of guns!

In 1921 Dublin, the IRA battles the "Black & Tans," special British forces given to harsh measures. Irish-American medical student Kerry O'Shea hopes to stay aloof, but saving a wounded friend gets him outlawed, and inexorably drawn into the rebel organization...under his former professor Sean Lenihan, who has "shaken hands with the devil" and begun to think of fighting as an end in itself. Complications arise when Kerry falls for a beautiful English hostage, and the British offer a peace treaty that is not enough to satisfy Lenihan.

Release Date : 1959-06-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Troy FilmsPennebaker Productions

Production Country : IrelandUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

James Cagney

Character Name : Sean Lenihan

Original Name : James Cagney

Gender : Male

Don Murray

Character Name : Kerry O'Shea

Original Name : Don Murray

Gender : Male

Dana Wynter

Character Name : Jennifer Curtis

Original Name : Dana Wynter

Gender : Female

Glynis Johns

Character Name : Kitty Brady

Original Name : Glynis Johns

Gender : Female

Michael Redgrave

Character Name : The General

Original Name : Michael Redgrave

Gender : Male

Sybil Thorndike

Character Name : Lady Fitzhugh

Original Name : Sybil Thorndike

Gender : Female

Cyril Cusack

Character Name : Chris Noonan

Original Name : Cyril Cusack

Gender : Male

Marianne Benet

Character Name : Mary Madigan

Original Name : Marianne Benet

Gender : Female

John Breslin

Character Name : Timmy McGrath

Original Name : John Breslin

Gender : Male

Harry Brogan

Character Name : Tom Cassidy

Original Name : Harry Brogan

Gender : Male

Richard Harris

Character Name : Terence O'Brien

Original Name : Richard Harris

Gender : Male

William Hartnell

Character Name : Sergeant Jenkins

Original Name : William Hartnell

Gender : Male

John Le Mesurier

Character Name : British General

Original Name : John Le Mesurier

Gender : Male

Niall MacGinnis

Character Name : Michael O'Leary

Original Name : Niall MacGinnis

Gender : Male

Ray McAnally

Character Name : Paddy Nolan

Original Name : Ray McAnally

Gender : Male

Patrick McAlinney

Character Name : Donovan

Original Name : Patrick McAlinney

Gender : Male

Clive Morton

Character Name : Sir Arnold Fielding

Original Name : Clive Morton

Gender : Male

Noel Purcell

Character Name : Liam O'Sullivan

Original Name : Noel Purcell

Gender : Male

Peter Reynolds

Character Name : 'Black & Tans' Captain

Original Name : Peter Reynolds

Gender : Male

Walter Gotell

Character Name : 'Black & Tans' Sergeant

Original Name : Walter Gotell

Gender : Male

Robert Brown

Character Name : First Sergeant 'Black & Tans'

Original Name : Robert Brown

Gender : Male

Lewis Casson

Character Name :

Original Name : Lewis Casson

Gender : Male

Christopher Casson

Character Name :

Original Name : Christopher Casson

Gender : Male

John Cairney

Character Name :

Original Name : John Cairney

Gender : Male

Harry H. Corbett

Character Name :

Original Name : Harry H. Corbett

Gender : Male

Eileen Crowe

Character Name :

Original Name : Eileen Crowe

Gender : Female

Allan Cuthbertson

Character Name :

Original Name : Allan Cuthbertson

Gender : Male

Donal Donnelly

Character Name :

Original Name : Donal Donnelly

Gender : Male

Wilfred Downing

Character Name :

Original Name : Wilfred Downing

Gender : Male

Eithne Dunne

Character Name :

Original Name : Eithne Dunne

Gender : Female

Paul Farrell

Character Name :

Original Name : Paul Farrell

Gender : Male

Christopher Rhodes

Character Name :

Original Name : Christopher Rhodes

Gender : Male

Ronnie Walsh

Character Name :

Original Name : Ronnie Walsh

Gender : Male

Alan White

Character Name :

Original Name : Alan White

Gender : Male

Eamonn Andrews

Character Name :

Original Name : Eamonn Andrews

Gender : Male

Norman Rodway

Character Name :

Original Name : Norman Rodway

Gender : Male

Godfrey Quigley

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Godfrey Quigley

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Loaded Weapon. Shake Hands with the Devil is directed by Michael Anderson and adapted to screenplay by Marian Spitzer from the novel written by Rearden Conner. It stars James Cagney, Don Murray, Dana Wynter, Glynis Johns, Michael Redgrave and Sybil Thorndike. Music is by William Alywyn and cinematography by Erwin Hillier. It's 1920s Dublin, Ireland, and the Irish Republican Army are at war with the British Black & Tans. Into the conflict comes Irish American Kerry O'Shea (Murray), who in spite of being apolitical is drawn into darker waters as the violence rages. Complications arise when a hostage situation unfurls, all while the strings are being pulled by the IRA's fearsome commandant, Sean Lenihan (Cagney), who wants Kerry under his wing. It has always been a tricky subject to film, the so called Irish Troubles, for too many film makers have either been ignorant of the facts in the name of good cinema, or so fuelled by other motives it's difficult to get on side with such one sided venom. Michael Anderson's film, whilst itself harbouring dubious political material, deserves plaudits for trying to come at the topic from both sides, embracing the complexities of the issues and never shying away from the violence that tore through parts of Ireland. Even if it ends up being a little confused as to its aims. Filmed on location predominantly in Dublin, there's almighty strength in the cinematography of Hillier (The Mark of Cain/Chase a Crooked Shadow). The night time shots of damp cobbled streets and gaslights are ethereal, while in daytime the lush landscapes are imposing yet still giving off a depressing hue. On the acting front it's Cagney who dominates, in one of his craziest and most crafty roles, he's a Vesuvius who darts between being the honourable cause man, to that of a psychotic who doesn't believe peace is a viable option. Strong support comes from Wynter and Johns. Political hot-pot with wrought emotion, and action scenes that impact as Cagney does his stuff, Shake Hands with the Devil leaves a mark. 7/10

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-04

I wonder whether an appreciation of this film depends on whether you are British or Irish? What it depicts, for me anyway, is the old adage that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" and James Cagney ("Lenihan") manages to encapsulate that succinctly. His character, a respected professor with republican leanings, recruits "O'Shea" (Don Murray) after one of his friends is shot by one of the infamous "Black 'n Tans" and the film tracks his ensuing involvement with the 1921 revolution. The story follows a simplified line as regards to the actual nature of historical fact, but it does touch on the complications and perils faced by people on both sides of the argument well. Cagney is convincing, as - oddly enough, is Michael Redgrave as the "General" (AKA Michael Collins) - far removed from his Barnes Wallis patriot-style role. There is also decent support from Dana Wynter and the inimitable Dame Sybil Thorndike to broaden the range of the scenarios and demonstrate that this wasn't just a small scale, militaristic, uprising - but a general dissatisfaction amongst all strata of Irish society. Michael Anderson keeps the pace lively, and the dialogue does enough to make it's point without throttling us with it. He has captured some beautiful scenery too and it's well worth a watch.