The Devil's Disciple (1959 film)

The Devil's Disciple is a 1959 historical comedy film adapted from the 1897 play of the same name by George Bernard Shaw. The film stars Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Laurence Olivier.

The film is set during the American Revolutionary War in the fictional New Hampshire town of Websterbridge. It tells the story of Richard Dudgeon (Kirk Douglas), a self-proclaimed "devil's disciple" who defies societal conventions and challenges religious hypocrisy. When a British General, General Burgoyne (Laurence Olivier), mistakes Richard for the local Reverend Anderson (Burt Lancaster), Richard is arrested and sentenced to hang.

The central conflict revolves around Richard's unexpected act of sacrifice, pretending to be the Reverend to save the town and Anderson's wife, Judith (Janette Scott). The film explores themes of identity, duty, faith, and the complexities of good and evil. It also satirizes the rigid social structures and religious dogmatism of the time.

Although relatively faithful to Shaw's play, the film does take certain liberties with the source material, particularly in its pacing and the depiction of action sequences. It was produced by Bryna Productions and Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, and distributed by United Artists. The film received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising the performances of the lead actors but noting its divergence from the play's more nuanced social commentary.