The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959 film)

The World, the Flesh and the Devil is a 1959 American post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Ranald MacDougall. It stars Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens, and Mel Ferrer.

The film depicts the experiences of three survivors of a nuclear holocaust: Ralph Burton (Belafonte), a Black coal miner; Sarah Crandall (Stevens), a white office worker; and Benson Thacker (Ferrer), a white European. Burton, trapped in a Pennsylvania mine during the catastrophe, emerges to find New York City deserted and seemingly lifeless. He eventually encounters Sarah, and the two initially find solace and companionship. Their dynamic is disrupted by the arrival of Thacker, who harbors racial prejudice and desires Sarah for himself.

The movie explores themes of racial prejudice, loneliness, survival, and the potential for humanity's self-destruction. It uses the post-apocalyptic setting as a backdrop to examine the social issues prevalent during the Civil Rights Movement era in the United States, particularly the challenges of integration and overcoming deeply ingrained biases. The film ultimately presents a message of hope and the possibility of a better future based on cooperation and understanding, although it leaves the resolution somewhat ambiguous.