The World, the Flesh, and the Devil

Release Date: May 20, 1959
Starring: Harry Belafonte as Ralph Burton
Inger Stevens as Saah Crandall
Mel Ferrer as Benson Thacker
Director: Ronald MacDougall
Producers: Sol C. Siegel, George Englund, Harry Belafonte
Writer: Ronald Randall
Cinematographer: Harold J. Marzoati
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Editor: Harold F. Kress
Screenplay: Ferdinand Reyher
Music: Miklos Rozsa
Time: BW WS (2.35:1) 95 min.

Purchase The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (DVD) at the TCM store.

Interesting Tidbits

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil was filmed on location in Manhattan. In order to portray a deserted New York City, the cast and crew had to begin filming at dawn before the city's residents began their workday. This gave them a maximum of 2 hours to shoot.

Harry Belafonte sings three songs in the movie: "I Don't Like It Here", "Gotta Travel On", and "Fifteen." His company, HarBel Productions, also produced The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.

The Plot

Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted.

Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point the tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white and Burton, who is black.