La beauté du diable

"Rene Clair - whose genius has created masterpieces...now brings his magic touch to the screen in a new achievement!"

Aug 25 1952 Approved 1h 36m
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Henri Faust, retiring after 50 years as a professor in a circa-1700 French university, despairs at the ravages of old age ... whereupon Mephistopheles, agent of Lucifer, appears as a virile, handsome young man and exchanges bodies with him to induce Faust to sign a pact to exchange his soul for renewed youth, riches and power. But though the "new" Faust is attracted by the material improvements in his life, he remains wary of signing, while Mephistopheles, now posing as the aged professor whose body he inhabits, must find a way to trick him into signing the pact - and dissuade him from the love of a gypsy girl who prays for his soul - or find himself damned by his own Master...

Plot

Professor Henri Faust, retiring after 50 years as an alchemist in a circa-1700 university, despairs at still knowing nothing of the true secrets of nature...whereupon his old acquaintance Mephistopheles, servant of Lucifer, appears and grants him youth and a new life. But with youth, Faust's interest is diverted from science to women. And Mephistopheles, who has taken on the guise of the elderly Faust that was, sets many snares for his young friend's slippery soul...

Written by

René Clair, Armand Salacrou

Directed by

René Clair

Cast

Michel Simon, Gérard Philipe, Nicole Besnard

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

France

Production Companies

Franco London Films, Universalia Film, Ente Nazionale Industrie Cinematografiche (ENIC)

Languages

Français, Italiano

Awards

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award4 wins & 1 nomination total

Scores
# of Votes
1,912
Average Rating
7.3 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA