THE DEVIL MAKES THREE

US, 1952, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Gene Kelly, Pier Angeli, Richard Rober, Richard Egan, Claus Clausen.
Directed by Andrew Marton.

This is a small budget feature from MGM in 1952, the same year that can Kelly released Singin in the Rain. The stars who appeared in the big budget films, even the musicals, had to appear in these lesser films and this was Gene Kelly’s turn.

The setting is 1947, and the film was made in Europe, amongst the ruins of cities from the bombings of World War II, in this case, Munich. There is a contrast with Salzburg which preserved its old look and atmosphere.

There are memories of the war, bombings, with Kelly playing Jeff, a pilot who comes back to Munich to thank a family who took in him in and saved him. He finds that they have been killed but that their daughter, Pier Angeli in one of her earliest roles, works in a club and, with the help of an American officer, played by Richard Egan, he tracks her down. She is 18, has become hardened, and is involved in black market business, driving to Salzburg and delivering material, including gold in the tyres of cars, to a neo-Nazi movement.

Jeff accompanies her on a trip, unsuspecting, but is informed by the American authorities. He is upset but realises that what they say is true and goes on another trip.

Of interest, is a lounge singer, Claus Clausen, in the old German cabaret style, with the lyrics of his songs reflecting on The Third Reich. He is revealed as the leader of the neo-Nazis with a Hitler complex which leads to a melodramatic conclusion.

Not a particularly good film, but interesting for Gene Kelly to have a serious role, Pier Angeli at the beginning of her career, Richard Egan before he became a kind of beefcake hero of 20th Century Fox Cinemascope epics.

1. Post-war thriller? The consequences of World War II and the bombing of Germany? Post-war reconstruction? Crime and the black market? Neo- Nazis?

2. The location photography, the use of the city of Munich, Salzburg, German and Austrian countryside? The ruins after the bombings? American presence? Shops, nightclubs? The borders and the shops? The musical score?

3. The songs, cabaret style, memories of German cabaret, the piano player, the ironic lyrics to his songs about the Third Reich?

4. The title? Crime, romance?

5. The opening, the American officer and his explanation of the situation? His later appearance, investigations into smuggling, the neo-Nazis?

6. Jeff, memories of the war, landing in Innsbruck, being saved by the family, his sending the parcels, his coming to thank them, searching out the house, bombed, the occupying family, receiving his parcels and thanking him? His search for Willy?

7. Parker, his role in the military, sharing with Jeff? Helping him and the search, going to the variety of nightclubs? Jeff seeing Willy? His shock, talking with her, her response, his memories of her as a girl, now 18, as an escort in the club, the supervisor, the demands for money? Dancing? The time away, her lodgings, poor, surviving?

8. The plan for the day, the renting of the car, the trip through the countryside, the motorcyclists, the man offering cups of coffee at the border, the search of the car, the discovery of the camera lenses and needles, allowed to go on their way? In Salzburg, the friendly family? Enjoying the day, shopping? The sudden return?

9. Willy telling the truth, Jeff’s reaction? His saying she would not continue with the trips? His being interrogated by the American officials? Her change of heart, his telling Parker that he was correct?

10. The second trip, the cyclists, pretending that he had a flat tyre? The border, the examination, the fine? Back in Salzburg? Jeff going to examine the car, with Willy following him, the explanations, the dealer and his gun, the fight, the escape? Jeff seeing the shot on the wheel – made of gold, for the neo-Nazis?

11. Their being abducted, going to the neo-Nazis’ centre, the cyclists, the new force? The crowd?

12. The piano player, his ironic songs, his getting the information, that he was a neo-Nazi leader, arriving as a new Hitler, the parade? The fire, Jeff and Willy, her being shot? The military arriving, the collaboration with the Munich police? The chase of the leader, his wanting a glorious death, his being arrested?

13. The resolution of the issue? Neo- Nazis and indication of things to come? The reflection on this situation of 1947, and the Americans and their role in the reconstruction of Germany?