Le diable à 4 heures

The Devil at 4 O'Clock is directed by Mervin LeRoy and adapted to screenplay by Liam O'Brien from the novel of the same name written by Max Catto. It stars Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Kerwin Mathews, Jean- Pierre Aumont, Grégoire Aslan, Bernie Hamilton, Barbara Luna and Cathy Lewis. Music is by George Duning and cinematography by Joseph F. Biroc.

Pleasantly old fashioned film making, a disaster movie from the early 60s that boasts star appeal and nifty effects for the era. Plot finds Tracy as Father Doonan, a cleric who has lost his faith and likes a tipple or two. Ensconsed on a pacific island that houses a children's leper hospital, Father Doonan is to be relieved of his duties by Father Joseph Perreau (Mathews).

Enter three convicts who have to stop by the island, fronted by angry agnostic Harry (Sinatra), the cons are put to work in the leper hospital just as the island volcano decides it is time to erupt and level the island post haste.

What transpires sees a race against time formula adhered to, with added slices of sacrifice and redemption unfurled for our emotionally tickled enjoyment. It's undeniably too long at over two hours, really stretching the premise to breaking point, but such is the fine work of cast, photographer and director, it rounds out as spiffing entertainment. Great ending as well! 7/10

This film anticipates the "Dirty Dozen" film formula with a great story that affirms one's faith in God and the true missionary spirit of Catholic priests who went to various parts of the world to help the poor and the wretched of the earth at great personal sacrifice.

Yet the greatness of the film is not about the missionary zeal of Catholic priests but more about faith in God--the loss of faith and the process of regaining it. It is not an action film, it is a spiritual journey where convicts turn religious by observing selfless actions of others. It brings to mind Pearl S. Buck's "Satan never sleeps". The choice of the title "Devil at 4 O'clock" is unfortunate as the film is not about any devil--there is only a volcanic eruption at that time.

Even if you choose to discount the story, the film is admirable for its earthquake and volcano/lava flow sequences. I wonder how they were able to splice in realistic lava scenes as well as scenes of a small plane flying in close proximity to a volcano in full fury.

Along with "The Seventh Cross" and "Bad Day at Black Rock" this film ranks high as a Spencer Tracy film. He carries the film on his shoulders with good support from Frank Sinatra and Gregoire Aslan. Joseph Biroc's camerawork and Mervyl Leroy's decision to direct this film are commendable. If you have not seen the film see it, it will uplift your spirits and your faith in human values.

I've always thought this would be a good film to show problem kids in a group home: the film presents great values of friendship, loyalty, love and self-sacrifice (among a group of convicts) and the possibility of "redemption" through these values. The story is melodramatic (bordering on operatic!) but, if you accept the old-fashioned style of movie-making, it really works. As with all classic films, this is one you can watch over and over for the aesthetics as well as for the story. The acting is fine. The ONLY thing in the film that doesn't hold up, in my opinion, is the scene through the jungle with Frank Sinatra carrying the blind girl on his back: it looks a bit comical to a modern viewer.

THE DEVIL AT 4 O'CLOCK is a disaster film about inhabitants of a remote Caribbean island struggling to escape from the volcano which has begun to erupt on the island. Although I'm a fan of the disaster film genre, I'd never heard of this film before watching, so perhaps it sank without trace. In any case it's a solid enough piece of entertainment with much in common with the likes of KRAKATOA - EAST OF JAVA and WHEN TIME RAN OUT.

One of the most interesting things about DEVIL is the cast. Frank Sinatra headlines as another likable rogue of the kind he did so well. Old-timer Spencer Tracy is a delight as the hard-headed priest who essentially runs the island while the French bores in charge look on. Sinbad star Kerwin Mathews is here too as the young priest sent to replace a retiring Tracy. The supporting cast includes Barbara Luna, a truly exotic-looking beauty, and Bernie Hamilton as one of Sinatra's fellow cons. Hamilton would later go on to TV stardom in STARSKY & HUTCH.

I think it's fair to say that THE DEVIL AT 4 O'CLOCK is a dated film and the special effects haven't held up particularly well, the back projection being a stand out. The first hour is a little slow too. However, once the disaster scenario kicks in, it becomes exciting and often gripping entertainment, and the ending is unexpectedly emotional. Solid Hollywood entertainment, in other words.

A crusty, eccentric priest (Spencer Tracy) recruits three reluctant convicts to help him rescue a children's leper colony from a Pacific island menaced by a smoldering volcano.

Some say the film was a precursor to the disaster films of the 1970s, such as The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, and The Towering Inferno. I can see that, although I never would have made that connection myself.

Because of Tracy's demand of top billing in any movie he starred in, Sinatra ceded top-billing in order to secure Tracy for the film. The film was the most expensive that Columbia Pictures had ever made. This was a wise move on Sinatra's part, because Tracy really makes the picture. Although the convicts are great, this is one of Tracy's better roles (and it helps that Hepburn is not around to slow him down).