L'épopée dans l'ombre

The politics of Shake Hands With the Devil have been eclipsed by the excellent biographical film Collins that starred Liam Neeson. But the other theme about war, especially endless civil war, is timeless and very relevant for today and not just in Ireland.

The setting is 1921 and the Rebellion is in full swing. James Cagney is a professor of medicine at Trinity College in Dublin by day and an Irish Republican Army commander at night. One of his students, an Irish-American played by Don Murray, gets innocently caught up in the Rebellion and chooses to join the IRA after being captured by the special British unit, nicknamed the Black and Tans who are not terribly squeamish in their methods.

Eventually the British opt for a truce and the General played by Michael Redgrave goes to London to sign a treaty giving Ireland Dominion status. Redgrave of course is Michael Collins and anyone who's seen the film Collins is aware of the politics. Redgrave was a great deal older than the real Michael Collins, then again he had to be in order to say that he's been fighting with Cagney for Irish independence for over 20 years.

Cagney is against the treaty and like he said in the film, the split over that treaty led to a long and bloody Irish Civil war in the 1920s, with far more blood spilled than in the struggle against Great Britain.

Gradually over the film it becomes apparent that Cagney has a lot of issues, violent and sexual. Think Cody Jarrett in the IRA and you'll have some idea. And there's no Ma Jarrett to control him. The tragic and luckless Glynis Johns is a victim of his wrath and Dana Wynter who is an IRA hostage almost becomes one as well. This is where the real acting talents of James Cagney are shown.

Among some of the IRA members in his cell is Richard Harris who got his first real notice in this film.

It's not Irish history per se, but it is a great story of the effects of interminable civil war.

This movie is one of the older classics that doesn't get much play any more. It is a thought provoking piece, full of vivid characters, and told in an almost non stop action adventure way to make it super entertaining, even for the most impatient viewer. The movie centers on the Irish rebellion, with the reluctant hero, Don Murray, forced into the fray against the terrible Black and Tans. More historically accurate on the background scale than people want to admit. Cagney plays the "commadant" of several squads, who is a very hard liner in the IRA, totally against all compromise with the British authorities. The other characters are vividly expressed by the acting, writing, and directing. There is no weak spot in this film. The attitudes and reactions of each character to the evils by each, Cagney and the leader of the Black and Tans, makes this a remarkable film. Noonan, Cassidy, and also their British counterparts are portrayed as realistically dealing with the bloodshed caused by extremists. Innocent captives are taken by both sides, one a proper older lady jailed by the British, and the other a gorgeous knockout of a lady (Dana Wynter, who alone is worth watching the film for by a guy's standpoint, as there are absolutely no women in today's films as physically attractive as she is), a blue blood captured by the IRA, whom Murray swears to protect from harm. One thing that makes this movie so believable, is that the characters don't automatically assume and know everything that goes on. If the movie was made today, it would probably have such a flaw. This movie is ever so credible, particularly from a character standpoint. You feel the pain and torment of each individual. The movie is so relevant today, and it would be of great value to have it released in countries and lands where there is tumult. If every American should see "Jungle Fighters", "Southern Comfort," and "Ox Bow Incident", to show the dangers of judging others, then this movie should be seen by every Iraqi (and probably everybody) to see just how horrible terror tactics are, and the need for peaceful resolution to problems.

Up till the time I saw this film I was not much of a Cagney fan. But after seeing this film; and "White Heat," I now understand why Cagney was such a big star.

His portrayal of Sean Linahan as a member of the Irish Republican Army brilliantly portrays the thin line between being a dedicated freedom fighter/idealist and a fanatic. Sean Linahan has let hatred take control of his life and he now sees everything through the narrow prism of hate. As a fanatic he operates on an "ends justifies the means basis." Other characters in "Shake Hands with the Devil" are portrayed as men of character, who while fighting for freedom still hold on to their humanity and their compassion.

This is very good movie that is very relevant in today's world and can be used as a starting point for a discussion on modern day Islamic Terrorism or any ism in which the ends justifying the means becomes a standard, not an exception.

As a period film that seriously addresses mankind's nature, this film will be as current 20 years from now as when it was released.

An extremely restrained movie (never over-glorifying the Irish rebels or disparaging the British, except the Black & Tans who are essentially SS stormtroopers in this movie), if Shake Hands with the Devil makes any missteps it's exonerating its hero from cold-blooded murder and then funneling him into a cliched romantic subplot. It is a shame the protagonist didn't get more to work with. This is one the few times I wish a film was actually longer.

Predictable tropes aside, its a well-written movie with some amazing moments of cinematography. James Cagney delivers an incredible and understated performance as a freedom fighter driven mad by patriotism and his own desire for moral cleansing, one of the best roles of his career. Cyril Cusack and Richard Harris shine in supporting roles.

I first saw this film when I was 11, and even then I much admired it. Have seen it I don't know how many times since, and my original feelings re. this flick have only intensified.

First off, many contemporary folks, in and beyond the West, know far too little about the Irish "troubles." This film brings them home, establishing that despite atrocities on either side, neither held the moral high ground with absolute certainty.

Cagney is superb. His accent falters occasionally (although he was an Irish-American). But he nails every facet of his character, from the dedicated doctor and professor of medicine to the IRA commander who descends into fanaticism.

Most of the rest of the cast is excellent. Murray is a little, well, not quite at that level, but he still gives a respectable performance --