The Beauty of the Devil (1950) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

1950 · 96 mins · French

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Directed by

René Clair

Starring

Michel Simon, Gaston Modot, Paolo Stoppa, Gérard Philipe, Raymond Cordy, Carlo Ninchi

René Clair brings his magic to the story of Henry Faust, a 50‑year professor at a circa‑1700 French university, who despairs of aging. Mephistopheles, in the form of a handsome young man, swaps bodies with Faust to tempt him into a pact for youth, wealth and power. The revived Faust enjoys material gains but hesitates, while Mephistopheles, now in the professor’s body, schemes to trick him, opposed by a gypsy girl praying for his soul.