Pact with the Devil

Overview

The title of this Italian melodrama translates to Pact with the Devil. However, His Satanic Majesty does not appear in the film. Rather, this expensively produced period piece is more along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, with young love threatened by warring families. In his first Italian film, Hollywood veteran Eduardo Cianelli goes through his usual villainous paces as the scheming father of the male lead (Jacques Francois). The most fascinating performance is rendered by Umberto Spadaro, as the village idiot, or is he? Patto col Diavolo makes the most of the visual dynamics of Italy's mountainous Calabrian region.

Cast

Isa Miranda

Marta Larocca

Jacques François

Andrea Mola

Annibale Betrone

Old Laroccha - Marta's father

Eduardo Ciannelli

Giacomo Mola

Ave Ninchi

Signora Mola - Giacomo's wife

Luigi Tosi

Rocco

Anne Vernon

Andrea's sister

Fiore Davanzati

Sarina

Umberto Spadaro

Scoppola - the killer

Guido Celano

Il sottuficiale dei carabinieri