DMFE Rating: ★¾☆☆☆ (1.75 out of 5 stars)
Caution: Possible Spoilers Ahead!
Max Devlin, a greedy and widely despised slumlord, is killed when he is struck by a bus while fleeing angry tenants. After his death, Max awakens in Hell, which is portrayed as a sterile, corporate bureaucracy. There, he meets Barney Satin, a charismatic agent for the Devil.
Barney offers Max a deal: he may return to Earth for a limited time if he can convince three innocent individuals to willingly sign contracts giving their souls to Hell. If Max fails, he will be damned for eternity. Desperate, Max accepts the offer and is restored to life under strict supervision.
Back on Earth, Max targets three individuals: Stella Summers, an aspiring singer; Nerve Nordlinger, a shy teenager seeking popularity; and Toby Hart, a young boy who wishes for happiness for his widowed mother, Penny. Using limited supernatural powers, Max manipulates circumstances to grant their wishes, eventually persuading each to sign a contract.
As Max spends time with Toby and Penny, he begins to develop genuine affection and remorse for his actions. After securing the contracts, Barney reveals that the souls, including Max’s own, will be claimed by Hell regardless of the outcome.
Realizing the harm he has caused, Max chooses to destroy the contracts, knowingly sacrificing himself. This act of selflessness redeems him. Max is returned to Earth, the three innocent souls are restored, and Max regains his reflection, symbolizing his moral transformation.
The film’s score was composed by Buddy Baker. It featured two songs, “Any Fool Could See,” music by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Carole Bauer Sager, and “Roses and Rainbows,” music by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Alee Willis, both performed by Julie Budd. Both songs were released as singles in the United States, but no full soundtrack has ever been released.
First released on home video (VHS) in 1981. Re-released on VHS in 1998. Released for the first time on DVD on November 14, 2000. Re-released on DVD on January 17, 2006. Aired on The Wonderful World of Disney on April 26, 1987. The Devil and Max Devlin is not available on Disney+.
CAST & CREW
- Director: Steven Hilliard Stern
- Producer(s): Jerome Courtland, Ron Miller (Executive Producer)
- Screenplay: Mary Rogers
- Story: Mary Rogers, Jimmy Sangster
- Cinematography: Howard Schwartz, A.S.C.
- Editor: Raymond A. de Leuw, A.C.E
- Art Director(s): Leon R. Harris, John B. Mansbridge
- Costume Designer: Bill Thomas
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Sam Nicholson
- Music: Buddy Baker
- Cast: Elliott Gould (as Max Devlin), Bill Cosby (as Barney Satin), Susan Anspach (as Penny Hart), Adam Rich (as Toby Hart), Julie Budd (as Stella Summers), Sonny Shroyer (as Big Billy Hunniker), David Knell (as Nerve Nordinger), Charles Shamata (as Jerry Nadler), Deborah Baltzell (as Heidi), Ronnie Schell (as Greg Weems), Stanley Brock (as The Counterman), Ted Zeigler (as Mr. Billings), Vic Dunlop (as Brian), Reggie Nalder (as Chairman - Devil Council), Lillian Muller (as Veronica - Devil Council), Julie Parrish (as Sheila), Sally K. Marr (as Mrs. Gromley), Madelyn Cates (as Mrs. Trent), Stu Gilliam (as Orderly #1), Denise Du Barry (as Stella’s Secretary), Helene Winston (as Agent Hargraves), Susan Tolsky (as Nerve’s Mom), Vernon Weddle (as Justice of the Peace), Ernest Harada (as Motorcycle Scout #1), Bill Saito (as Motorcycle Scout #2), Gustaf Unger (as Gregory - Devil Council), Bertil Unger (as Julian - Devil Council), Joseph Burke (as Steven - Devil Council), Tak Kubota (as Bruce - Devil Council), Army Archerd (as Himself), Rutch Manning (as Mrs. Davis), Bartine Zane (as Blind Lady #2), Rahsaan Morris (as Tremaine), Adam Starr (as Kid at Carnival), Chip Courtland (as Jock #1), Rene Lamart (as Jock #2), Mark Andrews (as Jock #3), Teri Landrum (as Susie), Tracie Savage (as Pammy), Nancy Bond (as Mrs. Minushkim), Sheila Rogers (as Mrs. Pepper), Robert Baron (as Mr. Pepper), Pete Renaday (as Studio Engineer), Albert Able (as M.C. Announcer), Roger Price (as Old Man), Robert S. Telford (as Camper Owner), Wally K. Bers (as Fan at party), Mindy Sterling (as Fan #1 at Grammys), Richard Lasting (as Fan #2 at Grammys), Richard Crystal (as Award Presenter), Steve Eastin (as Larry Binder), James Almanzar (as Ticket Taker), Nick Angotti (as TV Reporter), Jackie Russell (as Carnival Kid’s Mom), Gary Morgan (as Record Store D.J.), Ted Noose (as Officer), Dailey Pike (as Orderly #2), Bari Roulette (as Maid of Honor), Jan Jorden (as Women in Lounge)
- MPAA Rating: PG
- Runtime: 96 minutes
- Sound: Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)
- Format: Color
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Genre(s): Classics, Comedy, Live-Action (from movies.disney.com)
- Budget: $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Opening Weekend (U.S. & Canada): N/A
- Gross (U.S. & Canada): $16,000,000
- Gross (Worldwide): $16,000,000
- My Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 17% (Tomatometer) | 26% (Popcornmeter)
- Metacritic: N/A (Metascore) | N/A (Popcornmeter)
- IMDb: 5.0 (out of 10)
- The Movie DB: 58% (User Score)
- Letterboxd: 2.7 (out of 5)
- Combined Rating: 40.00
The Devil and Max Devlin is an interesting premise that never quite lives up to its potential. The idea of a selfish landlord striking a deal with a devilish soul broker has moments of charm, but the film struggles with uneven pacing and a tone that shifts awkwardly between comedy and moral drama. While the redemption message is clear, the story often feels slow, and the characters are underdeveloped. It ends up being more of a curious footnote in Disney’s early-1980s live-action catalog than a memorable classic.
Have you seen The Devil and Max Devlin? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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