Devil's Partner

DEVIL'S PARTNER is a forgotten little American horror flick that looks and feels like a contemporary western with a few horror touches added to the mix. I'd never heard of it before I sat down to watch it, and while it's certainly no classic, it's an adequate time waster that's difficult to dislike. The film was shot by TV director Charles Rondeau who creates a cosy atmosphere despite all the supposed horror going on.

The story is about a guy who makes a Faustian pact with the devil for eternal youth. There are shades of Dorian Gray here along with all the old-time deal-with-the-devil movies of the 1940s. Unfortunately youth isn't enough for this guy and he also enlists the black arts to help bump off anyone who opposes him. There are some cheesy animal attack scenes mixed in but most of the film concentrates on the resolutely dull heroic characters trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. Again, no classic, but this is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type movie.

"An old hermit makes a pact with the Devil and, in exchange for his obedience, is given restored youth and vitality. He returns to his hometown, after assuming the identity of his own nephew, and takes up residence in his former home. He begins a campaign of terror against those he feels will oppose him and sets his sights on a beautiful girl, causing harm and hardship to her fiancé in order to win her over," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

"Devil's Partner" is a difficult feature to enjoy; a thriller with no frills (or thrills), it might have been made for drive-ins and Saturdays. Ed Nelson is "introduced" as the star, and he seems to have what it takes for the big screen - but, this slightly Faustian story was no career helper. Instead, Mr. Nelson successfully moved into television's "Peyton Place". Co-stars, like "Petticoat Junction" resident Edgar Buchanan (as Doc Lucas), were also familiar TV faces.

** Devil's Partner (1962) Charles R. Rondeau ~ Ed Nelson, Edgar Buchanan, Jean Allison

An old man (Ed Nelson) sells his soul to the devil, and turns into a young man (also Ed Nelson). He then uses witchcraft and black magic to win a woman (Jean Allison) from his rival (Richard Crane).

Nelson is probably not a well-known name to many, but perhaps he should be. For fans of horror and science fiction, it is worth pointing out that he worked with famed B-movie producer Roger Corman on such films as "Cry Baby Killers", "A Bucket of Blood", "Teenage Cave Man", and "Attack of the Crab Monsters". That is not a bad bunch of films to appear in!

Stanley Clements should be given credit for writing a simple yet compelling plot. He was primarily an actor and was known to be a part of the East Side Kids or Bowery Boys film series. Apparently, he could have been just as successful as a writer if he had chosen that route!

Enough has been said regarding the summary of this flick. Sure, the plot doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I'd even go so far as to say the the makers may have switched stories 20 minutes into filming this movie. The deal with the guy coming back and not seeming to know anyone in the town he's lived in all his life just makes me think there was another version of the story at one time... Maybe not though. Maybe the plot just wasn't thought out enough. But what the movie does have is atmosphere. From the opening shot of a sinister shadow on a decrepit shacks wall with a scared goat bleating in the background , to a faithful pet going berserk and attacking it's master this movie is creepy. All you folks who like these old spook flicks know...That's the important thing. The Alpha Video version is very cheap but is in pretty bad shape especially at the beginning of reels. Sinister Cinema has a better copy but you'll pay more for it. I'd say at the very least get the Alpha Video version. You can't go wrong spending $6.00 and getting a quality spook.

The phrase Don't judge a book by its cover certainly applies to this movie. The cover of the DVD shows a naked woman riding a centaur, in a storm, through a cemetery. Forget all of that. You won't see it. It doesn't exist in this movie. It has nothing to do with the movie. The movie is actually very tame. My copy of 'The Devil's Partner' is by Alpha Video. There are some problems with the actual quality of the film. This is primarily in the beginning of the movie. For me, it wasn't bad enough to be a major problem and I quickly forgot about it. With that being said, I really liked the movie and enjoyed it more than I expected. It's an old B movie, and it does have some problems with the plot, but the acting is pretty good and it is an enjoyable, entertaining film. In my opinion 'The Devil's Partner' is an average 1950s B horror movie, is under rated, and is worth viewing.