MovieChat Forums > Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) Discussion > A must see movie

A must see movie

posted 16 years ago by drystyx
8 replies | jump to latest

When I was in school, they would show a movie at the end of the school year. I think this is a good one to show. Not only is it non stop entertainment, but it has great writing, directing, and acting. And it has a very clear and great message which will always be important, the human cost and dangers of fanaticism.
Maybe watching this movie would deter just a few more fanatics. Even if a small fraction learn from it, it would be worth it.
This is indeed a timeless classic, and the fact that it is rated by IMDB viewers as only a 7 proves that countless people vote against this movie without ever watching it, just out of spite. There are hundreds on this site who purposely vote against any movie not made in the last 20 years, unless some big time movie critic tells them it is a classic.
Enough of my gripe, though. This is a great movie, and I think it should be shown more often, and available to all peopole.

Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time

[–] Gloede_The_Saint 15 years ago

It's a bit silly to think that loads of people wiould vote against an unknown movie like this. But it is a must see!

Somebody here has been drinking and I'm sad to say it ain't me - Allan Francis Doyle

[–] Xcalat3 14 years ago

agreed

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] darmandom 13 years ago

Cagney makes this movie worth watching

[–] rockinbone 13 years ago

Unfortunately, most folks dont know enough about to know that James Cagney's character was actually correct. The "treaty" was yet another lie in a 700 year history of abuse and manipulation. That's why the IRA continued.That makes the message of the film (the perils of fanaticism)completely irrelevant.

I'm not that proud of everything I've done, but I'm not that ashamed, either.

[–] SeanDx 12 years ago

Most people in Ireland would regard the treaty as a very complex subject with arguments for and against and is generally accepted to have been a poor but probably necessary compromise given the circumstances at the time.
The Treaty was acceptable to a majority of the Irish people at the time, and most of the IRA did not 'continue', they set about organising an Irish state.
Whether they were right to do so makes for interesting debate and the message of this film is surely relevant to that debate.
The basic point is that unfortunately 'most folks' who make bold simplistic statements about Irish history don't know enough about it.

[–] FilmFan50 12 years ago

I just saw this on a tv station that features classic films. What a treat to see Richard Harris in only his third film, along with Cyril Cusack and Ray MacNally. If it were on DVD, I would definitely show it along with "Michael Collins" and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley."

FilmFan50

[–] SeanDx 12 years ago

It's available on DVD in Europe (region2). 12 Euro from Play.com
In Ireland Xtravision are selling it for 6 euro.

[–] Woodyanders 10 years ago

Agreed. It's an excellent film. Cagney is superb in his role.

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