Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Shout at the Devil Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 28, 2024

Peter Hunt's "Shout at the Devil" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with producer Tony Klinger; new program on the making of the film with exclusive interviews; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

I know this business, alright?

Old records reveal that Shout at the Devil materialized because a couple of years earlier Gold performed surprisingly well at the box office. Both films are directed by Peter Hunt and based on novels by Wilbur Smith. Of course, both treat Roger Moore as a legitimate star too.

But it is not immediately obvious whether producers Michael and Tony Klinger financed the film Shout at the Devil turned out to be. Why? It is a strange hybrid project, one that very much feels like the creation of multiple people with drastically different takes on the material from Smith’s novel. For example, some parts of it desperately want to impress an audience that would have expected it to be a historically accurate film. They focus on strategy rather than action and, where appropriate, produce tense drama that would fit perfectly in a historically accurate film. However, for each such part, there are twice as many contrasting parts that could have been extracted from a comedy, maybe even a parody. They focus on odd behavior and silly humor, often fittingly goofy action as well. When merged, the former and latter produce a most unusual film, perhaps even a bizarre one. Is this the film that the Klingers financed?

The quickest and seemingly most rational answer appears to be this: Not a chance in hell. However, anyone who takes the time to see Shout at the Devil more than once and examine closely what it does will almost certainly arrive at a different conclusion. What would become obvious in multiple viewings that a single viewing will not reveal? The answer is coming after a quick description of the story told in Shout at the Devil.

Sometime during World War I, British dignitary Sebastian Oldsmith (Moore) arrives in Zanzibar and against his will becomes a partner of American ex-military man-turned-black marketeer Flynn O'Flynn (Lee Marvin). While poaching ivory, Oldsmith and O’Flynn become targets for the vile German commander Fleischer (Reinhard Kolldehoff), who dominates and taxes the area like a medieval dictator. After the inevitable clash that leaves both sides permanently scarred, it becomes obvious that a victor must be declared, and the entire area becomes a battlefield. Soon after, while perfecting their strategy to take out Fleischer, Oldsmith and O’Flynn establish contact with the British military and agree to destroy a massive German warship that has been secretly repaired and prepared for action.

Even though Shout at the Devil was conceived several years earlier, it was released after Moore had become the new James Bond. It imitates much of the material one would expect to see in a Bond film, but under the guise of being a proper old-fashioned adventure film. This is the reason why there are such wild swings in its tone, attitude, and appearance. Gold pulls off the same trick. However, in Gold everything is done on a smaller scale and in a contemporary setting.

Shout at the Devil also adds Marvin, a big American star, and he makes it a much more diverse film. Gold does not have anyone like Marvin, so Moore dominates it in a most familiar fashion. In Shout of the Devil, Moore and Marvin match each other very well, and while plenty of the Bond-esque glamour that gives Gold its identity is retained, the end product is unquestionably different.

So, what is the final verdict on Shout at the Devil? Is it a good or bad film?

It is a silly film, and describing it as good or bad would depend entirely on one’s tolerance of its silliness. Some of it is charming and funny. Some of it is pretty dull. While Moore is likable, the most effective material is with Marvin, who constantly drinks aged gin and routinely looks legitimately inebriated.

In the United States, Shout at the Devil has been seen in two versions, one of which was significantly shorter. This Blu-ray release presents the original, unedited, longer version of it.

Shout at the Devil Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Shout at the Devil arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

The release is sourced from the same old master MGM supplied to Timeless Media Group to produce this release for the U.S. market, which I have in my library. I think that this master is quite good. It produces visuals boasting good delineation, clarity, and depth. Yes, there are a few areas with small density fluctuations that affect delineation and depth, but even there the overall quality of the visuals remains good. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain could be slightly better exposed, but there are no troubling anomalies. Color balance is good. However, this is an area where small yet meaningful adjustments in the saturation levels can be introduced. If they are, the dynamic range of the visuals will be even more convincing. Small nicks and dings can be spotted, so the surface of the visuals can be healthier. However, there are no large cuts, marks, warped or torn frames to report. All in all, there is room for some small improvements, but the current master has good organic qualities and produces a fine presentation of the film. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Shout at the Devil Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

Your initial impression might be that the audio can be fuller and a bit more intense, especially during the more elaborate action footage. I am not convinced there is room for significant improvements. Even if the audio is fully remastered, I think that it will retain what appear to be limitations on the current lossless track. Why? The outdoor footage has organic limitations, so they are retained on the soundtrack. The shootouts and screams make this quite obvious. So, while some minor improvements can be introduced, I am quite certain that they will be cosmetic. I did not encounter any age-related anomalies to report.

Shout at the Devil Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Shout at the Devil - in this new program, John Glen (second unit director), Lindsay Sterne (producer's secretary), Terry Wells (prop technician), and Dusty Symonds (location manager), among others, recall what it was like to be around Peter Hunt, Roger Moore, and Lee Marvin during the shooting of Shout at the Devil. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).

• And the Devil Makes Three - in this lengthy new program, producer Tony Klinger discusses in great detail his involvement with Shout at the Devil and its reception. Klinger also shares various interesting stories involving the film's stars. In English, not subtitled. (68 min).

• Exploding Bottles and Shooting Models: The SFX of Shout at the Devil - in this new program, special effects technician John Evans recalls how he was offered the opportunity to work on Shout at the Devil and the trip he and several of his colleagues made to Africa, where the film was shot. There are additional comments from model effects specialist Brian Smithies. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of promotional materials for and stills from Shout at the Devil. Presented with music. (4 min).

• Booklet - a 24-page illustrated booklet featuring Mia Boffey's essay "Worth Shout About!" and Barry Forshaw's essay "Shout at the Devil with Marvin and Moore".

• Cover - a reversible cover with vintage poster art.

Shout at the Devil Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shout at the Devil was made to replicate the success of its predecessor, Gold, so even though it is a period adventure film, it channels the same James Bond-esuqe old-fashioned glamour. But this time Roger Moore does not dominate because he is partnered with Lee Marvin, whose antics ensure a different end product. How different? Shout at the Devil is loaded with silly material, so it is impossible to take seriously. 88 Films' release is sourced from an old but good organic master and has a fine selection of exclusive new bonus features. RECOMMENDED.