The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1959, The World, the Flesh and the Devil is a drama and science fiction film directed by Ranald MacDougall, running about 95 minutes. “The Most Unusual Story Ever Told!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white, and Burton, who is black.
Who’s in it. The World, the Flesh and the Devil stars Harry Belafonte as Ralph Burton, Inger Stevens as Sarah Crandall and Mel Ferrer as Benson Thacker.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, The World, the Flesh and the Devil has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on TCM and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The World, the Flesh and the Devil page.
If you liked it. Fans of The World, the Flesh and the Devil tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959)?
- In US, The World, the Flesh and the Devil is available to stream on TCM, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The World, the Flesh and the Devil worth watching?
- The World, the Flesh and the Devil holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The World, the Flesh and the Devil?
- The World, the Flesh and the Devil stars Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens and Mel Ferrer.
- When was The World, the Flesh and the Devil released?
- The World, the Flesh and the Devil was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.