The Devil's 8

The Devil's 8
Directed by Burt Topper
Written by John Milius
Willard Huyck
James Gordon White
Based on story by Larry Gordon
Starring Christopher George
Fabian
Production
company
Release dates
1969
Country United States
Language English

The Devil's 8 is a 1969 film from American International Pictures.

Plot

A Federal agent (Christopher George) recruits six convicts to bust a moonshine ring.[1]

Cast

Production

This film is the first feature screenplay credit for John Milius and Willard Huyck, who had gotten a summer job working in the story department of AIP after studying at USC. Milius says they were given two weeks to write it and they did it in ten days. "I don't think we ever thought it was our best work. It was pretty good; it was funny... a lot of noise but not very good action."[2] Milius says the film was a deliberate attempt to copy The Dirty Dozen. "It was called The Devil's 8 because they didn't have enough money for a full dozen."[3]

The cast included Larry Bishop, son of Joey Bishop, who had signed a five year contract with AIP. During filming the movie was known as Inferno Road.[4]

Shooting started 15 October 1968 and mostly took place at Pinecrest Camp in the San Bernardino Mountains outside Los Angeles.[5][6]

This was Fabian's last film billed as "Fabian". After this movie he was known as "Fabian Forte".[7]

Reception

The New York Times said "the carnage among these unshaven hard guys is continuous, as is the action, under rudimentary direction."[8]

References

  1. The Devil's 8 at Fabianforte.net
  2. Segaloff p 282
  3. Segaloff p 283
  4. Kremlin Letter' Set in Spring Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 Aug 1968: d17.
  5. Stafford Signed for 'Topaz' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 24 Sep 1968: f17.
  6. 'Devil's Eight' Opening Citywide on Wednesday Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 05 Apr 1969: b9.
  7. Fabian Makes It Legal--It's Fabian Forte Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 07 June 1969: a9.
  8. New York Times film review accessed 5 July 2014

External links