The World, the Flesh, and the Devil

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (dir. Ranald MacDougall, 1959) stars Harry Belafonte as Ralph Burton, the last man on earth…that is, until he meets a white woman played by Inger Stevens. Shot on location in New York City and featuring empty streets that resemble our current pandemic crisis, the film confronts racism in a way that is rare for a science fiction film and incredibly relevant for the contemporary moment.

(1959)
The World, the Flesh, and the Devil is not yet available to campuses for digital streaming. However, individuals can stream the film on Amazon Prime or YouTube for a low rental fee.

Commentary by:
Lynne Edwards, Media and Communication Studies
Jennifer Fleeger, Film Studies