Devil and Max Devlin, The (film) To save his soul, minor league sinner Max Devlin makes a deal with the devil’s right-hand man, Barney: within two months he must convince three innocent people to sell their souls. Max makes his victims’ dreams come true, and tricks them into signing a “contract.” At the last moment, Max learns that Barney lied, and he risks eternal damnation by burning the contracts and saving the others. Released on February 6, 1981. Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern. 95 min. Stars Elliott Gould (Max Devlin), Bill Cosby (Barney), Susan Anspach (Penny), Adam Rich (Toby), Julie Budd (Stella), Sonny Shroyer (Big Billy Hunniker), David Knell (Nerve Nordlinger). The film features the songs “Roses and Rainbows” by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager and “Any Fool Could See” by Marvin Hamlisch and Allee Willis. Location shooting was done at Universal Studios, utilizing the Universal Studios Tour and Amphitheatre. In addition the Troubadour, the Music Center, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Indian Dunes, and Venice Beach were used around the Los Angeles area. Disney makeup man Bob Schiffer was responsible for Bill Cosby’s convincing devilish look. He provided Cosby with a red iridescent wig, with ears and horns sewn into the base, and a heavy mauve makeup coloring as a base for his face, on top of which he used a special red water-soluble makeup from Germany. The elaborate Hell set was constructed of huge plaster stalagmites and stalactites with menacing bursts of flame provided by 20 butane furnaces. When the smoke cleared after four days of filming in “Hell,” the special-effects department had consumed 150 gallons of butane fuel, not to mention the 36,000 pounds of dry ice used to provide the eerie low lying smoke effect. Released on video in 1981.
