Satan Met a Lady (1936) in Color — Starring Bette Davis & Warren William

Satan Met a Lady (1936) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Satan Met a Lady, William Dieterle’s 1936 screwball mystery comedy starring Bette Davis and Warren William, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Smooth-talking private detective Ted Shane is thrown off a train in a small western town, arriving penniless and fast-talking his way into a partnership with a timid colleague, Ames, whose small detective agency becomes the unlikely center of an elaborate criminal conspiracy. Almost immediately, a beautiful and dangerously clever woman named Valerie Purvis walks into the office, hiring Shane for what seems like a routine job — finding a missing person. But nothing about Valerie is what it seems, and Shane quickly realizes he has stumbled into a deadly game.

At the heart of the mystery is a priceless artifact: Roland’s horn, a legendary ivory ram’s horn filled with precious gems, supposedly dating back to the era of Charlemagne. Multiple parties are desperate to get their hands on it, including the eccentric and ruthless Madame Barabbas, an elderly criminal mastermind who manipulates everyone with grandmotherly charm and ice-cold calculation. As bodies begin to pile up around the investigation, Shane must navigate a web of double-crosses and shifting alliances, uncertain whether Valerie is an innocent victim, a cunning manipulator, or both.

Shane’s wisecracking bravado and casual disregard for danger carry him through one dangerous encounter after another, from shadowy hotel rooms to tense confrontations in his own office. With Ames growing increasingly terrified and the police closing in, Shane plays every side against the other, maintaining his trademark devil-may-care attitude even as the stakes turn lethal. The final revelation of who truly holds the ram’s horn — and what everyone is willing to do to possess it — forces Shane into a climactic choice between loyalty, love, and self-preservation.

Cast & Crew

Director: William Dieterle

Stars: Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Winifred Shaw, Marie Wilson

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Satan Met a Lady was originally filmed in black and white, its 1930s urban settings creating a world of shadowy detective offices, glamorous hotel lobbies, and dimly lit confrontation scenes. This professionally colorized restoration transforms the visual experience frame by frame, from Bette Davis’s elegant costumes and striking blue eyes to the period details of Art Deco interiors and Depression-era streetscapes. Warren William’s debonair wardrobe of tailored three-piece suits gains new life in color, while the mysterious artifacts and exotic settings that drive the plot take on greater dramatic weight with the addition of rich, carefully researched period hues. The colorized version adds period richness to this restored classic film. Now also available in colour.

Buy Satan Met a Lady in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Satan Met a Lady holds a unique place in cinema history as the second of three film adaptations of Dashiell Hammett’s celebrated 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon, sandwiched between the forgotten 1931 pre-Code version and John Huston’s legendary 1941 masterpiece with Humphrey Bogart. This 1936 version takes a radically different approach, reinventing Hammett’s hard-boiled detective story as a breezy screwball comedy and replacing the iconic black bird with a gem-filled ram’s horn. Bette Davis, still in her early Warner Bros. years and years away from her greatest triumphs, plays the femme fatale role that Mary Astor would later immortalize as Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Warren William, often called the “king of pre-Code” for his suave, morally ambiguous leading roles, brings his signature roguish charm to the detective role. Director William Dieterle, who would go on to direct The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Life of Emile Zola, keeps the pace snappy and the tone lighthearted. Through professional colorization, this fascinating Hollywood curiosity reaches new audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 74 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this related to The Maltese Falcon?
A: Yes, Satan Met a Lady is the second film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Maltese Falcon. It reimagines the story as a screwball comedy, replacing the iconic falcon statuette with a jewel-filled ram’s horn.

Q: How does this compare to the 1941 Humphrey Bogart version?
A: While the 1941 film is a faithful noir classic, the 1936 version takes a lighter, comedic approach to the same source material, making it an entertaining companion piece and a fascinating study in how different directors interpreted the same story.

Q: Who are the main stars?
A: The film stars Warren William as the charming detective and a young Bette Davis as the mysterious femme fatale, supported by Alison Skipworth as the memorable villainess and Arthur Treacher in a comedic role.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
• The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959)
• The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance (1941)
• This Gun for Hire (1942)
• The Scarlet Clue (1945)