Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) in Color — Starring James Cagney & Don Murray

Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Shake Hands with the Devil, Michael Anderson’s 1959 drama starring James Cagney, Don Murray, and Dana Wynter, 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

In the fog-shrouded streets of Dublin in 1921, during the brutal final months of the Irish War of Independence against British rule, Kerry O’Shea is a young Irish-American medical student who has come to Ireland to study surgery, determined to stay out of the violent political struggle tearing the country apart. His neutrality is destroyed in a single night when he witnesses British Black and Tans — the feared auxiliary police force — savagely beating innocent civilians in the streets, and he is drawn into sheltering a wounded IRA man.

Through this act of compassion, Kerry is recruited into the Irish Republican Army by his own university professor, Sean Lenihan, a brilliant and respected surgeon who by day performs delicate operations with steady hands and by night commands a ruthless guerrilla unit with iron discipline. Kerry initially admires Lenihan’s passionate, unwavering dedication to the cause of Irish freedom and his genuine love for the Irish people. Lenihan becomes mentor, father figure, and inspiration, and Kerry rises quickly through the ranks, participating in ambushes, intelligence operations, and daring raids against British installations.

But as the violence escalates to horrifying levels on both sides, Kerry begins to see a terrifying transformation in the man he idolizes. Lenihan no longer fights for Ireland’s freedom — he fights because he has come to love war itself, the power over life and death, the intoxication of violence. When a ceasefire is finally negotiated that would end the bloodshed and grant Ireland partial independence, Lenihan refuses to accept peace. He threatens to execute a captured English noblewoman, Lady Doreen Doyle, to deliberately provoke the British into resuming hostilities and destroying the fragile peace agreement. Kerry faces the most terrible confrontation of his life: he must stand against the man who taught him everything to prevent a senseless murder that would plunge Ireland back into war.

Cast & Crew

Director: Michael Anderson

Stars: James Cagney, Don Murray, Dana Wynter, Glynis Johns, Michael Redgrave, Sybil Thorndike

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Shake Hands with the Devil was originally filmed in black and white, its Dublin locations providing gritty, authentic atmosphere for this tale of revolution and moral compromise. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to the rain-soaked streets and Georgian architecture of Dublin, the green fields and stone walls of the Irish countryside, and the tense, lamp-lit interiors where life-and-death decisions are made in whispered conversations. James Cagney’s intense screen presence gains new power in color, his steely blue eyes burning with the fanaticism that lies at the heart of the story. The colorized version adds visceral power to this restored classic film. Now also available in colour.

Buy Shake Hands with the Devil in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Shake Hands with the Devil features one of James Cagney’s most complex and powerful late-career performances as a freedom fighter corrupted and consumed by his own capacity for violence. Shot entirely on location in Ireland — a rarity for a Hollywood production of this era — the film offers a nuanced and morally sophisticated portrayal of the Irish independence movement rarely seen in American cinema. The distinguished supporting cast includes Michael Redgrave, Sybil Thorndike, Glynis Johns, and Irish actor Cyril Cusack, lending the production international prestige. Don Murray brings earnest conviction to the role of the young idealist forced to confront the moral cost of revolution. Director Michael Anderson, who had directed Around the World in 80 Days, brings epic scale to this intimate character drama. Through professional colorization, this powerful Irish drama 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 111 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: Was this filmed in Ireland?
A: Yes, Shake Hands with the Devil was filmed entirely on location in Dublin and the Irish countryside, giving it an authentic atmosphere that sets it apart from studio-bound productions.

Q: Is this one of Cagney’s best performances?
A: Many critics consider it one of Cagney’s finest and most complex roles. His portrayal of a man consumed by violence while fighting for a just cause is both terrifying and deeply human.

Q: Is the film historically accurate?
A: While the specific characters are fictional, the film accurately depicts the atmosphere and moral complexities of the Irish War of Independence, including the role of the Black and Tans and the negotiations that led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

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

• General Della Rovere (1959)
• The Long Voyage Home (1940)
• Bataan (1943)
• The Safecracker (1958)
• No Way Out (1950)