What Is The Devil’s Disciple About?
The premise of The Devil’s Disciple in 327 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a remote New England village caught in the fevered throes of the Revolutionary War, the everyday rhythm is laced with the clatter of muskets and the whisper of loyalty‑laden gossip. Cobblestone streets wind through modest homes, while the distant thrum of British redcoats looms like a storm on the horizon. The atmosphere is thick with uncertainty: neighbors eye each other warily, the church bell tolls both for worship and warning, and the very air seems charged with a clash of duty and survival.
Dick Dudgeon is the village’s reluctant firebrand—a self‑described apostate who has long been estranged from his own family and the communal expectations that bind them. Though he shuns the conventional trappings of piety, his stubborn patriotism burns beneath a rough exterior, making him both an object of scorn and a secret rallying point for those who dream of freedom. His reputation as a scoundrel masks a deeper conviction, and his return to the hometown after his father’s death forces him to confront the fragile ties that still tether him to the community.
When the local clergyman, Rev. Anthony Anderson, is drawn into a delicate dance with the occupying forces, the two men’s fates become entwined in a most unlikely fashion. A case of mistaken identity lands Dick in the British gaol, yet he chooses to conceal his true self, assuming the minister’s mantle to protect the man he knows could be the village’s only moral anchor. This subterfuge thrusts him into a precarious role, balancing his own rebellious spirit against the expectations of a ministerial disguise.
The resulting tension ripples through the town: a man forced to shepherd a flock he does not belong to, a community caught between oppression and resistance, and the ever‑present looming presence of an occupying army. As loyalties are tested and identities blur, the story invites the viewer into a world where every whispered prayer and clandestine glance could tip the delicate balance toward either hope or ruin.
What Happens in The Devil’s Disciple?
The complete story of The Devil’s Disciple, from the first scene to the last, in 727 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Richard “Dick” Dudgeon is an apostate and outcast from his family in colonial Websterbridge, New Hampshire, who returns their hatred with scorn. After the death of his father, mistakenly hanged by the British as a rebel in nearby Springtown, Dick rescues his body from the gallows, where it had been left as an example to others. He leaves it for burial in the parish graveyard in Websterbridge. Dick then returns to his childhood home to hear the reading of his father’s will, much to his family’s dismay. His mother, Mrs. Dudgeon, is not happy to see him, deploring the way he has behaved.
Local minister Rev. Anthony Anderson, who is almost arrested for trying to persuade the British to take down the body, treats Dick with courtesy, despite Dick’s self-proclaimed apostasy. Dick’s “wickedness,” however, appalls Anderson’s wife, Judith Anderson. To everyone’s surprise, Dick’s father left the bulk of his estate to Dick, his eldest son. His mother points out that the only wealth her husband had is what she brought to the marriage in a large dowry, but he has left her with nothing. To Dick’s shock, his mother then refuses to stay with him and curses him. Dick proclaims himself a rebel against the British and scorns his family as cowards for appeasing the British.
In the meantime, the British discover the father’s grave. Anderson warns Dick that the British may arrest him for retrieving the body. He takes Dick home, thinking the British will not look for a disreputable outcast at a minister’s home. While Dick is there, Anderson is called to tend to Dick’s sick mother. Dick is left alone with Judith, despite the social impropriety. Before Anderson’s return, British soldiers enter Anderson’s home and arrest Dick, mistaking him for Anderson. They believe Anderson illegally retrieved the body. Dick allows them to take him away without revealing his actual identity. He swears Judith to secrecy lest her husband be arrested for Dick’s crime. In a state of great agitation, Judith finds her husband, who asks if Dick has harmed her. Breaking her promise to Dick, Judith reveals that soldiers came to arrest Anderson but Dick went in his place, stunning Anderson. Anderson tells Judith to have Dick keep quiet as long as possible, to give him “more start,” then quickly rides away. Judith is unaware that Anderson has gone to seek help from Lawyer Hawkins, secretly the leader of the local rebels, to negotiate giving himself up in exchange for Dick (if Anderson just gave himself up, the British would keep them both). Judith believes her husband to be a coward and now sees Dick, who she previously despised, as a hero. She willingly kisses Dick farewell.
Before a military tribunal, observed by Gen. Burgoyne, Dick is skeptical about British justice, pointing out the scaffolding being built to hang him. He keeps up the pretense of being Anderson during the questioning until Judith tries to save him by revealing that he is not her husband. Regardless of the mistaken identity, Dick has been insulting enough to the British to condemn himself (“When you make up your mind to hang a man you put yourself at a disadvantage with him…I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.”). Burgoyne now sarcastically observes to the prosecutor, “I really must congratulate you, Swindon. Despite your deplorable error and the prisoner’s undoubted innocence at the start of the proceedings, you managed to provoke him into guilt by the end of them. A forensic triumph.”
Meanwhile, Anderson decides to abandon his ministry and turn rebel. In Springtown, a battle is going on. Anderson enters a house that the British have commandeered that is next to their ammunition dump. Fighting off British soldiers, Anderson sets fire to the British ammunition dump, which explodes. He then dons the clothes of a Loyalist courier carrying an urgent message from General Howe to General Burgoyne. Reaching the village where Dick is about to be hanged, he presents a safe conduct from General Phillips, who the rebels have captured in Springtown. Terms are the withdrawal of British troops and the immediate release of Richard Dudgeon. Since General Howe is still in New York and not coming for relief, Burgoyne accedes to the demands. Anderson rises in his wife’s esteem, who chooses to remain with him rather than go off with Dick.
The Devil’s Disciple Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Dick rescues his father's body from the gallows” to “Aftermath: loyalties realign in Websterbridge”. 11 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Dick rescues his father's body from the gallows
After his father's death, Dick discovers the British have hanged him as a rebel. He goes to the Springtown gallows, retrieves his father's body, and arranges for its burial in the Websterbridge parish graveyard.
Where:Springtown
- 2
Reading the will and inheritance
Dick returns home to hear his father's will read aloud. The will leaves the bulk of the estate to Dick, leaving his mother with nothing and surprising the family.
Where:Websterbridge
- 3
Mother curses him; Dick proclaims rebellion
Dick's mother curses him for his apostasy and mocked wealth. He declares himself a rebel against the British and condemns his family for appeasing colonial authority.
Where:Websterbridge
- 4
British locate the grave; Anderson warns Dick
The British discover the father's grave, sparking fear of arrest. Reverend Anderson warns Dick of the danger and prepares to shelter him, though trouble looms.
Where:Websterbridge
- 5
Dick is arrested at Anderson's home
British soldiers arrest Dick, mistaking him for the minister. Dick submits to arrest without revealing his true identity and asks Judith to keep quiet to protect Anderson.
Where:Anderson's home
- 6
Judith reveals Dick's act to Anderson
Judith breaks her promise and reveals that it was Dick who took the place of Anderson during the arrest. The confession stuns Anderson and changes his view of the two men involved.
Where:Anderson's home
- 7
Tribunal begins; Dick maintains disguise
Before a military tribunal, Dick pretends to be Anderson during questioning. Judith tries to save him by exposing the deception, but Burgoyne notes that the prisoner has become guilty despite the mistaken identity.
Where:Military tribunal
- 8
Anderson becomes a rebel; Springtown battle
Anderson abandons his ministry and leads a rebel assault in Springtown, setting fire to a British ammunition dump. He then disguises himself as a Loyalist courier to deliver an urgent message to Burgoyne.
Where:Springtown
- 9
Anderson delivers safe conduct; terms agreed
Anderson arrives with a safe conduct from General Phillips, enabling negotiations. Burgoyne agrees to withdraw British troops and release Richard Dudgeon as a result.
Where:Springtown
- 10
Resolution and personal loyalties shift
The successful terms elevate Anderson's standing with his wife, who chooses to stay with him. Judith, who earlier admired Dick, kisses him farewell as the situation resolves.
Where:Springtown
- 11
Dick’s release and end of the hanging threat
Dick is released under the negotiated terms, avoiding execution. The tense confrontation ends with a fragile peace and the rebels gaining favor with the British command.
Where:Springtown
- 12
Aftermath: loyalties realign in Websterbridge
With the crisis resolved, families in Websterbridge and Springtown regroup, reassessing loyalties and leadership. The narrative closes on a balance between colonial authorities and rebel efforts.
Who Are the Main Characters in The Devil’s Disciple?
6 characters, among them Richard Dudgeon (Kirk Douglas), Anthony Anderson (Rev.) and Judith Anderson: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Richard Dudgeon (Kirk Douglas)
Played by Kirk Douglas
An apostate and outcast from his family, Dick returns to Websterbridge to claim his inheritance after his father’s death. He openly declares himself a rebel against the British, provoking both kin and authorities with his defiance. His sharp wit and bold stance push him toward a public confrontation that could seal his fate.
- 🗡️ Outcast
- 🚩 Rebel
- 🧭 Complex identity
-
Anthony Anderson (Rev.)
Played by Burt Lancaster
A local minister who treats Dick with courtesy but is secretly sympathetic to the rebels. He shifts from pastor to rebel leader, taking bold actions to undermine British control. He disguises his allegiance to secure Richard's release and steer the crisis toward negotiation.
- 🕊️ Charismatic Leader
- 🔥 Courageous
- 🛡️ Protector
- JA
Judith Anderson
Played by Janette Scott
Anderson’s wife, who initially despises Dick’s apostasy. Her loyalties are tested as she witnesses his courage, and her perception shifts from scorn to reluctant admiration. She ultimately reveals truths to save him and shares a heartfelt farewell kiss.
- 💔 Forbidden Love
- 🕯️ Compassionate
-
Gen. Burgoyne
Played by Laurence Olivier
The British commander presiding over the tribunal, whose sarcasm and authority highlight the war’s political stakes. His remarks expose the tension between law and power as the case unfolds, with a sharp eye on the marching war beyond the courtroom.
- 🗺️ Strategist
- 🎖️ Authority
-
Lawyer Hawkins
Played by Basil Sydney
The local legal mind who secretly leads the rebels. He works behind the scenes to negotiate a prisoner exchange, using legal maneuvering to aid Dick and the cause. His actions reveal the political calculus embedded in wartime law.
- 🗝️ Secret Rebel
- 🎓 Legal Strategist
- MD
Mrs. Dudgeon
Played by Eva Le Gallienne
Dick’s stern mother, who resents her son’s apostasy and deems his choices a betrayal of family honor. She asserts her own form of authority and economic security in the face of rebellion, ultimately illustrating the personal cost of political conflict.
- 🏛️ Stubborn Matriarch
- 💫 Traditionalist
Where and When Is The Devil’s Disciple Set?
The Devil’s Disciple is set in Websterbridge, New Hampshire and Springtown (1770s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1770s
Set during the American Revolutionary War era in colonial New England, the film centers on a town under British rule and the rebels who oppose them. The period is defined by trials, secret negotiations, and battlefield clashes that test loyalties. The era shapes characters’ motivations and the difficult choices they face.
Where
Websterbridge, New Hampshire; Springtown
Websterbridge is a colonial New Hampshire town where British authority clashes with local loyalties. Nearby Springtown serves as a flashpoint for skirmishes and courtroom drama, adding urgency to the characters’ choices. The parish graveyard, taverns, and family homes ground the story in a rural frontier during upheaval.
- 🏛️ Colonial Town
- ⚔️ War-torn Community
What Are the Themes of The Devil’s Disciple?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Rebellion, Justice and Sacrifice.
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01
Rebellion
Local ordinary people are drawn into a broader struggle as personal loyalties collide with national allegiance. Dick's apostasy becomes a catalyst for resistance, while Anderson emerges as a catalyst who risks everything. The story explores how individuals confront power when freedom is at stake. The drama asks what people are willing to sacrifice to stand up against authority.
-
02
Justice
Justice in the play is as much a performance as a verdict, with a tribunal and mistaken identity shaping outcomes. Burgoyne's court critiques reveal skepticism toward British legal authority in a time of war. The narrative questions whether law can be fair when political aims drive decisions. The resolution hinges on power dynamics rather than pure evidence.
-
03
Sacrifice
Anderson's risky ruse and readiness to swap places with Dick expose the cost of rebellion. Judith's changing feelings reflect how conflict reshapes personal loyalties. The rebels' fight culminates in a dramatic exchange that preserves some lives at the expense of others. The theme centers on courage and the price of taking a stand.
What Kind of Film Is The Devil’s Disciple?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Mixed
A steadily paced, tense wartime drama that explores self-sacrifice and moral courage through a case of mistaken identity, punctuated by sharp wit and complicated personal loyalties.
- tense
- urgent
- sarcastic
- defiant
- heroic
- sacrificial
- mistaken identity
- self sacrifice
- religious crisis
- war occupation
Content notes: war violence, execution, parental rejection.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Devil’s Disciple? Test yourself on the story.
