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Poor Devil

Name: Poor Devil
Director: Robert Scheerer
Released: 1973
Duration: 73 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

1973

Director

Robert Scheerer

Runtime

73 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Poor Devil stands as a transitional piece of 1970s television. Its key strength lies in its casting, which breaks the era's typical racial homogeneity by featuring a prominent Black actor in a leading role. However, the film remains bound by the broadcasting standards of its time. It emphasizes male-driven action and lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities or characters with disabilities. While the supernatural premise offers some nuanced exploration of morality, the film does not delve deeply into the layered aspects of diversity found in contemporary media.

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Category Breakdown

Does Poor Devil have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film follows the social norms of 1973 and does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories that question the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does Poor Devil portray gender?

Fair

The story centers around male-driven action through a deal between a resident of hell and an accountant. Female characters appear but play minor roles and have little influence on the plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Poor Devil?

Good

Sammy Davis Jr.'s prominent role in the film adds racial diversity, challenging the era's trend of predominantly white casts in mainstream TV.

How does Poor Devil represent religion and culture?

Fair

The supernatural elements explore themes of redemption and morality through a mythological lens involving Lucifer.

Does Poor Devil include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

The casting of Sammy Davis Jr. adds significant racial diversity for 1973 television.
The supernatural setting allows for a somewhat nuanced exploration of moral relativism and redemption.

Limited or Absent

The story lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and non-traditional gender expressions.
The plot focuses heavily on male-driven action, offering limited roles for women.
There is no visible or invisible disability representation within the characters.

Official Synopsis

A young, down-on-his-luck resident of hell is given a chance to redeem himself by signing up a down-on-his-luck retail accountant to sell his soul to Lucifer.

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