DEVILIN - The film that never was

 

During the course of my research into Marc Alaimo’s theatrical past (Read Part 1 here), I kept coming across a film project he was involved with in 1974 called Devilin. 

Curious, I looked into it further:

In 1973, executive producer Manfred Bernhard and screenwriter Perry Dell formed independent production company Ber-Dell International Productions Inc. Devilin, originally described as a suspense drama with “pro bicycle racing” aspects, was to be the first picture of several for their new venture. 

In early January, the Los Angeles Times reported Marc had been cast in the lead (see clipping above). 

Devilin’s plot from Variety magazine sounds downright bizarre:

“The story involves a bicycle rider who gets his death wish. His Rolls Royce, his only love in life, is up as collateral for a loan and, in a race that follows, his struggle always to win, even though accidents happen, causes strange things to occur.” (Feb. 18, 1974)

The Hollywood Report’s plot outline is even more confusing:

“A top-rated professional bicycle racer, who feels so secure in his handling of his classic 1951 Rolls Royce, that he uses it as a collateral for a loan. Thereby finishing his future and his life.” (Jan. 7, 1974)

One of the main highlights of the film was a massive, Los Angeles to Las Vegas bicycle race, involving hundreds of amateur and professional cyclists. The Hollywood Report noted that “the project is expected to attract scores of the world’s outstanding professional bicycle racers in a competition for thousands of dollars of cash prizes.” (April 15, 1974) Ber-Dell apparently received some 600 responses from cyclists wanting to be part of the film. Quite an ambitious venture for a first film from a new production company!

Ber-Dell was looking to make Devilin a G- or PG-rated film “without blood or violence”, yet still be a “sharp action feature, with overtones of suspense and terror.” (Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1974)  Another daunting challenge.

In January 1974, Variety reported the film was “in production” with initial shooting to begin in early February. Yet by March, Variety retracted the story and the publicist who originally stated the film’s status had been let go. Production was still ambitiously set for late June, and there was already talk of bringing the film to the San Francisco Film Festival that October.

Although initial production had begun, Devilin never made it off the drawing board, and it appears the production company folded soon afterwards. Although the film sounds somewhat bizarre, it still would have been amazing to see Marc in a leading role! 

Trivia Notes: 

Marc would go on to make another film with producer Manfred Bernhard called Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde (aka The Watts Monster) in 1976, playing Preston, the pusher/pimp. 

Interestingly enough, Marc has played an embodiment of the devil in his previous theatre days. In 1966, he appeared in the first English-language production of Goethe’s “Faust” as Mephistopheles at The Mall in New York’s Central Park.