Moviemakers tried an experiment with Christopher George after his popular 1960s action series "The Rat Patrol". Between 1968 and 1971 George was cast in several (mostly action) films in an effort to cash in on his popularity. Among those movies was THE DEVIL'S 8, about a moonshine operation being busted by federal agents.
In an imitation of THE DIRTY DOZEN'S story, government agent Ray Faulkner is assigned to break up the moonshine operation of despicable kingpin Burl (Ralph Meeker). Faulkner liberates bad guys from a chain gang to accomplish this. Of course, Burl can't be brought down without the presence of beautiful women, racing cars, explosions, fistfights, and gun battles, so that's what happens in the movie for 98 minutes. After one last gunfight and explosion plus a tense standoff, Burl gives up and Faulkner has a drink and saves the day. Among the familiar actors in Faulkner's gang are Ross Hagen and Fabian.
The 1968-1971 "Christopher George experiment" is reminiscent of the 1964-65 "George Maharis experiment" to make these men into major movie stars. Neither one worked very well, but at least the movies are mostly fun to watch. In the mid-1970s George settled into a career of guest appearance on TV shows and TV movies, including such forgettable films as "Grizzly" (1976) and "Day of the Animals" (1977). Sadly, George died suddenly in 1983 at age 52, so we'll never know how his later career would have fared. THE DEVIL'S 8 is predictable and mild action fare but it is entertaining in a way, if you're in the right frame of mind.
In an imitation of THE DIRTY DOZEN'S story, government agent Ray Faulkner is assigned to break up the moonshine operation of despicable kingpin Burl (Ralph Meeker). Faulkner liberates bad guys from a chain gang to accomplish this. Of course, Burl can't be brought down without the presence of beautiful women, racing cars, explosions, fistfights, and gun battles, so that's what happens in the movie for 98 minutes. After one last gunfight and explosion plus a tense standoff, Burl gives up and Faulkner has a drink and saves the day. Among the familiar actors in Faulkner's gang are Ross Hagen and Fabian.
The 1968-1971 "Christopher George experiment" is reminiscent of the 1964-65 "George Maharis experiment" to make these men into major movie stars. Neither one worked very well, but at least the movies are mostly fun to watch. In the mid-1970s George settled into a career of guest appearance on TV shows and TV movies, including such forgettable films as "Grizzly" (1976) and "Day of the Animals" (1977). Sadly, George died suddenly in 1983 at age 52, so we'll never know how his later career would have fared. THE DEVIL'S 8 is predictable and mild action fare but it is entertaining in a way, if you're in the right frame of mind.