The World, the Flesh and the Devil backdrop
DRAMA . 1959 . 1h 35m . 6.3/10

The World, the Flesh and the Devil_

"The Most Unusual Story Ever Told!"

Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white, and Burton, who is black.

Starring Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens, Mel Ferrer
6.3/10
Rating
1h 35m
Runtime
1959
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The World, the Flesh and the Devil poster
The Most Unusual Story Ever Told!

Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white, and Burton, who is black.

WHERE TO WATCH

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Cast
Harry Belafonte stars as Ralph Burton in The World, the Flesh and the Devil.
Harry Belafonte →
Year context
The World, the Flesh and the Devil was released 67 years ago in 1959.
Overview
Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind...
The World, the Flesh and the Devil is a Drama, Science Fiction, Romance film with a runtime of 1h 35m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
95 min (1h 35m)
Country
Rating
6.3/10 (76 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The World, the Flesh and the Devil about?
Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white, and Burton, who is black.
How long is The World, the Flesh and the Devil?
The World, the Flesh and the Devil has a runtime of 95 minutes (1h 35m).
Who stars in The World, the Flesh and the Devil?
The cast of The World, the Flesh and the Devil includes Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens, Mel Ferrer.
What is the rating of The World, the Flesh and the Devil?
The World, the Flesh and the Devil has a rating of 6.3 out of 10 based on 76 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (3)

Drama Science Fiction Romance
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