Shake Hands with the Devil

Set in Dublin in 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, Shake Hands with the Devil follows Kerry O'Shea, an Irish-American medical student who intends to keep clear of the conflict between the IRA and the Black and Tans, the British auxiliary force known for its harsh methods. His plan collapses when he helps a wounded friend, an act that puts him outside the law and draws him into the rebel movement led by his former professor, Sean Lenihan. Lenihan has come to treat the struggle as an end in itself, and his refusal to accept the peace terms offered by the British sets him against those who want the fighting to stop. Kerry's position grows more difficult when he becomes involved with an English hostage held by the rebels.

The film was directed by Michael Anderson, who also produced it, from a screenplay by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. It came after The Dam Busters, Around the World in 80 Days and 1984 in his filmography, and before Operation Crossbow. James Cagney plays Lenihan, with Don Murray as Kerry, Dana Wynter as Jennifer Curtis, Glynis Johns as Kitty Brady, Michael Redgrave as The General and Sybil Thorndike as Lady Fitzhugh. Thirty-seven cast members are credited.

On IMDb the film holds a rating of 7 out of 10 from around 1,700 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.5 out of 10 from a much smaller number of votes. A critics' rating of 7.5 out of 10 from eight reviews places it slightly above the audience scores.