History Theatre / TheDevilsDisciple

* BlackSheep: Richard Dudgeon.

* NiceHat: Gen. Burgoyne often sports a magnificent bicorn, complete with a white cockade.

* IAteWhat: Subverted in the film version. After eating a bowl of soup, General Burgoyne asks one of his men what was in it. Clearly expecting this reaction, the soldier admits that it was rattlesnake. General Burgoyne doesn't even miss a beat before pronouncing it delicious. [[spoiler:And he goes back for seconds.]]

[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_devils_disciple.jpg]]

A comic play written by Creator/GeorgeBernardShaw in 1897 and set during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution, ''The Devil's Disciple'' tells of the title character, Richard Dudgeon, and his opposite, the Rev. Anthony Anderson, and the events which follow when British soldiers come to arrest Anderson for treason and Dudgeon takes his place. A further element is how Anderson's wife, Judith, rapidly goes from loathing Dudgeon to falling in love with him. Adapted into a movie several times; most notably in 1959, directed by Creator/GuyHamilton and starring Creator/KirkDouglas as Richard Dudgeon, Creator/BurtLancaster as Anthony Anderson, and Creator/LaurenceOlivier as General John Burgoyne.

'''General Burgoyne''' [sympathetically]: Now there, Mr. Anderson, you talk like a civilian, if you will excuse my saying so. Have you any idea of the average marksmanship of the army of His Majesty King George the Third? If we make you up a firing party, what will happen? Half of them will miss you: the rest will make a mess of the business and leave you to the provo-marshal's pistol. Whereas we can hang you in a perfectly workmanlike and agreeable way. [Kindly] Let me persuade you to be hanged, Mr. Anderson?

* GrandInquisitorScene: Gen. Burgoyne doesn't want to hang Dudgeon, but it's his duty.

A comic play written by Creator/GeorgeBernardShaw in 1897 and set during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution, ''The Devil's Disciple'' tells of the title character, Richard Dudgeon, and his opposite, the Rev. Anthony Anderson, and the events which follow when British soldiers come to arrest Anderson for treason and Dudgeon takes his place. A further element is how Anderson's wife, Judith, rapidly goes from loathing Dudgeon to falling in love with him. Adapted into a movie several times; most notably in 1959, starring Creator/KirkDouglas as Richard Dudgeon, Creator/BurtLancaster as Anthony Anderson, and Creator/LaurenceOlivier as General John Burgoyne.

-->'''Major Swinden''': Come what may, General, the British soldier will give a good account of himself.
-->'''General Burgoyne''': And therefore I suppose, sir, the British officer need not know his business; the British soldier will get him out of all his blunders with a bayonet? In future, sir, I must ask you to be a little less generous with the blood of your men, and a little more generous with your own brain.

* MeaningfulLook: In the 1959 film, there is a brief one between Anthony and Richard. As Richard is trying to thank Anthony for saving his life, Anthony gives him a wink over Judith's shoulder, as if to say that the whole "IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy" thing is just a ruse. Richard gives him a look back as if to say "You sly dog". From there on, it's pretty clear that Anthony will take Judith back, and that Richard will step aside.

A comic play by Creator/GeorgeBernardShaw set during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution, which tells of the title character, Richard Dudgeon, and his opposite, the Rev. Anthony Anderson, and the events which follow when British soldiers come to arrest Anderson for treason and Dudgeon takes his place. A further element is how Anderson's wife, Judith, rapidly goes from loathing Dudgeon to falling in love with him. Adapted into a movie several times; most notably in 1959, starring Creator/KirkDouglas as Richard Dudgeon, Creator/BurtLancaster as Anthony Anderson, and Creator/LaurenceOlivier as General John Burgoyne.

!!The Devil's Disciple provides examples of:

* LesCollaborateurs: Rev. Parshotter is a Loyalist who tells the colonists to do as they're told.

* IAteWhat: Subverted in the film version. After eating a bowl of soup, General Burgoyne asks one of his men what was in it. Clearly expecting this reaction, the soldier admits that it was rattlesnake. General Burgoyne doesn't even miss a beat before pronouncing it delicious.

-->'''Narrator''': ...but that is a matter of history, on which it is impossible to rely. The rest of this story is pure fiction. Rest assured, you can safely believe every word of it.