Tracy delivers one of his more colorful portrayals in his hard-drinking cleric who has lost faith in his God, walloping over a character which sparks entire action of film.

Despite all the sounds and fury in "The Devil at 4 O'clock," its drama does not emerge as a bang but as a whimper.

The story has its share of hokum but Tracy's performance has guts and honesty.

The plot of Mervyn LeRoy's adventure is routine but the special effects are good (for its time) and it's well acted by Frank Sinatra as a convict and Spencer Tracy, again playing a priest.