Sam Hollingsworth (Stanley Holloway) is a lush and an actor playing the devil in a play. Sales at the box office have been bad. Sam blames it on the newfangled invention called television. One night, while extremely tipsy, Sam is mortally injured when a prop doesn’t work correctly and is killed. He finds himself in hell and in a discussion with the head of the enterprise, Mr. Lucifer (Stanley Holloway). Mr. Lucifer is of the opinion that television is good for business, his business; however, it isn’t making enough people miserable. Mr. Lucifer elicits Sam’s help in making more people miserable by telling him that it would bring more people back to the theater.
Story 1: Mr. Pedelty (Joseph Tomelty) is retiring after 41 years with the same company. As a retirement present, he is given a television. Sam is sent to set up this ‘special’ television in Pedelty’s home. The set draws the attention of many of his neighbors, including the married couple living upstairs, Jim and Kitty Norton (Jack Watling and Peggy Cummins). It doesn’t take long for Mr. Pedelty’s house to become a party place. Pedelty, trying to be a good host, goes into debt buying food and booze for everyone that continually shows up to his house. Mr. Pedelty, a normally simple man, needs to get rid of this machine that is causing his problems. He sells it to his upstairs neighbors, the Nortons.
Story 2: Kitty loves the set and spends most of her time watching it. Jim is in a position to improve his place at the MacDonald Pharmacy, but he needs to finish getting his needed degree in order to dispense prescriptions. Jim tries to study at home, but Kitty begins entertaining people. The noise begins to get on Jim’s nerves causing a rift between him and Kitty. The pharmacy owner’s nephew, Hector (Gordon Jackson) is jealous of Jim’s new position and adds to the family problems. When Jim’s life spirals out of control, he gives the television to his worst enemy, Hector.
Story 3: Hector becomes enamored with a singer on television known as the Lonely Hearts Singer (Kay Kendall). The devils’ instrument is poised to ruin the live of another hapless victim.
“Meet Mr. Lucifer” AKA “Let's Put out the Light” was released in 1953 and was directed by Anthony Pelissier. It is a British satirical comedy and an unusual portmanteau. The film is based on the 1951 play “Beggar My Neighbor” by Arnold Ridley.
The movie is a creature of its time. It is a critical commentary on the evil effects of the newfangled invention called ‘the television’, as seen through the eyes of movie studios. Seeing the effects of television on their bottom line, the film industry decided some revenge was in order by poking fun at how people can become addicted to cheap entertainment. In retaliation for stealing their core audience, the film industry began, in its own way, an unusual form of propaganda on this burgeoning television industry.
Although the film boasts some good actors, the production values and directing are a little blah. The storyline is not bad, but it lacks enough flesh to make it as interesting as it should be. Satire can be difficult if people don’t get the joke.