The Devil and Daniel Webster
1941 · Movie · 112 min. · United States
William Dieterle adapts Stephen Vincent Benet's transformation of the Faust legend from the tale of an aging genius to that of struggling New Hampshire farmer Jabez Stone, played by James Craig. When Stone absently exclaims that he would sell his soul for a little money and a decent crop, up pops the Mephistophelean Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston). Thinking the whole thing a joke, Stone takes Scratch up on his offer of seven years of prosperity in return for his soul. As Stone's fortunes change and his coffers swell, so does his character. He mutates into a hard, avaricious tyrant, nearly enslaving as tenant famers the neigbors who had been his friends. Ignoring his kind and patient wife, Mary (Anne Shirley), he takes a mistress, Belle (Simone Simon), builds her a mansion, and even allows her to raise his son. When Scratch comes to collect his debt, the terrified Stone realizes his error and begs legendary New Hampshire lawyer and politician Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) for help.
Direction William Dieterle
Cast Edward Arnold · Walter Huston · James Craig · Jane Darwell · Simone Simon · Anne Shirley · Gene Lockhart · John Qualen · H.B. Warner · Frank Conlan · Lindy Wade · George Cleveland · Thomas Mitchell
Soundtrack Bernard Herrmann
Screenplay Dan Totheroh · Stephen Vincent Benet
Cinematography Joseph H. August
Original title The Devil and Daniel Webster (All That Money Can Buy)
6.7
489 votes (FilmAffinity)
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