The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

The Devil and Daniel Webster (AKA “All That Money Can Buy”)
Directed by William Dieterle
Written by Dan Totheroth and Steven Vincent Benet based on a story by Benet
1941/USA
RKO Radio Pictures
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Jabez Stone: You promised me happiness, love, and friendship!

Mr. Scratch: Just a minute. I promised you money and all that money could buy. I don’t recall any other obligations.[/box]

This film has many virtues and is well worth seeing.  For some reason, I have never connected with it, however.

Vermont farmer Jabez Stone (James Craig) cannot seem to catch a break.  A loan shark (John Qualen) hounds him and his pig just broke his leg.  In frustration, Stone says he would sell his soul to the devil to get out of his situation.  Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston) promptly appears and seals the bargain – one soul in exchange for seven years of good luck.  Scratch is as good as his word.  By the time the seven years are up, Stone has a mansion, a fortune, and a pretty mistress (Simone Simon).  He is also cordially hated by all his neighbors, having become a loan shark himself, and fears for his son.  He desperately wants to get out of the bargain and Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), the friend of the farmer, takes up the challenge.  With Ann Shirley as Stone’s wife and Jane Darwell as his mother.

I think my problem with this movie may be Craig’s performance.  He overacts dreadfully and is on screen most of the tiime.  The other actors, particularly Huston and Arnold, are fantastic.  The cinematography is quite beautiful, with a stark quality.  The Oscar-winning score is also wonderful.

Bernard Herrmann won the Academy Award for his Original Score and Walter Huston was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his work  in this film.

Clip – Selling a soul