The Devil and Daniel Webster (film)
| The Devil and Daniel Webster | |
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DVD cover
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| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by | William Dieterle |
| Written by |
Dan Totheroh Stephen Vincent Benét |
| Starring |
Edward Arnold Walter Huston James Craig Anne Shirley Jane Darwell Simone Simon |
| Music by | Bernard Herrmann |
| Cinematography | Joseph H. August |
| Edited by | Robert Wise |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 mins |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Devil and Daniel Webster is a 1941 fantasy film, adapted by Stephen Vincent Benét and Dan Totheroh from Benét's short story, "The Devil and Daniel Webster". The film's title was changed to All That Money Can Buy to avoid confusion with another film released by RKO that year, The Devil and Miss Jones, but later had the title restored on some prints. It has also been released under the titles Mr. Scratch, Daniel and the Devil and Here Is a Man. The film stars Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, and James Craig.
A retelling of the Faust legend, set in mid-1840s rural New England, it was directed by German-born actor-director William Dieterle who (under his original name, Wilhelm Dieterle) played a featured role in F. W. Murnau's epic silent version of Faust in 1926.
In 1840 New Hampshire, poor, downtrodden farmer Jabez Stone (James Craig) is broke and plagued by bad luck, and, with the local money-lender, Miser Stevens, about to foreclose on his farm, he has reached the limit of his endurance. After a series of mishaps, he impulsively declares that he would sell his soul to the Devil for two cents, and moments later the Devil appears, calling himself "Mr. Scratch" (Walter Huston). He appears to offer Jabez a bargain: sell his soul in return for seven years of good luck and prosperity. Scratch tempts Jabez by magically revealing a hoard of Hessian gold coins, which appears from under the barn floor, and, unable to resist the lure of the gold, Jabez signs the contract. He begins his new life with hope, paying off his debts, buying new tools and supplies, and new clothes for his wife and mother. While the women are shopping, Jabez meets and becomes friends with famous New Hampshire Congressman and orator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), a friend of his wife's family, and a widely-loved figure who champions the cause of the poor farmers - although we learn that Webster himself is being tempted by Mr. Scratch to sell his soul, in return for fulfilling his ambition to become President.
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