The Devil And Daniel Webster

Starring: Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, James Craig, et al.

A New Englander sells his soul to a Mr. Scratch and needs Daniel Webster on his side in hell's court. Directed by William Dieterle.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 037429181423
• Release Date: January 2003
• Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
• Publisher: Criterion Collection
• Director: William Dieterle
• Starring: Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, James Craig, Jane Darwell, Simone Simon, Gene Lockhart, John Qualen, Frank Conlan, Lindy Wade, George Cleveland
• Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: Multiple Formats; Black & White; NTSC
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

"All that Money Can Buy."

“The movie The Devil and Daniel Webster,” AKA “All that Money Can Buy.” Jabez Stone (James Craig) is plagued with problems: his dog goes wild, his pig breaks a leg, his wife Mary (Anne Shirley) is unseated, he cannot pay his mortgagee, and he lets his seed fall to the ground. For two cents, he would sell his soul to the devil. Enter Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston) Later, if he realizes his folly, who can save Mr. Stone from paying his debt? Moreover, at what cost? As we learn that, a man's soul is his own. Simone Simon is perfect as Bella Dee, the temptress from over the hill. She made me want to go over the hill. See her again in “Cat People” (1942). There are some great film advances for the time, including lap dissolves, montage, and narrative shorthand. Make note of the use of shadows. Periodically, there are long passages of dialogue reminiscent of Ayn Rand. Poignant music by Bernard Herrmann, such as "the miser's Waltz." Working title "A certain Mr. Scratch", based on a story by Stephen Vincent Benet, a one-act opera, and screenplay by Dan Totheroh. This is more of a commie movie than an American movie, as your ethers are a stingy moneygrubber capitalist or a poor saintly commune, oops, I mean grange member. William Dieterle was suspected in the 1941 Red Scare. He helped bring Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht to this country. Jeff Corey, who played Tom Sharp (The character who was always trying to get everyone to join the grange), was brought up before the house on un-American activities for attending commie meetings. Be sure to watch the Criterion 106-minute presentation.