What is the movie, “The Devil and Daniel Webster” about?
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, and 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. It was directed by William Dieterle.In 1840 New Hampshire, poor, downtrodden farmer Jabez Stone (James Craig) sells his soul to “Mr. Scratch” (Walter Huston) in return for seven years of luck and prosperity. He begins to change. When only his crops are spared from a hailstorm, he ensnares his desperate neighbors with onerous financial contracts and alienates his loving wife Mary (Anne Shirley) and his mother (Jane Darwell). The beautiful Belle (Simone Simon) is sent by Mr. Scratch t
Here’s the plot: It is set in Antebellum era, some years after the Missouri Compromise of 1820, but before the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Stone swears that “it’s enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devil!” When “the stranger” (Satan), who later identifies himself as “Mr. Scratch,” arrives the next day, he makes such an offer, and Stone reluctantly agrees to the deal. Stone enjoys seven years of prosperity, and later bargains for three more years, but as the “mortgage falls due,” he convinces famous lawyer and orator Daniel Webster to argue his case with the Devil. At midnight of the appointed date, Mr. Scratch arrives and is greeted by Daniel Webster, who presents himself as Stone’s attorney. Mr. Scratch tells Daniel, “I shall call upon you, as a law-abiding citizen, to assist me in taking possession of my property,” and so begins the argument. It goes poorly for Daniel since the signature and the contract are clear, and Mr. Scratch will not agree to a compromise. In de
The farmer exchanges his soul for gold coins. The devil is portrayed by Walter Huston and has been praised as capturing the essence of what one imagines the devil to be. Sources: http://www.business-standard.
