The Devil and Daniel Webster

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Lucy M I adore it. My all-time favorite. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/26/22 Full Review dave s For those who enjoy a good bible-thumper of a movie, The Devil and Daniel Webster should fit the bill. For those who roll their eyes at anything that sniffs of bible-thumping, the movie will probably induce more eye-rolling than anything else. When Jabez (James Craig) sells his soul to Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston) in exchange for seven-years of financial prosperity, things are looking good. However, over time, greed consumes his personality and he ultimately turns to Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), the godfather of his son, for assistance. The acting is great (especially Huston), the cinematography and lighting are outstanding, and the story is interesting. It's all good, as long as you don't mind a couple of hours of shameless proselytizing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william d I give director Dieterle credit for trying to create something different. The atmosphere and look of the film is unusual. Unfortunately, the script is very weak and the acting is subpar (with the exception of Edward Arnold). Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie is based on the story of the same name by Steven Vincent Benet, and while I cannot claim that it depicts New Hampshire natives properly (I wouldn't know), it does successfully show how people can be driven to deal with the Devil out of despair...and how sudden wealth can change a decent man over time. The story starts with Jabez Stone, a man who lives with his wife and mother on a small farm, and already in serious debt to local loan shark Stevens, he suffers a series of misfortunes and in desperation proclaims that he would sell his soul to the Devil for two cents...and finds himself holding two cents. Then a mischievous stranger calling himself "Scratch" comes to Jabez and talks him into signing a contract in his blood, in return for seven years of prosperity, and to begin with he is granted "Hessian gold" with which he pays off his debts. Jabez even uses his new wealth to help others...but over time, the wealth eats away at his morals, with the person of Belle arriving to help that along. Eventually Jabez talks to Daniel Webster, visiting the town, and comes to finally realize what has happened to him. The characters all act realistically, with Scratch being an impish Devil while Daniel Webster is perfectly portrayed, with Belle being beautiful but subtly menacing. As for the "jingoism" that some reviewers have complained about, the movie does not fail to mention slavery or the mistreatment of Indians. I saw the 109-minute version; the story needs that length of time. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review robert m One of the best movies from the great era of Americana in Hollywood. Americans in those days weren't innocent or stupid. They knew that there was plenty of crime and corruption and treachery in the United States. The gangster films presented that reality for audiences. Still, the audiences knew that America had some heroic people who were willing to fight for something good. And maybe we'll find our idealism again. "The Devil and Daniel Webster" may provide some inspiration. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review scott s A classic film that focuses on how quickly greed and self-interest can shatter the community, destroy one's destiny, and that not all is lost when one moves toward self-satisfaction that redemption is still possible. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Devil and Daniel Webster

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