All That Money Can Buy (1941)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Stephen Vincent Benet (story)
Dan Totheroh (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

29 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | History | Horror

Tagline:

A GREAT MOTION PICTURE DARES TO BE DIFFERENT! (original print media ad - all caps)

Plot:

A down-on-his-luck farmer makes a deal with the devil for seven years of prosperity. When Mr. Scratch comes to collect...

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Orator | Devil | Deal With The Devil | Carriage

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Edward Arnold	...	Daniel Webster
Walter Huston	...	Mr. Scratch
Jane Darwell	...	Ma Stone
Simone Simon	...	Belle
Gene Lockhart	...	Squire Slossum
John Qualen	...	Miser Stevens
H.B. Warner	...	Justice John Hathorne
Frank Conlan	...	Sheriff
Lindy Wade	...	Daniel Stone
George Cleveland	...	Cy Bibber
Anne Shirley	...	Mary Stone
James Craig	...	Jabez Stone
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Alland	...	Guide (scenes deleted)
Sarah Edwards	...	Lucy Slossum (scenes deleted)
Fern Emmett	...	Wife (scenes deleted)
Jim Farley	...	Studio Gateman (scenes deleted)
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Husband (scenes deleted)
Anita Lee	...	Infant
Robert Pittard	...	Clerk (as Bob Pittard)
Ferris Taylor	...	President (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

The Devil and Daniel Webster (International: English title) (USA) (reissue title)
A Certain Mr. Scratch (USA) (alternative title)
Daniel and the Devil (USA) (reissue title)
Here Is a Man (USA) (trailer title)
Mr. Scratch (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

107 min | USA:85 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7238) | Sweden:15

Company:

William Dieterle Productions

Trivia:

Thomas Mitchell was originally cast as Daniel Webster. While filming a carriage ride scene with young actor Lindy Wade, Mitchell lost control of the horses and was thrown from the carriage. He suffered a fractured skull and was in the hospital for 17 weeks, but made a full recovery. Director William Dieterle recast Edward Arnold in the role with one day's notice. All of Mitchell's scenes as Daniel Webster had to then be re-shot with Arnold.

Goofs:

Continuity: Shortly after filming had begun, Thomas Mitchell fractured his skull and was replaced by 'Edward Arnold'. Not many scenes had been shot, none were re-shot, so Mitchell is still visible in some scenes.

Quotes:

Daniel Webster: I'd fight ten thousand devils to save a New Hampshire man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tripping the Rift: The Devil and a Guy Named Webster (#1.5)" (2004)

One of RKOs best

Shows as a somewhat 'dark' film. Acting is great, espically the Devil (John Huston) and Webster (Ed Arnold). It's hard to believe someone might even like a devil, but Huston does seem to make his character somewhat 'human and likeable'...except in certain scenes. Farm family (IMO) is very realistic in time frame of film, except the devil deal making. Music (Bernard Herrmann-later most Hitchcock films) is excellent. Camera work excellent as well. It may be hard to find a good copy, running at 106 minutes. If the DVD (Criterion-Janus) gets released, some scenes cut, from previous 35 mm material was found on 16 mm prints. Criterion replaced these scenes, and quality (both audio and video) of the 16mm replaced scenes are easy to spot- sound is poor, video is grainy. But these problems do not hurt the story, and the movie is still tops.