The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

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

Release Date:

29 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

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:

Farm | Heartless | Hessian | Gold | Redemption

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)
Frank Austin	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin	...	Hank (uncredited)
Eddie Borden	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Hazel Boyne	...	Woman (uncredited)
Sonny Bupp	...	Martin Van Buren Aldrich (uncredited)
Bob Burns	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Jeff Corey	...	Tom Sharp (uncredited)
Alec Craig	...	Eli Higgins (uncredited)
Eddie Dew	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Patricia Doyle	...	Servant (uncredited)
Robert Dudley	...	Lem (uncredited)
Charles Herzinger	...	Old Farmhand (uncredited)
Harry Hood	...	Tailor (uncredited)
Harry Humphrey	...	Reverend (uncredited)
Thomas Mitchell	...	Daniel Webster in some long shots (uncredited)
Stewart Richards	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Sherman Sanders	...	Caller (uncredited)
Carl Stockdale	...	Van Brooks (uncredited)
Robert Strange	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Jim Toney	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Virginia Williams	...	Baby (uncredited)

Directed by
William Dieterle

Writing credits
Stephen Vincent Benet		(story)
Dan Totheroh		(screenplay) and
Stephen Vincent Benet		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Dieterle	....	producer
Charles L. Glett	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Joseph H. August		(as Joseph August)

Film Editing by
Robert Wise

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Argyle Nelson	....	assistant director

Art Department
Alfred Herman	....	associate art director (as Al Herman)

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	sound recordist
James G. Stewart	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	special effects

Music Department
Bernard Herrmann	....	conductor
Bernard Herrmann	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Peter Berneis	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• William Dieterle Productions

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astor Pictures Corporation (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-titled) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nelson Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

All That Money Can Buy (USA) (alternative title)
Daniel and the Devil (USA) (reissue title)
Here Is a Man (USA) (trailer title)
The Devil and Daniel Webster (USA) (reissue 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:

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 broke his leg and was replaced by 'Edward Arnold'. Not many scenes had been shot, none were reshot, so Mitchell is still visible in some scenes.

Quotes:

[Ma Stone is reading out loud from the book of Job]
Mary Stone: Give me the book, Ma. I'm going to read us something cheerful from the book of Ruth. That is, if you don't mind changing the lesson.
Ma Stone: Land sakes, I don't mind. I never did hold much with Job, even if he is scripture. Took on too much to suit me. Course I don't want to malign the man; but he always sounded to me like he come from Massachusetts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Monkees: The Devil and Peter Tork (#2.20)" (1968)

a gem of a film

This film is one of the finest fansties that were turned out by the Hollywood system in the 1940's. The greatest of the film laids in the two performances of Edward Arnold-as Daniel Webster-and Walter Huston as the Devil. Arnold's Webster is a great,but, flawed man, who is willing to put his very soul on the line, to help a fellow American . Huston's is the model for every conman in history. He always waits until his target is at his or hers weaks moment and he strikes. The music, by the master Bernard Herrmman, is wonderful.

The very ending, not the trial section, is frighten me as a kid and still is eerie.