THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER is a fun, light-hearted slice of comic fantasy that must have helped to assuage some inherent anxieties about the state of the world when it was released in 1941. It's an adaptation of the famous storyline about a poor farmer who sells his soul to the devil in return for seven years of prosperity. However, when the devil comes calling, the farmer enlists the help of a lawyer to help him break the deal.In the case of a film like this, everything is so professionally achieved that it becomes difficult not to just sit back and be swept along by the story. Walter Huston is a delight as the sinister antagonist, "Mr. Scratch", and Edward Arnold more than proves his worth as his adversary. Simone Simon is lovelier than she was in CAT PEOPLE. The cinematography is efficient, there are a few amusing effects scenes which still work today, and finally Bernard Herrmann provides a perfectly ominous, mystical, and dramatic soundtrack. What's not to like?

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.

Hollywood has seen fit to dig up Stephen Vincent Benet's classic story about a farmer who sells his soul to the devil in order to avoid hardship. Overall, the result is very entertaining and retains audience interest.The film owes a debt of gratitude to The Good Earth, produced a few years earlier, for its field scenes. Despite liking most of the performers that the producers have assembled, it does seem obvious the film might have been better if Orson Welles had been cast in the role of Satan. As it is, Walter Huston does an admirable job, but one can only dream how much more spectacular the results might have been with a macabre turn by Welles.

**SPOILERS** Suffering through trials and tribulations like those of Job in the Bible New Hampshire farmer Jabez Stone, James Craig, is so desperate that he hollers out load to himself that he'll sell his soul to the Devil for two cents just to get his act, as well as life, back on the right and profitable track. Not knowing what he's saying Jabez unknowingly conjured up the Devil himself in the person of Mr. Scratch-as in you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours-played by Walter Huston.Giving Jabez two cents for his thoughts and immortal soul, which he feels is more then worth it, the Devil or Mr. Scratch offers him a get rich quick scheme that will make him the wealthiest man in the state for the next seven years. Jumping at the chance Jabez signs his life and soul away to the cunning and crafty Mr. Scratch only to regret what he did as the time limit-the seven years-starts to run out on him!Becoming a total tyrant to his family and friends Jabez drives his wife Mary, Anne Shirley,almost to the breaking point with his obsession for money and power. As for his fellow farmers Jabez drives them into bankruptcy with his loan shark racket that makes them virtual slaves to him. This in a country where slavery-some 20 years before the Civil War-was soon to become outlawed. As the Devil is about to collect his due, Jabez's life, at the end of the seven years of prosperity Jabez finally realizes the mistake he made and tires everything he can to correct it. With the Devil/Mr.Scratch wanting Jabez's son Daniel, Lindy Wade, soul in return for his life the only thing left for him is to go crawling and begging on his knees to the great statesman and spellbinding orator Daniel Webster, Edward Arnold. It was Webster sound and helpful advice that the smug and arrogant Jabez had earlier rejected. Now Jabez desperately needs it in order to save his sorry a** from the bear-trap he now got it stuck in!***SPOILERS**** Powerful climax with the hard hitting and straight shooting Daniel Webster taking on the scheming and conniving Devil/Mr. Scratch in a no-holds barred winner take all "Clash of the Titans" bout in Jabez barn. You have to hand it to Mr. Scratch in his stacking the deck, or jury, in his favor with a dozen of the most unsavory and repulsive characters in all of recent, the 18th and 19th century, history.Seeing what he's up against Daniel Webster digs down deep in his oral augment and pulls out the trump card that sends the Devil/Mr. Scratch scurrying for cover. No man of group of men, including the scuzzy and despicable men on the jury, could withstand Websters barrage of worldly wisdom that had the Devil or Mr. Scratch himself run for his life. In that Mr. Scratch now knows that it's only a matter of time before the jury, that he picked to condemn the now broken down and helpless Jabez Stone, will turn on him and turn on him, for having them go along with his evil and underhanded scheme, with a vengeance! And being the coward that he really is the only way out for him is to turn and run and hope that he never has to encounter the great Daniel Webster in a court of law again.