The Devil and Daniel Webster

The Devil and Daniel Webster is a short story by Steven Vincent Benet. It was turned into a film of the same title (also called All That Money Can Buy, A Certain Mr. Scratch, Daniel and the Devil and Here Is a Man) in 1941. Both story and film tell the story of a poor farmer who makes a deal with the Devil for better luck. When the ten years of prosperity are up, famous orator Daniel Webster comes to argue with the Devil to save the farmer's soul. The film stars Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, Jane Darwell, Simone Simon, Gene Lockhart and Anne Shirley.

The movie was adapted by Benet and Dan Totheroh from Benet's short story. It was directed by William Dieterle.

It won the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Walter Huston).

When filming first began, Thomas Mitchell had the role of Daniel Webster, but he broke his leg and had to be replaced by Edward Arnold. Mitchell can still be seen in some scenes.