All That Money Can Buy (1941)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

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

Release Date:

29 October 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | History

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:

Prints that have been made under the title "The Devil and Daniel Webster" also say "Originally released as 'All That Money Can Buy' ", indicating that this was the film's original title.

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:

Jabez Stone: Money's a funny thing ain't it, Ma?
Ma Stone: I figure it depends a mite on how you get it and how you spend it.
Jabez Stone: But I don't spend any.
Ma Stone: But you should, son. That's all it's good for.
Jabez Stone: Do you really think that?
Ma Stone: That's just common sense. Now a man like Daniel Webster: guess they pay him high for what he does, but he's worth it. And he helps others... makes all the difference.
Jabez Stone: I know. But suppose a man got his money in bad ways?
Ma Stone: Wouldn't profit him none. You see, son: I'm old and I've lived. When a man gets his money in bad way... when he sees the better course and takes the worse... then the devil's in his heart. And that fixes him.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

all that money can buy

Terrific film, Walter Huston as the devil duking it out with Edward Arnold, in a rare sympathetic role as Daniel Webster(usually he played parts like the nasty Tycoon in You Can't Take it With You)over a simple farmer's soul. The jury-if memory serves me right, people like Benedict Arnold and Blackbeard, his 'peers'...Dieterle takes the old Faust tale and puts a uniquely American spin into it(though he was German-you'll see what I mean if you watch it..)-this is a moving, wonderfully shot, eerie film; definately a go-see! Under-rated, not often mentioned as being on of the best films from the '40s, though it most assuredly is.

**** stars outta ****, do see it.