The Devil and Daniel Webster (film)
A 1941 Fantasy film adaptapted from the short story, starring Walter Huston as Scratch, Edward Arnold as Webster, and James Craig as Jabez Stone. It was retitled All That Money Can Buy in some states, as well as Academy Award ballots. At that year's ceremony, it won Bernard Herrmann his only Oscar for Original Score.
Tropes used in The Devil and Daniel Webster (film) include:
- Affably Evil: Far less so than in the original story. Scratch takes a much more active role in making sure Jabez becomes completely corrupt.
- Anti-Hero: Jabez Stone starts off as Type 1 and slides into Type 4.
- Badass Boast: Daniel Webster is full of these.
- Butt Monkey: Jabez Stone
- Chekhov's Gun: Miser Stephens leaves the bar when Scratch enters.
- Deal with the Devil
- Devil in Plain Sight: Scratch, of course, but he's (usually) open about who he is. Most people only think Belle is Jabez's mistress; no one suspects her true nature even when she's every bit as demonic as Scratch himself.
- The Devil Is a Loser
- Did You Just Kick Out Cthulhu: The Devil has left New Hampshire for good.
- Evil Is Petty: In addition to bargaining for peoples' souls, Scratch enjoys random acts of vandalism and is a consummate kleptomaniac.
- Evilly Affable: This Scratch is far more in this camp than he is Affably Evil.
- Extreme Doormat: Mary has watched Jabez change from an honest-but-loveable shmuck to a rich asshole whose screwing his (hell-sent) maid Belle and letting his son roam free. Her reaction? "It must be all my fault, I know it!"
- The Fourth Wall Will Not Protect You: Before the credits roll, Scratch looks through the screen, selecting the viewer as his next target.
- Hanging Judge
- Horny Devils: Belle Dee seems to be one... by 1940s standards anyway.
- Horrible Judge of Character:
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Mary: "What a sweet and kind girl..." |
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- Spoken of Belle. Immediately before she bangs Jabez no less.
- Historical Villain Upgrade
- Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Jabez Stone embraces corruption fairly quickly, especially after Belle enters his life.
- Jury of the Damned
- Laser-Guided Karma Miser Stephens' contract expires hours before Jabez's.
- Louis Cypher: Played Straight with Scratch and Subverted with his servant Belle.
- Our Souls Are Different: Miser Stephens' soul appears as a moth. Scratch informs us that most of the souls he gets look like moths. He does suggest, however, that the souls of greater or more virtuous men are "bigger".
- Obviously Evil: Scratch usually makes no secret of his identity, but Belle is clearly up to no good.
- Patriotic Fervor
- Satan
- Spoiled Brat: Young Daniel, Jabez's son. His poor role models are mostly to blame.
- The Vamp: Belle Dee. What else could Satan's lovely henchwoman be?
- Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: Scratch seems capable of appearing anywhere at any time in any occupation -- all without raising a single eyebrow.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Mary.