The Devil and Daniel Webster (film)

The Devil and Daniel Webster is a 1941 fantasy film, adapted by Stephen Vincent Bent and Dan Totheroh from Bents short story, The Devil and Daniel Webster. The films title was changed to All That Money Can Buy to avoid confusion with another film released by RKO that year, The Devil and Miss Jones, and later had the title restored on some prints. It has also been released under the titles Mr. Scratch, Daniel and the Devil and Here Is a Man. The film stars Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, and James Craig.

In 1840 New Hampshire, poor, downtrodden farmer Jabez Stone James Craig is broke, plagued by bad luck with the local moneylender, Miser Stevens, about to foreclose on his farm, Jabez has reached the limit of his endurance. After a series of mishaps, he impulsively declares that he would sell his soul to the Devil for two cents, and moments later the Devil appears, calling himself Mr. Scratch Walter Huston. He appears to offer Jabez a bargain sell his soul, in return for seven years of good luck and prosperity. Scratch tempts Jabez by magically revealing a hoard of Hessian gold coins, which appears from under the barn floor and, unable to resist the lure of the gold, Jabez signs the contract. He begins his new life with hope, paying off his debts, buying new tools and supplies, and new clothes for his wife and mother. While the women are shopping, Jabez meets and becomes friends with famous New Hampshire Congressman and orator Daniel Webster Edward Arnold, a friend of his wifes family, and a widelyloved figure who champions the cause of the poor farmers although we learn that Webster himself is being tempted by Mr. Scratch to sell his soul, in return for fulfilling his ambition to become President.As time passes, Jabezs increasing wealth begins to change him. When only his crops are spared from a freak hailstorm, he ensnares his desperate neighbors with onerous financial contracts, and he slowly alienates his devoted wife Mary Anne Shirley and his pious mother Jane Darwell. Later, as the townspeople celebrate the harvest in Jabezs barn, Mary gives birth to their first child, whom they name Daniel in honor of Mr. Webster, but minutes later, Jabez discovers that the local girl they had hired as a maid has vanished. In her place he finds the beautiful and sinister Belle Simone Simon, who has been sent by Mr. Scratch. She bewitches Jabez, driving a wedge between him and Mary. Soon, Jabez has stopped going to church, and after his family leaves, he secretly hosts gambl

Source: Wikipedia