Review – The Devil and Daniel Webster

Poor Jabez Stone. When his contract with the devil comes due, he wants out of it in the worst way. Lucky for him he’s acquainted with the great lawyer Daniel Webster. This is a big bucket of 1941: it’s overdramatized and often downright silly. Still, it’s refreshing to see a movie that seeks to generate chills – and sometimes even succeeds – using nothing but script, acting, and some basic lighting and editing tricks. Walter Huston does a particularly fine job as Mr. Scratch, and Simone Simon does a nice turn as his seductive henchperson. Mildly amusing