★★★★★ RELEASED OUT NOW! 1941 | PG | Blu-ray Director William Dieterle Cast Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, James Craig, Anne Shirley
BLU-RAY DEBUT Adapting Stephen Vincent Benét’s short story “The Devil And Daniel Webster” – a title the film took back when edited down for rerelease – this turns the Faustian legend into a piece of magical Americana, as a noble politician steps in to save a New Hampshire farmer from a diabolical pact.
Rod Serling was taking notes: you can see the clear influence on the folksier episodes of The Twilight Zone. The piety and patriotism may feel a little stuffy nowadays, but Walter Huston’s Oscar-nominated turn as the Mephistophelian Mr Scratch remains electrifying. All psychopixie grin and sulphurous mischief, he’s proof that if the Devil has all the best tunes he’s staked a pretty persuasive claim on the best parts, too.