Artivels Undescribable Perfection

Tacticalin An absolute waste of money

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

museumofdave Shades of Citizen Kane! This little-known gem was made at RKO about the same time as Citizen Kane, and utilized the same outstanding composer, Bernard Hermann, and the same incisive editor, Robert Wise--and every so often a shadow, a rapid cut, a mood will echo the Orson Welles classic.Though not in the same league, this little-seen gem is a classic unto itself, as Webster battles the devil for a man's soul. Angelica Huston's grandfather, Walter, gives the definitive portrayal of a modern rustic Satan ("Scratch"), fiendish craftiness personified, who tempts Jabez Stone with "All That Money Can Buy" (one of the original release titles of the film). James Craig, usually wasted as a second fiddle in MGM romantic roles, here gives his definitive performance as a justifiably Jabez, a jumpy hero, and Edward Arnold, Jane Darwell and Anne Shirley are memorable in this strange early American saga, an often haunting mix of distinctive cinematography, haunting music and memorable performances.

Alex da Silva Jabez (James Craig) makes a deal with the devil who takes the form of Mr Scratch (Walter Huston). Jabez will have success and wealth for 7 years in return for his soul. After 7 years has passed, Mr Scratch offers another deal - Jabez can save himself if he sacrifices his young son. Well........Jabez doesn't like this deal and Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) steps up to the plate on his behalf and goes head to head with the devil.The story sounds good but it is mostly boring. Nothing happens for an hour. Things only get interesting with the introduction of Belle (Simone Simon). There are only a few good scenes and nearly all of these involve Belle - from the moment we first see her sitting in front of the fireplace where we just know that she is a wicked abomination conjured up by the devil, to the moment at the party where she fills the room with guests that aren't really there, to her end appearance as she rides away to somewhere over the mountains. She has an unworldly aura and her world is the world of the dead. She is all that is good about the film.James Craig is unconvincing and impossible to care about in the lead role. Most of the rest of the cast are also uninspiring. Especially annoying is the boy Lindy Wade. I would definitely have sacrificed the brat in order to have 7 more years of success and wealth.Whilst the story has a good idea, the ending is pretty crass with a court case between Daniel Webster and the Devil. It's a chance to spout crap about living a good life and it will either make you puke or completely bore you. A more effective ending would have seen Jabez let off at the expense of the brat whose life is taken by the devil. Despite a final cheeky frame with Walter Huston, this film could have been much better.

MartinHafer I know that this film has a wonderful reputation and the other reviews are all very favorable, but somehow I couldn't get very excited about this film. Perhaps I felt the material was just too familiar, perhaps the movie just opened up the trauma I experienced when I was forced to read "Faust" while in college (this was 25 years ago and I STILL cringe at the thought of reading all 25,000 lines of Goethe's rambling tale). All I know is that I wasn't caught up in the story and to me, with a few exceptions, seemed rather unremarkable. Here are the exceptions. First, there were some very nice performances--Walter Huston was very good as was Edward Arnold. Second, the film had very nice cinematography and just looked lovely--with a nice mythical quality about it. On the down side, the main character seemed like an idiot and I didn't care that the Devil was going to get his soul. The film did nothing to create sympathy for the jerk. In addition, the film really went on too long and the wonderful courtroom scene was way, way too short. Overall, an interesting time-passer but it hardly seemed like a classic to me.

kenjha A farmer sells his soul to the devil for seven years of prosperity. What the film has going for it are impressive cinematography and Herrmann's Oscar-winning score. The cast is also notable, although the acting is uneven. The film can't seem to decide whether it's a comedy or a drama. While the Faustian plot device sets up an interesting premise, the payoff is not there, with an unsatisfying conclusion where the farmer is defended by statesman Daniel Webster in an informal trial. As the giggling devil, Huston is rather silly and one-dimensional. The transformation of Craig from a decent fellow to a jerk, hastened by the arrival of the devilish Simon, is not convincing.