As Seen On Screen

As Seen on Screen offers readers a chance to see film reviews for the everyman, without all of the clutter and nonsense fed to the average filmgoer. Plain, straitforward, to the point. That's our goal. We offer a diverse catalogue of which to choose from, from silent comedies to modern superhero films. Final note: this is a family friendly blog. We only review films rated G through PG-13, plus the unrated films of yesteryear. So if this sounds like your cup of tea, pull up a crumpet and enjoy. Thanks for your support!

Saturday, May 5, 2018











     The Devil and Daniel Webster
1941  NR  FANTASY  1h 47min
CAST— Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, James Craig, Anne Shirley, Jane Darwell, Simone Simon, Gene Lockhart, John Qualen, H. B. Warner
MUSIC— Bernard Herrmann  DIRECTOR— William Dieterle  BASED ON— The Devil and Daniel Webster (story), Stephen Vincent Benet

     Rather patriotic allegory focusing on the dos and don’ts of selling one’s soul to the devil. A hapless farmer unwittingly calls forth Scratch from his wanderings, who then offers the farmer seven years of good fortune in exchange for his soul. The good farmer jumps at the opportunity. So begins a slide into depravity that no one could have predicted. Where once stood an honest, hard-working man now stands a bitter and exacting scrooge. Is redemption possible for this poor fallen man? Told in sharp black and white, stark shadows abound. The performances keep it compelling, most notably a gleeful Walter Huston as ol’ Scratch. He’s sure likable… for the devil, that is. AKA All That Money Can Buy, Daniel and the Devil, Mr. Scratch, Here is a Man.
OUR RATING— ** ½
REMADE AS— Shortcut to Happiness (2007)
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