The Semiquincentennial Movie Project is an ongoing celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. During the course of this project your humble blogger is choosing a movie a week to represent each of the 50 states in the Union, as well as a movie scheduled for 4th of July weekend that will represent the nation's capitol, Washington D.C. The order of the weekly entries will coincide with the order of each state's entry into the fold (although, not necessarily coinciding with the date of their entry into said fold).
Week #9: New Hampshire -
Details about New Hampshire:
State bird: purple finch
State flower: purple lilac
State tree: white birch
Additional historical trivia:
The man who was the inspiration for the "Uncle Sam" character of history, Sam Wilson, grew up in Mason, NH.
Those famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses from the classic beer commercials were originally from New Hampshire.
Always hated those annoying seat belts you are required to use in your state? Move to NH. They are not required there.
Sarah Hale, the founding proponent for declaring Thanksgiving a holiday in the U.S. was from new Hampshire.
Famous people from New Hampshire;
Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space. Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science. Ronnie James Dio (my favorite vocalist who sang for Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his own solo band, Dio. Maurice and Richard McDonald, original founders of McDonald's fast food franchise. And of course, Daniel Webster, US Senator and the subject of today's film.
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All That Money Can Buy (1941):
All That Money Can Buy (now often referred to, alternately, as "The Devil and Daniel Webster") was based on a short story written by Stephen Vincent Benet in 1936. The original story seems to have had some background in trying to instill patriotism for the American cause. Remember, in 1936 there was a growing populist movement to keep America isolated, and what with a looming war in Europe raising it's ugly head again, only 25 ears after the last one, much of the populace was of a mind to let Europe fight her own wars. Even by October of 1941, when the film version came out, the basic premise of being a self-supporting entity was the popular viewpoint of the nation.
Maybe all that is hard to see in the actual film by the average person. After all, it's basically just a reworking of the classic German legend of Johann Faust, most popularly remembered as the central character in Goethe's play, titled Faust. Here in the 1941 film, as in the original short story by Benet, the central character is a poor New Hampshire farmer who just can't seem to get an even break and frustratingly says he would "sell his soul to Devil" for just a fair shake.
The patriotism theme comes into play, however, as the protagonist, whose name is Jabez Stone, deals with his neighbors. He is a self-sufficient soul who resists the unionizing, via the Grange, of the farmers, feeling that such dealings with the government in the form of a union might just smack a little of being underhanded. Also, when after the deal with the Devil produces some wealth, feels an obligation to share the wealth with those same neighbors.
Of course, if it all ended there this would be one short, and decidedly uninteresting story. The wealth eventually turns Jabez into the same kind of person he had previously despised, that of a greedy miser, taking advantage of those same people in their time of need.
To begin, we have Jabez (James Craig) who lives with his wife, Mary (Anne Shirley) and his mother (Jane Darwell). He is mostly happy with his lot in life, but one thing after another keep happening that prevents him from getting a step ahead of his creditors.
He owes his banker, Mr. Stephens (John Qualen), a lot of money for his financial help, and every time he thinks things might be looking up, another bad event causes his hopes to be dashed.
After a particularly trying day, the frustrated Jabez says that for just two cents he'd sell his soul to the Devil. As luck would have it, the Devil (Walter Huston) overhears him, and presents Jabez with an opportunity, if he only signs a seven year contract for said soul. Immediately after signing the devil reveals a cache of hidden gold under Jabez's barn floor.
Ecstatic with his new found wealth, he immediately pays of his banker and starts improving his lot in life. The banker, in a bit of foreshadowing, says he's seen this gold somewhere before (and if you don't get it right away, you probably haven't been paying attention).
Jabez ends up helping his neighbors out too, although he does put a little bit of interest on the loan he gives them, just not the exorbitant rates that Stevens had been charging. Jabez also has money to hire a maid for his wife. His mother, a devout Christian, thinks that Jabez might be going down the wrong path, but he ignores her advice.
Eventually things start to look like Jabez really has some outside influence, although no one is quite able to put their finger on it. In order to keep Jabez moving further down his road of destruction, the Devil brings in a new maid that will replace the one that Jabez and Mary hired. The new maid is a very hot and liberated type, Belle (Simone Simon). (Another reviewer I read on this movie intimates she is a succubus, an evil spirit that uses sex to lead victims astray).
Jabez gradually becomes someone that the old Jabez would have disdained. When a freak weather storm destroys everyone but Jabez's farm crop, he hires on the farmers to till his own land, but only pays them a pittance for their work. Additionally he is alienating his own wife, who eventually packs up and leaves him.
By the time Jabez comes to his senses, the seven year contract is coming about due. Jabez, having had a change of heart, wants out, but of course the Devil is going to have none of that. But Mary comes to the rescue. She convinces the great orator and senator Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) to come to help. The end result is that Webster and the Devil agree to a court hearing. But the Devil stacks the jury and judge against Jabez by bringing some of the most disreputable figures in history to sit in on he trial. (And, of course, all those jurors were former clients of the Devil. Admittedly if you aren't well versed in history, you may not recognize many of them by name, but Benedict Arnold is one of the jurors, and the judge was instrumental in the Salem Witch trials...
Daniel Webster then has his work cut out for him. but eventually his oratorical skills win the day. The Devil tears up the contract and moves on. There is a fun scene at the end where he is going through his book of potential next conquests and then looks up at the theater audience finally pointing directly at "you' as the viewer... So beware!
The movie did not garner a profit. Wikipedia actually states it made $50,000 less than it's cost at the theater. Reviews at the time a pretty few and far between at this late a date, but on the other hand it did get notice at the Oscars. Walter Huston lost the Best Actor award to Gary Cooper for Sergeant York, but te film managed to get an Oscar for Best Music, beating out the likes of Citizen Kane and the aforementioned Sergeant York. (It should be noted there were 20 movies up for the award, so take that how you will).
As a morality tale, the film, as well as the story, may be a bit hard to digest for the fundamentalist Christian. It appears to imply that even at the point of death one still has the opportunity to redeem oneself in his spiritual life, lending to the idea that one can live as one pleases until the final roll call and still make a last minute adjustment. I'm sure most of my fundamentalist friends would argue to the contrary.
Still, all in all, as just a general folk tale, it's not all that bad a movie. Huston does a good job as the ever deceptive Devil, and Simone Simon reminds me a lot of actresses who came along later who managed to exude sexuality without too much effort (Raquel Welch, Ann-Margaret and Brigit Bardot come to mind...) Should you try it out? I think you'd be OK with at least one viewing, although whether it is re-watchable I can't say. That's up to you.
Until next time, drive safely folks.
Quiggy
