A morality tale for the ages émigré Hollywood director William Dieterle’s The Devil & Daniel Webster (aka All That Money Can Buy) combines European expressionism with quintessential Americana. Based on a short story by celebrated author Stephen Vincent Benét it offers a study in life liberty & the pursuit of happiness in which patriotism is cast in dramatic conflict with servitude to greed & materialism. Echoing the German legend of Faust down-on-his-luck farmer Jabez Stone (James Craig) makes an existential pact with the devil – seven years of prosperity in return for his soul. When the devil incarnate Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston) comes a-calling Stone begins to have second thoughts enlisting famed orator & folk hero Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold) to fight what becomes for each of them a case of life & death. The Devil & Daniel Webster was widely lauded on its release – Bernard Herrmann’s score won an Oscar for Best Music Scoring of a Dramatic Picture while Huston was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role – & is still regarded as an American classic. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Dieterle’s film for the very first time on home video in the UK.