The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)
I read the original famous short story by Stephen Vincent Benet and loved it so much that I just had to see the movie. I was surprised to love the movie just as much, and it has become one of my absolute favorites. I have watched it a couple times now.
The original story has sort of a mythic, overblown type of language sometimes that I think is both authentically patriotic, ridiculous, and rather facetious. I think it's very American, or what I like about what's American. Kind of like how the Coen brothers are very American but in a more full way than is normally identified.
I would recommend anyone reading this story and if you love it, then see the movie for sure. The Criterion edition actually has an audio recording of it being read by Alec Baldwin (who ended up directing a recent modern adaptation of the story but apparently disowned it after the studios got their hands on it).
The real gold here is Walter Huston. This is one of the most deep-down enjoyable performances you will simply enjoy just watching. The final breaking the fourth wall type of image of the film is just so delightful that sometimes I want to watch the movie again just to get that that final moment. It's frightening how loveable he can make the devil seem. You know the devil works by his charms.
Edwards Arnold playing the other half of the title's duel namesakes is worth mentioning as well. And Anne Shirley has always the ideal of feminine beauty to me
Rating: 10/10