Post by petrolino on May 26, 2017 20:05:45 GMT
'The Devil And Daniel Webster' is based on a Faustian tale by Stephen Vincent Benét who was himself inspired by Washington Irving's short story 'The Devil And Tom Walker'. James Craig stars as downtrodden farmer Jabez Stone, Edward Arnold is Congressman Daniel Webster and Walter Huston is the devil himself Mr. Scratch. I think it's an important film for horror fans in that it helped to usher in a new phase of fantasy filmmaking at RKO Studios (the film is edited by Robert Wise).
'The Devil And Daniel Webster' is beautifully directed by William Dieterle whose sensitive artistery shines through every frame. It's photographed by Joseph August who shot Dieterle's 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' (1939) and whose final project was 'Portrait Of Jennie' (1948).
The innovative music score is composed by Bernard Herrmann. The sound design for this movie proved highly influential for a generation of filmmakers that included Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese and Larry Cohen (all three would work with Herrmann during the 1970s). If you consider the shifting sounds of undulating waters in Wes Craven's brutal assault 'The Last House On The Left' (1972), the metallic industrial flares of Tobe Hooper's explosive 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' (1974), the silencer gun chorus in John Carpenter's clinical siege drama 'Assault On Precinct 13' (1976) or the sounds of motorised bullets carving out exit wounds (and rattling teeth) in Walter Hill's existential western 'The Long Riders' (1980), you hear innovative sound designs created by experimental genre filmmakers who gratefully acknowledged their debt to Herrmann's work in fantasy and horror. For his outstanding contribution to 'The Devil And Daniel Webster', Herrmann received an Academy Award.
Another film based on a story by Benét is Stanley Donen's lively musical 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers' (1954). It's based on his story 'The Sobbin' Women' which was based in turn upon the Ancient Roman legend of The Rape of the Sabine Women. This film is frequently ranked among the greatest musicals of all time.
Sherwood Anderson (born September 13, 1876, Camden, Ohio, United States)
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Conrad Richter (born October 13, 1890, Tremont, Pennsylvania, United States)
Louis Bromfield (born December 27, 1896, Mansfield, Ohio, United States)
Simone Simon
'The Devil And Daniel Webster' is beautifully directed by William Dieterle whose sensitive artistery shines through every frame. It's photographed by Joseph August who shot Dieterle's 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' (1939) and whose final project was 'Portrait Of Jennie' (1948).
The innovative music score is composed by Bernard Herrmann. The sound design for this movie proved highly influential for a generation of filmmakers that included Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese and Larry Cohen (all three would work with Herrmann during the 1970s). If you consider the shifting sounds of undulating waters in Wes Craven's brutal assault 'The Last House On The Left' (1972), the metallic industrial flares of Tobe Hooper's explosive 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' (1974), the silencer gun chorus in John Carpenter's clinical siege drama 'Assault On Precinct 13' (1976) or the sounds of motorised bullets carving out exit wounds (and rattling teeth) in Walter Hill's existential western 'The Long Riders' (1980), you hear innovative sound designs created by experimental genre filmmakers who gratefully acknowledged their debt to Herrmann's work in fantasy and horror. For his outstanding contribution to 'The Devil And Daniel Webster', Herrmann received an Academy Award.
"The director William Dieterle was no stranger to the Faustian tale. Before he established the directing career in Germany, he worked as an actor, and he was one of supporting characters in F.W. Murnau's great silent movie "Faust" (1926). After moving to US during the 1930s, he quickly settled in Hollywood with several notable films like "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937), which won a Best Picture Oscar, and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"(1939)."
- Roger Ebert
- Roger Ebert
Another film based on a story by Benét is Stanley Donen's lively musical 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers' (1954). It's based on his story 'The Sobbin' Women' which was based in turn upon the Ancient Roman legend of The Rape of the Sabine Women. This film is frequently ranked among the greatest musicals of all time.
Stephen Vincent Benét (born July 22, 1898, Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania, United States)
Sherwood Anderson (born September 13, 1876, Camden, Ohio, United States)
Conrad Richter (born October 13, 1890, Tremont, Pennsylvania, United States)
Louis Bromfield (born December 27, 1896, Mansfield, Ohio, United States)
