Coins in Movies - The Devil and Daniel Webster - Cents and Ancients

willieboyd2 · Apr 7, 2013

The 1941 RKO film "The Devil and Daniel Webster" is about an 1840 New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the Devil for wealth, then tries to get Daniel Webster, the famous lawyer, to get him out of the contract.

Several types of coins appear in the film. A remark about "two cents" produces two Large Cents. The wealth appears as a cache of large copies of ancient Greek and Roman coins.

01. Title

02. Introduction

03. Mr. Scratch picking out a customer

He picks Jabez Stone, a farmer living in Cross Corners, New Hampshire. Jabez is married to Mary, and Jabez's mother Ma lives with them.

04. Daniel Webster getting an offer

Daniel Webster is a famous lawyer and politician who wants to be President. Here he rejects an offer of campaign assistance.

05. Jabez and Ma owe their calf

The farm is in debt to Miser Stevens, a "loan shark" who wants a payment. Jabez thinks Stevens will accept their calf as payment. After a couple of accidents, Jabez is fed up with his troubles and exclaims
"That's enough to make a man sell his soul to the devil! And I would for about two cents!"

06. Two Cents

The "two cents" appear to be Canadian large cents of the time of Queen Victoria. The left coin is a New Brunswick cent from 1861-1864. The right coin is a Canadian cent from 1876-1901.

07. Mr. Scratch appears

He wants to take Jabez up on his offer.

08. Mr. Scratch presents his card

Business cards are handy.

09. Mr. Scratch suggests an arrangement

He explains that some farmers find gold lost by the Hessians. The Hessians were soldiers of the German prince of Hesse who were hired as mercenaries by the British during the American Revolution.

10. Mr. Scratch makes a point

He points to the ground, which opens up to reveal something.

11. Jabez is surprised

Jabez is shocked at what he sees.

12. Jabez looking at the goods

There is a large pile of old coins on the ground.

The idea that the Devil or another spirit can be summoned via magic to locate buried treasure was an old legend in early 19th century America

13. By the way...

Mr. Scratch produces the contract for Jabez to sign. The contract is for "money and all that money can buy" for seven years, ending on April 7, 1847. Mr. Scratch inscribes the termination date on a tree.

14. Buried gold

The coins are imitations of ancient Roman "SC" and Greek Alexander head coins.

15. Buried gold

Another look at the goods.

16. Contract signed

The unholy contract is signed and, yes, in blood.

17. Jabez tells wife

Jabez tells his wife about his find, but doesn't mention who else was involved.

18. Treasure in bag

A closer look at some of the coin props used in the film. They appear to be larger than real size copies of ancient Greek and Roman coins. Some have the head of Alexander the Great on them. The one to the left with "S-C" has a legend of a coin issued by the Roman Emperor Tiberius (AD 14-37).

19. Treasure in bag showing large coin

The large coin to the right has the head of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161).

20. Ma is suspicious

Ma is a wise woman and she suspects that something isn't right.

21. Family saying Grace

The family says "Grace", a prayer to God. Jabez's new friend would not like that. The next day, Jabez goes to Miser Stevens' office to pay his debt. He gives Stevens some of the coins, and Stevens' is shocked.

22. Miser Stevens compares coins

Stevens compares Jabez's coin with one from his box of coins.

23. Miser Stevens looks closer

He sees that they look similar. The coins are blurred so it is hard to read what is on the reverse of the right coin. The left coin appears to be one of the Alexander the Great copies.

24. They look alike

Stevens realizes where Jabez got the gold and who he got it from.

25. Mary gets a new bonnet

Jabez buys Mary a new bonnet.

26. Daniel Webster and Mr. Scratch

Mr. Scratch is seen hanging around the town. Daniel Webster comes to make a political speech, but Mr. Scratch gets him some rum which puts him to sleep, allowing Jabez to give a speech.

27. A new arrival

Jabez and Mary with their new baby son.

28. Belle appears

She comes from "over the mountain", no doubt someone sent her.

29. Ma is surprised

Ma is really shocked to see this woman taking care of her grandson.

30. Belle winks

Bad, really bad.

31. Jabez new big house

Jabez builds a big new mansion, but Mary and Ma refuse to live in it. Belle becomes his hostess and manages the house and entertainment.

32. Mary sees Daniel Webster

Mary is disgusted with the situation and visits Daniel Webster for help. Webster also knows that Jabez has been lending money to other farmers and has become a "loan shark".

Jabez and Belle throw a large party for the local gentry, but do not invite the ordinary people. However almost no one comes, then a group of spirits arrive. Miser Stevens is there, he is worried about the state of his soul as his seven years are up. Belle dances with Stevens and he dies during the dance.

33. Mr. Scratch points out

Jabez argues with Mr. Scratch who points out that Jabez is owned.

34. Miser Steven's soul

Stevens' soul as a moth is captured by Mr. Scratch, he says Jabez soul is also small, but he would like to have Daniel Webster's soul, the wingspan would be enormous.

35. Mr. Scratch gets serious

Jabez's seven years are almost up, he asks Mr. Scratch for an extension. Mr. Scratch tells him that he wants Jabez's son and Jabez refuses.

36. Jabez asks for help

Jabez goes to Daniel Webster and asks for advice and help. Webster says he would fight "10,000 devils" for a New Hampshire man.

37. Mr. Scratch and Daniel drink together

The two adversaries prepare for their trial.

38. Judge John Hathorne

John Hathorne was a judge at the infamous Salem Witch Trials, he never repented of his actions.

39. The trial

The trial commences with a jury picked by Mr. Scratch of the "quick and the dead".

40. A jury of the dammed

The jury includes:

Captain Kidd, he killed men for gold Simon Girty, the renegade; he burned men for gold Governor Dale, he broke men on the wheel Asa, the Black Monk, he choked them to death Floyd Ireson and Stede Bonnet, the fiendish butchers Walter Butler, the king of the massacre Big and Little Harp, robbers and murderers Teach, the cutthroat Morton, the vicious lawyer And General Benedict Arnold, you remember him, no doubt.

Daniel Webster gives an impassioned argument about American liberty and values, and service to foreign princes, then leaves the case with the judge and jury.

41. Mr. Scratch is surprised at the verdict

The jury decides in favor of Jabez., surprising Mr. Scratch.

42. The happy family reunited

43. Mr. Scratch points out his next customer

Still doing business.

Notes:

Cast:
Walter Huston as Mr. Scratch
Edward Arnold as Daniel Webster
James Craig as Jabez Stone
Anne Shirley as Mary Stone
Jane Darwell as Ma Stone
Simone Simon as Belle
John Qualen as Miser Stevens
H.B. Warner as Justice John Hathorne

Director: William Dieterle
Writers: Stephen Vincent Benet and Dan Totheroh