It's a didactic morality story set in New England from 1840 to 1847. It follows the experiences of a poor farmer who sells his soul to the devil for seven years of good luck.
Jabez Stone (James Craig) and his wife, Mary (Anne Shirley), are poor New Hampshire farmers. Jabez's devout mother (Jane Darwell) lives with them. They are great admirers of Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), a prominent Whig politician, lawyer, and orator. Jabez especially seems to have bad luck and finally makes a deal to give his soul to the devil for seven years of good luck. The devil, who calls himself Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston), is sly and smooth-talking and entices Jabez with a sack full of gold.
Jabez settles all his debts but then becomes greedy and takes advantage of other local farmers and, by 1847, is one of the wealthiest men in the country. He is also distracted by Belle (Simone Simon), an attractive woman inserted into his household by Mr. Scratch. He then, with the help of Daniel Webster, needs to bargain with Mr. Scratch about the enforcement of their contract.
The story is heavy-handed in its obvious moral points and brings in some American exceptionalism. Walter Huston has the best role and is the best actor in the movie. Everyone else is stereotyped. The plot could have come from a 19th-century Bible Society publication.
Jabez Stone (James Craig) and his wife, Mary (Anne Shirley), are poor New Hampshire farmers. Jabez's devout mother (Jane Darwell) lives with them. They are great admirers of Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), a prominent Whig politician, lawyer, and orator. Jabez especially seems to have bad luck and finally makes a deal to give his soul to the devil for seven years of good luck. The devil, who calls himself Mr. Scratch (Walter Huston), is sly and smooth-talking and entices Jabez with a sack full of gold.
Jabez settles all his debts but then becomes greedy and takes advantage of other local farmers and, by 1847, is one of the wealthiest men in the country. He is also distracted by Belle (Simone Simon), an attractive woman inserted into his household by Mr. Scratch. He then, with the help of Daniel Webster, needs to bargain with Mr. Scratch about the enforcement of their contract.
The story is heavy-handed in its obvious moral points and brings in some American exceptionalism. Walter Huston has the best role and is the best actor in the movie. Everyone else is stereotyped. The plot could have come from a 19th-century Bible Society publication.