The Devil and Daniel Webster

"I'd fight ten thousand devils to save a New Hampshire man"

- Daniel Webster.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a 1937 short story by Stephen Vincent Benét, which in turn was based on the 1824 short story "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving. Both stories are based on the legend of Dr. Faustus.

Its protagonist is Jabez Stone, a man for whom fortune has never shined and has, in fact, laughed upon. That all changes when the sly Mr. Scratch, who is none other than Satan himself, comes visiting. Jabez sells his soul to the devil and enjoys seven years of contractual good luck. However, near the end of the deal, Jabez decides to find some way out of it; he finds it in the famed attorney Daniel Webster. Now, Jabez can only hope Webster can give him a chance out of hell.

Its most well known adaptation was a 1941 film, starring Walter Huston as Scratch, Edward Arnold as Webster, and James Craig as Jabez Stone. It was retitled All That Money Can Buy in some states, as well as Academy Award ballots. At that year's ceremony, it won Bernard Herrmann his only Oscar for Original Score.

Was given a short musical parody by DominicFear

This short story contains examples of:

 * Affably Evil: The devil is depicted as not all that bad of a guy, considering. He's only asking that Stone uphold his end of their bargain, and when he loses the case he takes it in stride.
 * Butt Monkey: Jabez Stone
 * Deal with the Devil
 * The Devil Is a Loser
 * Hanging Judge
 * Historical Hero Upgrade: Yes, Daniel Webster was a great statesman. No, he did not possess a pair of horses that could outrun the wind, a ram that could butt through an iron door, or the ability to sink a river into the ground with his oratory.
 * Historical Villain Upgrade: Not all of the jury of the damned were really that evil in reality. In particular, Thomas Morton was only evil in the sense of being an enemy of Puritans and was an early proponent of treating Native Americans decently.
 * In the Style Of / Spiritual Successor: It's written in a sort of Tall Tale style which fits the literature written at the period that it's set, and also shows the influences of American Lovecraft Country stories, specifically "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving
 * Jury of the Damned: the Trope Maker
 * Louis Cypher
 * Patriotic Fervor
 * Satan
 * Setting Update: Shortcut to Happiness.
 * Shout-Out: Not only does the Superman novel Miracle Monday make reference to the events of TDADW, the basic premise (Superman beating The Devil's agent with just his righteousness) is inspired by it.
 * Take That: The story's last line is one against Vermont and Massachusetts.

The film contains examples of:
"Mary: "What a sweet and kind girl...""
 * Affably Evil: Far less so than in the original story. Scratch takes a much more active role in making sure Jabez becomes completely corrupt.
 * Anti-Hero: Jabez Stone starts off as Type 1 and slides into Type 4.
 * Badass Boast: Daniel Webster is full of these.
 * Butt Monkey: Jabez Stone
 * Chekhov's Gun: Miser Stephens leaves the bar when Scratch enters.
 * Deal with the Devil
 * Devil in Plain Sight: Scratch, of course, but he's (usually) open about who he is. Most people only think Belle is Jabez's mistress; no one suspects her true nature even when she's every bit as demonic as Scratch himself.
 * The Devil Is a Loser
 * Did You Just Kick Out Cthulhu: The Devil has left New Hampshire for good.
 * Evil Is Petty: In addition to bargaining for peoples' souls, Scratch enjoys random acts of vandalism and is a consummate kleptomaniac.
 * Evilly Affable: This Scratch is far more in this camp than he is Affably Evil.
 * Extreme Doormat: Mary has watched Jabez change from an honest-but-loveable shmuck to a rich asshole whose screwing his (hell-sent) maid Belle and letting his son roam free. Her reaction? "It must be all my fault, I know it!"
 * The Fourth Wall Will Not Protect You: Before the credits roll, Scratch looks through the screen, selecting the viewer as his next target.
 * Hanging Judge
 * Horny Devils: Belle Dee seems to be one... by 1940s standards anyway.
 * Horrible Judge of Character:


 * Spoken of Belle. Immediately before she bangs Jabez no less.
 * Historical Villain Upgrade
 * Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Jabez Stone embraces corruption fairly quickly, especially after Belle enters his life.
 * Jury of the Damned
 * Laser-Guided Karma  contract expires hours before Jabez's.
 * Louis Cypher: Played Straight with Scratch and Subverted with his servant Belle.
 * Our Souls Are Different:  soul appears as a moth. Scratch informs us that most of the souls he gets look like moths. He does suggest, however, that the souls of greater or more virtuous men are "bigger".
 * Obviously Evil: Scratch usually makes no secret of his identity, but Belle is clearly up to no good.
 * Patriotic Fervor
 * Satan
 * Spoiled Brat: Young Daniel, Jabez's son. His poor role models are mostly to blame.
 * The Vamp: Belle Dee. What else could Satan's lovely henchwoman be?
 * Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: Scratch seems capable of appearing anywhere at any time in any occupation -- all without raising a single eyebrow.
 * Yamato Nadeshiko: Mary.