DEVIL AND DANIELWEBSTER

[sergio]

This is slightly off topic, but Criterion are finally going to be releasing a DVD of the uncut version of William Dieterle's classic Faust story THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER aka ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY aka HERE IS A MAN, which they had previously released only on Laser Disc. The commentary by Bruce Eder appears tohave been augmented with comments by Steve Smith who will discuss the contribution by Bernard Herrmann - this was the film for which Herrmann received his only Oscar and which beat his score for CITIZEN KANE which was also nominated that year.

This is really exciting news for anyone who loves film, especially as the film elements are apparently derived from a newly-discovered 35mm print and so the DVD will not be using the decent but inferior 16mm elements that had to be used for restored portions of the LD.

To read more, here's a link to DVDTIMES (it's also been flagged at the Home Theater Forum).

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=News&id=4679

[Glenn Anders]

Dear sergio: I don't consider your entry off-topic at all to anyone interested in the total influence of Orson Welles. Certainly, in 1941, when William Dieterle had a production unit similar to Welles' Mercury Theater on the RKO lot, it was natural that the old Expressionist and the young tyro would cross-pollinate artistically. The fact that THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER contains contributions not only by Herrmann but also by William Alland and Sonny Bupp reinforces your observation.

You might like to look at similar points made in my review of THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER, which I wrote under my other identity, at Epinions.com: Macresarf1

http://www.epinions.com/mvie-review-6DBF-7F3AAB0-397BCAC0-prod1

I have appended there your news of the DVD and a plug for wellesnet.com.

Glenn

[mteal]

Glenn Anders,
Very good article on a great film. The insights on the US's conquest of Mexico - which Ullyses S. Grant claimed caused The Civil War even more then slavery - in relation to the Benet story are intriguing, and I had no idea there were so many interesting Welles connections. It makes me eager to see the new DVD when it comes out. It's been years since I saw Criterion's LD edition but I remember how powerful Walter Huston's performance was. I'm sure the DVD, with all-35mm footage, will make it and the film even more impressive. I guess we can probably add the three missing minutes (as well as the scenes with Thomas Mitchell) to the ever-growing list of priceless film footage destroyed by Hollywood. Too bad.

[Glenn Anders]

Yes, mteal, as I think I noted in Macresarf1's review, the first ten minutes or so had been lost at the time of the Criterion LD, and elements of a 16mm copy were pressed into service for the restoration. There was a visible break in the quality of the footage at the point the film moved from 16mm to 35mm.

I doubt we'll see the additional lost three minutes. But, hey, maybe they didn't work. Maybe they should have been cut!

All the best.

Glenn

[R Kadin]

Great news from Criterion and great research, folks.

What a collaborative marvel this film would seem to be. Who in his (or her) right mind could resist a blend of such immeasurable influences (Dieterle! Ford! Herrman! Huston! WELLES! - plus Criterion's legendary perfectionism)?

I've placed my advance order and can't wait for September. (well, okay, I CAN wait so far as the weather is concerned; but you know what I mean...)

[Narshty]

I doubt we'll see the additional lost three minutes. But, hey, maybe they didn't work. Maybe they should have been cut!

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Glenn.

It's my understanding that the print Criterion utilised for at least part of the transfer was indeed the longer (presumably 109-minute) version. This following block of text is edited together from several posts made by Agee Bassett during February 2002 over at Home Theater Forum (the excerpts haven't been altered, just linked together):

Criterion is presently in the process of tracking down a recently-discovered, complete 35-mm print belonging to the William Dieterle estate, which reputedly includes footage not even included on the "restored" Criterion LD....This information was brought to my attention some months back by fellow HTF member, John Morgan, who had heard this awhile back from an inside acquaintance of his prominent in the film restoration community. Since that time, I have been in contact with Criterion and Janus Films, who have both confirmed Mr. Morgan's statement....Let's cross our fingers they can track down this print. Supposedly, Mr. Morgan's acquaintance has put Criterion in the know as to it's location....The restored material edited into the 1991 Janus restoration is 16mm. The Dieterle print is ostensibly a full 35mm pre-release version of the film, replete with footage not seen since 1941, and one of many tentatively-titled opening cards the film sported during its preview engagment, Here is a Man.

If you look here at the DVD's supplements, you'll see a "video comparison" between the 106-minute version and the preview version Here Is A Man - I assume there'll be more than just an alternate title card during the opening credits.

[Glenn Anders]

Dear narshty: Thank you for your addition. I thought I saw the Criterion DVD listed at 106 minutes, but I could be wrong. Certainly, HERE IS A MAN was Dieterle's title for the film, as I understand it.

Let's hope that they have the 109 minute version, which may heal that abrupt gap of content toward the end of the LD.

Glenn

[R Kadin]

Glenn, you're not wrong. Here's the info direct from the Criterion site:

Film Info
1941
106 minutes
Black and white
1.33:1
Not Anamorphic
English

[Glenn Anders]

Thanks, R Kadin. I still hope narshty is right. It would be nice to discover they have more than they think. It would be a salubrious surprise, when so often film companies deliver less than promised.

Glenn

[Narshty]

What I meant was I think the extra footage will be present on the disc, but as a supplement within the Video Comparison section.

Criterion don't like to put footage back into a film simply because they can (especially when it appears that the 106-minute version of the film was Dieterle's approved cut), so they generally include it as an extra feature (they also did this on Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc, including several alternate takes and deleted shots presented in a special multimedia essay).

[R Kadin]

Glenn, I'll be happy to advise otherwise, if warranted, when my copy finally arrives. We're talking late in September, mind you.

Then again, it's not unknown for the cover notes and the actual contents to diverge; so, short of running a stopwatch against my viewing time, there's no guarantee I'll even detect any difference. That "abrupt gap" you mention could be just the ticket; but it will still be a best guess proposition.

[Glenn Anders]

I think Narshty may have answer. The footage is probably offered as a supplement. If so, using video tape, we can do our own "restoration!"

Glenn

[sergio]

Finally! I was starting to wonder if anyone was ever going to comment on this piece of news...

Thanks Glenn for your excellent article on the film. Truly illuminating. I'd forgotten that Mitchell was originally cast - I hate to say it, but he would have been better casting than Arnold in opposition to Huston.

The previous Criterion Laser Disc is one of my most prized posessions, but this new DVD sounds absolutely wonderful - I hope the quality of the 35mm holds up (the 16mm wasn't too bad after all, but it was very noticeable) - along with the Criterion release of 'Regle du Jeu' and the Warners release of the Michael Curtiz classics `The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'Yankee Doodle Dandy', this is going to be a wonderful couple of months for classics films on DVD.

Incidentally, is there really no way to get the subtitles off the Italian 'Immortal Story' DVD? I'm actually from italy myself, but in a way that makes it worse for me as I end up listening and translating the subs at the same time just by instinct - very head ache inducing.

[Glenn Anders]

Dear sergio: Perhaps Jeff Wilson will enlighten us on the subject of sub-title removal. I believe that he has commented on the problem. You might look at the section here on "The Immortal Story."

Was not the Criterion LD of THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER beautiful? Let's hope the 35mm print is transferred well to DVD. Sometimes, as Jeff and others have pointed out, these restorations are not so great. To be a little further OT yet, I saw the restoration of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINHOOD that I presume will be on DVD, the other night in a first rate theater. I'm afraid the print, though beautifully clear, had subdued yellows and greens. And the digitital sound transfer sounded thin to my ears, robbing timber from some of the actors' voices, and in particular taking away the highs and lows of Korngold's score. I trust the sound problem was just encroaching deafness, but I know that I am not yet going blind.

Perhaps, the restoration will fare better in Home Theater.

I would look forward to comments by others.

Yes, I think that Mitchell would have been splendid, perhaps the performance of his career. However, as I remember it, Arnold had to step into the role within a remarkably short time, redoing everything Mitchell had already done, which is why there are relatively few two-shots of him with other principals. And of course, if I am correct, a chunk of his cross examinations and oratory in the trial was excised, perhaps in those missing three minutes we shall get to see in the next 30 days.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks to you, R Kadin and Narshty.

Glenn

[Narshty]

The first review is in, and the DVD looks every bit as good as anyone could hope for.

Mondo Digital's review

This is shaping up to be my favourite release of the year, bar none.