Films/DVD Asylum

"The Devil and Daniel Webster"

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rico

(A)

Last night I watched this on the Criterion DVD. I had their version on laserdisc but this is a MUCH better transfer. The Stephen Vincent Benet story is of a down and out New Hampshire farmer in 1840 who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for seven years of prosperity. When the seven years are up the devil (Walter Huston) returns to claim the man's soul but Daniel Webster defends the man in a trial where the jury is made up of infamous American traitors and criminals. Simone Simon has an excellent role as the farmer's seductive mistress. The score by Bernard herrman is one of his best.

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Interesting, because I've read just the opposite about the quality of Criterion's release in this instance. - Audiophilander 14:46:31 04/21/06 (2)
I avoided this one after reading several reviews critical of this particular transfer & restoration, and the conclusion that it was much less than expected when compared to Criterion's usual effort. Based on your informed, 1st hand, opinion I may have to seek this Criterion release out for myself.
Your impressions are greatly appreciated. For the sake of context I'll link one of the several published reviews of this release which dissuaded me from purchasing this title at the time it was released. FTR though, as I haven't seen this DVD yet, I'll reserve judgment. As for the film itself, I thought it was a visually stunning fable when I saw it televised about 20 odd years ago, even though not especially impressed by the biblical theme in Stephen Vincent Benet's short story.
AuPh
- Here's a professional review of this Criterion release from DVD Verdict: (Open in New Window)
- Re: Interesting, because I've read just the opposite about the quality of Criterion's release in this instance. - rico 08:06:53 04/22/06 (1)
  I didn't mean to imply that it is up there with Criterion's "Citizen Kane" or "The Third Man" or Warner's superb "Casablanca", only that it is much better and more consistent than the Criterion laserdisc, which I used to suffer through.
  - Ah, I see. Keep in mind that I'm judging this release from my recollections of a 20 year old network broadcast. - Audiophilander 09:54:38 04/22/06 (0)
    Based on my memories of that showing of TDaDW, the presentation appeared to be from a freshly struck fine grain print, as opposed to the earlier Criterion LD. You've apparently seen the LD, but I haven't, for comparisons sake. BTW, I meant no sarcasm or criticism of your appraisal; I was merely surprised to see a positive review based on what I'd read before.
    I seriously considered purchasing this title, but was discouraged by the criticsms of this particular Criterion release published on-line and, as I recall, one or more testimonial reviews here about a year ago. Note: I have a high resolution DLP projection system, so I tend to be a bit critical of the quality of film transfers onto DVD, especially from Criterion, which hold itself to such high standards.
    At the high prices charged for Criterion titles I expect the VERY best film elements and extras, but I've discovered that this isn't always the case, even with European films, which are rapidly becoming their speacialty.
    One example which comes to mind is Criterion's "M" (Fritz Lang). This isn't even close to the Eureka version (PAL, Region 2), which is struck from restored elements that were, as I recall, provided by the Murnau Foundation. The (restored?) Criterion version of M, which I sold some time ago on ebay, may have been produced from the best elements available at that time, but it was soft, appearing to have been struck from a higher generational print source, and suffered some artifact problems.
    AuPh

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