Bernard Herrmann won his first Academy Award for a score to the film "The Devil and Daniel Webster." The Devil has torments a simple New Hampshire farmer into selling his soul for success. The farmer engages the great attorney and orator Daniel Webster to defend him with Old Scratch comes to collect. The Devil agrees to let the issue to be decided by a trial before "an American judge and an American jury, " but conjures up a truly demonic court, presided over by the infamous Judge Hawthorn (who ran the Salem Witch Trials) and a jury comprising 12 of the most infamous thugs and traitors in US history. Webster's impassioned oratory nevertheless prevails, the farmer keeps his soul, and the devil has to promise to stay away from New Hampshire forever. Herrmann's music is in its turn demonic and lively, and always witty. There is a snarling movement depicting a sleigh ride conducted by Old Scratch, and a nice set of variations on the old song "Springfield Mountain." An uncomplicated sounding score, one of the best concert-hall transformations of a movie score. ~ Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide
