Two Films I would Like To See Again

1. The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). I must have seen this film on television at some time in the 1960s. It is the story of a poor New Hampshire farmer in the 1840s who in desperation sells his soul to the Devil in return for seven years of prosperity. When his time is almost up and he will have to honour his bargain with the Devil, he turns to the famous orator Daniel Webster and begs him to find a way out of his pact. Although I can recall little of the film after all these years, I do remember very clearly its curious hypnotic, mesmerising quality. I remember, too, the swear word used by the hapless farmer at the outset in the face of ruined crops and other calamites - "consarn it"! It was this utterance, if my memory serves me right, that prompted the appearance of the Devil in the shape of "Mr Scratch".
2. Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958). I DO remember when I saw this film: shortly after it came out at my public school. Looking back, it seems extraordinary how quickly Beaumont managed to get hold of recent releases (Some Like it Hot, North by North West, etc.) even though the projectionist had to change the reel several times in the course of the performance). But my memory has let me down in another respect. I could have sworn it was directed by Douglas Fairbanks Jr, but I see that the director was actually Michael Anderson. The plot (courtesy of The Internet Movie Database): A man shows up at Kimberley Prescott's villa claiming to be her brother. But Ward Prescott died in a car accident a year ago, so how can this man be him? Despite Kim's protests that the stranger isn't her brother, everyone else accepts him, including their uncle. Kim begins to fear for her sanity and her life. The film starred Anne Baxter, the late Richard Todd and Herbert Lom, and it scared me out of my wits! On a couple of occasions I literally jumped out of my seat.

It would be very interesting to see both these films again and to discover what effect they have on me now.