Halloween Countdown: The Devil and Daniel Mouse
My earliest conscious memories involve a (harmless) deep intrigue and love of darkness. As a very young child I used to enjoy traipsing around my local library, looking for spooky goodies. Still do.
Given my innate radar, I was drawn to this box immediately, as it was the only one in the kids section that had a black spine and cover with ominous writing instead of the usual kid-friendly color schemes and bubble letters.
I was further entranced by the Devil’s voluminous neck folds. Admit it…you can’t look away.
The Devil and Daniel Mouse (loosely based on the Faustian short story The Devil and Daniel Webster), was released as a Halloween special in 1978. Once I found this in the video section, I got my parents to rent it for me multiple times.
The plot (via IMDB):
Finding their audience drying up in favour of rock music, two young mouse folk singers find themselves with a bleak future. Desperate for a better career and life, the female vows that she would do anything to become a rock star. Instantly, the Devil arises to take advantage of that and offers to make her a star in exchange for her soul. She agrees and she quickly becomes the star she’s dreamed of while her boyfriend, Daniel Mouse, is left behind. On the night of her greatest triumph, the devil comes to collect on her soul. In desperation, she turns to Daniel who must attempt the impossible task of trying to find an escape loophole for his girl’s release.
I’ll be straight with you here…The ending is pretty lame. Spoiler alert:
Despite a deep belief in the transformative power of song, I couldn’t get behind this. Perhaps a testament to the cynicism of my old age, I found myself thinking “A song does not negate a legally binding contract. Oh, come on Dana…it’s a cartoon! Suspension of disbelief! Think of it metaphorically, or something.” And even as a 4 year old I fast forwarded through the (intensely 1970’s) musical interludes. But this whole cartoon is worth it for the perpetually shape-shifting Devil, who is an absolute delight.
There are many fists of fury poses…
If you dig retro animation, watch this for good ol’ B.L. Zebub. Let me know what you think!
[Edit] Thank you, Bettie, for reminding me that this was sampled in Bauhaus’s “Party of the 1st Part.”
SheWalksSoftly 
October 7, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Oh my god! This is the source of the sampling used by Bauhaus in “Party of the 1st Part” I had totally given up hunting the source of this years back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lwQRpBzbxg
October 7, 2014 at 9:47 pm
YES it is!!!
October 7, 2014 at 9:51 pm
Edited post for the inclusion of this. 🙂 Thank you.
October 8, 2014 at 12:21 am
I took a piece of Pumpkin pie and sat with this. It is cute, but what Horrible generic 1970’s music! You forewarned, ana, but unfortunately one unfamiliar must sit through it all on first watching.
No wonder Dan and Jan get kicked out of the empty venue at the start of the film. Bring Dan to the musical rescue, and there is no way in Hell anyone wants THAT music among the fire and brimstone.
I can picture you, all adorable and serious, hunkered down for this video, over and over. xoxox
October 9, 2014 at 9:50 pm
I used to keep the remote in hand and only watch the Devil parts.
October 8, 2014 at 11:51 pm
“A song does not negate a legally binding contract.”
Hahaha! I’d love to see someone try that in the courtroom!
October 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Might I add, if ANY song were to touch the hearts of Satan and his jury of biased ill-doers…it wouldn’t be wimpy 70’s pop sung by rodents.