Shortcut to Happiness

Original title: The Devil and Daniel Webster

2003
PG-13
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

6.4K

YOUR RATING

Set in contemporary New York's literary world, this is a re-telling of the classic fable of a man who sells his soul to the devil for fame and fortune and ultimately decides that he wants to get it back. Jabez Stone, a down and out writer, exchanges his soul for a successful literary career, but soon realizes it was a mistake. Jabez must enlist the help of Daniel Webster in order to win his soul back from the Devil.

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Comedy Drama Fantasy

A down-and-out writer sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for fame and fortune.A down-and-out writer sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for fame and fortune.A down-and-out writer sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for fame and fortune.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

6.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:24

Official Trailer

Photos24

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to Alec Baldwin (Jabez Stone), this movie was extensively re-edited after it came into the possession of Bob Yari Productions, and no longer bears any resemblance to its original form or to the Benet short story, hence the title change. Baldwin has since requested that his name be removed from the credits as director and producer.

Goofs
When buying the house, Jabez Stone sees the Devil on the beach. He runs to her with his shirt's collar over his jacket. But when he is there and talks to the Devil the collar is carefully tucked under.

Quotes
Aging Writer: Ah, the great Daniel Webster!
Daniel Webster: The drunk Mr. Hardy.
Aging Writer: Better drunk than a whore, I always say.
Daniel Webster: Better neither than both.

Connections
Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies That Faced MAJOR Delays (2018)

Soundtracks
Are You There, Margaret? It's Me God
Written and Performed by The Baldwin Brothers
Courtesy of TVT Records

User reviews51

Review

Featured review

6/10

I'd like to see the director's cut.

One of the reviews says there were three versions of the film. I'd like to see Baldwin's original cut of this movie. The last version was cut badly, there are many unnatural breaks in the film. like it was edited for commercial breaks. The breaks where scenes were cut seem apparent.

Apparently the 1941 movie suffered a similar fate, with many titles and severe editing.

The story runs counter to the traditional American ethic of money equaling happiness.

The film was purchased out of bankruptcy for a fraction of production costs, and renamed and hacked for a fast return on investment.