Shortcut to Happiness (2003)

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

Director:

Alec Baldwin (as Harry Kirkpatrick)

Writers:

Stephen Vincent Benet (story "The Devil and Daniel Webster"), Archibald Macleish (play)

Stars:

Virl Andrick, Ray Aranha, Kaniel Arocho

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Virl Andrick	...	Dick
Ray Aranha	...	Mailman
Kaniel Arocho	...	Skateboard Kid #1
Jorge Arocho	...	Skateboard Kid #2
Mary Ashton	...	Production Assistant
Howard Atlee	...	Award Audience Man
Dan Aykroyd	...	Julius Jensen
Alec Baldwin	...	Jabez Stone
Gregg Bello	...	Rick Fusco
Bobby Cannavale	...	Cop
Jann Carl	...	Herself
Kim Cattrall	...	Constance Hurry
Antoni Cornacchione	...	Security Guard
Bill Corsair	...	Aging Writer
Grenville Cuyler	...	Taxi Hailer

Storyline

In Manhattan, the aspirant writer Jabez Stone is a complete loser: he is not able to sell his novels, he lives in a lousy apartment and he does not have success with women. When one of his friends Julius Jenson sells his novel for US$ 190,000.00 to an editor, Jabez fells envy and promises to sell his soul to the devil for success and accidentally kills a woman with his typing machine. The Devil knocks on his door, fixes the situation and seals a contract with Jabez. His low quality novels have bad reviews but become best-sellers; Jabez enriches; has success with women, but has no time for his friends. Jabez meets with the publisher Daniel Webster who offers him a chance to break the contract with the devil.

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Plot Keywords:

devil | writer | fortune | fame | new york city | 

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Taglines:

the devil is in the details.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Yari Film Group [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 2007 (Kazakhstan)

Also Known As:

Shortcut to Happiness

Filming Locations:

Bethpage, Long Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Yari Film Group (YFG),Cutting Edge Entertainment,El Dorado Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Alec Baldwin, the film 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.

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Goofs

While showing Jabez his new apartment, the Realtor says Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" there. In fact, the song was written while sitting at the pool at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona in 1940.

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Quotes

The Devil: Hmm. You know what they say. In order for one to succeed, another must fail.

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Connections

Version of The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

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Soundtracks

Hoopin'
Written and Performed by Larry Brown (as Lawrence H. Brown)
Courtesy of 440 Incorporated

User Reviews

There Is no Shortcut to Happiness

In Manhattan, the aspirant writer Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwyn) is a complete loser: he is not able to sell his novels, he lives in a lousy apartment and he does not have success with women. When one of his friends Julius Jenson (Dan Aykroyd) sells his novel for US$ 190,000.00 to an editor, Jabez fells envy and promises to sell his soul to the devil for success and accidentally kills a woman with his typing machine. The Devil (Jeniffer Love Hewitt) knocks on his door, fixes the situation and seals a contract with Jabez. His low quality novels have bad reviews but become best-sellers; Jabez enriches; has success with women, but has no time for his friends. Jabez meets with the publisher Daniel Webster (Anthony Hopkins) who offers him a chance to break the contract with the devil.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is an original and delightful version of Faust, alternating comedy and drama and giving great messages in the end. The lovely and cute Jeniffer Love Hewitt "steals" the movie with her interpretation of a sexy and smart devil. Anthony Hopkins has another top-notch performance. Kim Cattrall is very comfortable performing Constance Hurry that recalls Samantha, from "Sex and the City". Dan Aykroid shows talent in his dramatic interpretation and is a good surprise. Alec Baldwyn has a good performance too in spite of some bad reviews, and I did not know that the director Harry Kirkpatrick is actually a pseudonym of Alec Baldwyn. In the end, this movie is a pleasant and worthwhile entertainment. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Julgamento do Diabo" ("The Trial of the Devil")