"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a short story by Stephen Vincent Benét. This retelling of the classic German Faust tale is based on the short story The Devil and Tom Walker, written by Washington Irving. Benet's version of the story centers on a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the Devil and is defended by Daniel Webster.
The story was published in 1937 by Farrar & Rinehart. In 1938, it appeared in The Saturday Evening Post and won an O. Henry award that same year. The author would adapt it in 1938 into a folk opera with music by Douglas Stuart Moore. Benét also worked on the screenplay adaptation for the 1941 film.
}
Shortcut to Happiness is a 2007 film adaptation of the Stephen Vincent Benet classic short story The Devil and Daniel Webster. It stars Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster, Alec Baldwin as Jabez Stone, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as The Devil. Baldwin also directed the film.
Although filmed in 2001, it was plagued with financial difficulties and sat unreleased for several years. In 2007 the Yari Film Group announced a deal to release the film to theaters under a new title, Shortcut to Happiness.
The Devil and Daniel Webster is a 1941 fantasy film, adapted from Stephen Vincent Benét's short story of the same name by Benét and Dan Totheroh. It has also been released under the titles All That Money Can Buy, Daniel and the Devil and Here Is a Man. The film stars Edward Arnold, Walter Huston, and James Craig. It was directed by William Dieterle.
A down-on-his-luck farmer makes a deal with the devil for seven years of prosperity. When Mr. Scratch comes to collect, orator and hero of the common man Daniel Webster comes to the rescue. Based on the short story by Stephen Vincent Benet. Also known as "All That Money Can Buy." Written by Little Pine Weasel
Filming was completed in 2001 but the movie has been shelved for several years due to lack of funds to complete post-production. However, My Own Worst Enemy Productions acquired the rights to the title and is set to release it in 2007.
Long known as "The Devil & Daniel Webster" the films title was changed to "Shortcut to Happiness" after being acquired by Bob Yari productions.
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.
