The film was shot in various locations in New York City, telling the satirical story of Jabez Stone, a promising but utterly unsuccessful writer living in Manhattan. Despite his persistent efforts, he struggles to sell his novels, lives in a dilapidated apartment, and faces constant rejection in his personal life. His despair deepens when his friend, Julius Jenson, achieves significant literary success by selling a novel for a substantial sum. Overwhelmed with envy and frustration, Jabez makes a desperate, impulsive promise to sell his soul to the Devil for success. In a strange turn of events, he accidentally causes a fatal incident with his typewriter. Shortly after, the Devil, appearing in human form, confronts Jabez, rectifies the situation, and formalizes a Faustian contract. Subsequently, Jabez's low-quality novels paradoxically become bestsellers, he amasses wealth, and experiences unprecedented success with women. However, these newfound benefits come at the cost of his friendships and personal connections. A glimmer of hope appears when he meets the respected publisher Daniel Webster, who offers him a potential way to nullify his infernal agreement.

Filming Locations:

Sardi's Restaurant

In the Movie

Scene where Jabez Stone may have celebrated his initial, dishonestly obtained success or pondered the consequences of his deal with the Devil, or perhaps where he met other characters involved in the tumultuous literary and theatrical life of New York that Sardi's historically embodies. This is a place where many significant discussions and fateful decisions could have unfolded against the backdrop of a classic Manhattan eatery, reflecting the ambitious and often ruthless world of publishing and fame.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Sardi's Restaurant

Webster Publishing Offices

In the Movie

Scene where Jabez Stone likely meets with the respected publisher Daniel Webster, who offers him a crucial opportunity to escape his infernal contract. This location would serve as the backdrop for intense negotiations and a turning point in Jabez's desperate quest for redemption, symbolizing the formal setting where the complex legal aspects of his soul-selling agreement are discussed and contested, contrasting with the chaotic nature of his initial deal.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Webster Publishing Offices

Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the Movie

Scene where Jabez Stone, having achieved wealth and success, might have visited the museum to partake in the finer aspects of culture, perhaps reflecting his new, superficial status, or possibly as a place for a chance encounter that further complicates his life or offers a moment of introspection among priceless works of art. The grandeur of the museum would serve as an appropriate backdrop for a character navigating the ups and downs of a life drastically altered by a pact with the Devil, showcasing his journey from a loser to a wealthy, albeit devil-contracted, individual.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York Public Library

In the Movie

Scene where Jabez Stone, as an aspiring writer, might have sought inspiration or perhaps reflected on his literary failures and sudden, undeserved success. This iconic institution, a bastion of knowledge and culture, could serve as a powerful symbol of the intellectual world he yearned to conquer, potentially contrasting his low-quality bestsellers with the genuine literary value found within its sacred halls, or even as a place for a dramatic encounter.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Main Branch of the New York Public Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building)

Desbrosses Street and Washington Street

In the Movie

Scene where various street activities or transitional moments in Jabez Stone's life were filmed. As a street intersection in a bustling part of Manhattan, it would be used for general shots, walking scenes, or perhaps a significant event unfolding against the backdrop of everyday urban fabric, reflecting the constant movement and challenges faced by a writer trying to make his mark in the city, before and after his fateful deal, creating a sense of place and atmosphere for his character's journey.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Desbrosses Street and Washington Street, Manhattan