Alec Baldwin quits Devil & Daniel Webster

by Richard Johnson with Paula Froelich and Chris Wilson

ALEC Baldwin has quit "The Devil and Daniel Webster" over unpaid bills - and the indie producer who raised $28 million so Baldwin could make the picture is bitterly disappointed.

"Alec tried to get this movie done for seven years. I'm the guy who stepped up to the plate," David Glasser of Cutting Edge Entertainment told PAGE SIX-New York Post. "We've been behind him from the beginning. I don't think I've done one wrong thing."

The remake of the 1941 film about a writer who sells his soul to the devil stars Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Baldwin, who is also director and creative producer. It will definitely be finished, with or without Baldwin's input.

After shooting for 10 weeks in Manhattan last winter, the picture is now in post-production, with about 30 editors, special effects and sound engineers hard at work, Glasser said. "We haven't missed one day, not one hour."

Glasser acknowleged, "There are some vendors [prop houses, caterers, telephone rentals etc.] who are still owed money because one investor pulled out." He called the cash shortfall "a short lapse" and said all the bills are "being rectified."

Baldwin, who persuaded Hopkins to join the cast, completing filming on time, and $700,000 under the $28 million budget.

But Variety reported that Baldwin had to bring in hotshot Hollywood lawyer Marty Singer before he got paid. "When the filming finished, Alec was owed $550,000," Singer told us.

Baldwin refuses to proceed with editing without assurances he'll be paid for the 10 weeks he was contracted to bring in a director's cut, to say nothing of the 21 total weeks of post-production.

"We agreed to finance it at $13 million because it was Alec's passion piece," Glasser said. "He came back and said it would be 15, then 17, then 24 and finally, $28 million."

Glasser, bitter that Baldwin planted a damaging story in Variety, fumed: "Alec has been paid in full, but he decided to point his finger at Cutting Edge. It's the most insane thing I'ver ever heard."

Still, Glasser wants him back. "Alec is the director of this picture. I'd like to see him finish it."

Beth Kushnik, who worked as set decorator on "The Devil and Daniel Webster," blames Cutting Edge for all the problems: "Their business practices are not kosher. It was their job to make sure the money was there."

Kushnik, who said Baldwin was "a pleasure to work with," is praying the movie gets completed and released. "I think everyone made a really fine film," she said.