Bedazzled (1967)

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Peter Cook (story) and
Dudley Moore (story) ...

Release Date:

10 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in their first starring comedy! [UK}

Plot:

Stanley is a short order cook, infatuated with Margaret, the statuesque waitress who works at Whimpy Burger with him...

Plot Keywords:

Seven Deadly Sins | Cook | Soul | Devil | Waitress

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 28

10:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Peter Cook	...	George Spiggott / The Devil
Dudley Moore	...	Stanley Moon
Eleanor Bron	...	Margaret
Raquel Welch	...	Lust / Lilian Lust
Alba	...	Vanity
Robert Russell	...	Anger
Barry Humphries	...	Envy
Parnell McGarry	...	Gluttony
Danièle Noël	...	Avarice (as Daniele Noel)
Howard Goorney	...	Sloth
Michael Bates	...	Inspector Clarke
Bernard Spear	...	Irving Moses
Robin Hawdon	...	Randolph - Harp Teacher
Michael Trubshawe	...	Lord Dowdy
Evelyn Moore	...	Mrs. Wisby

Also Known As:

Stanley Donen's Bedazzled (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Germany:16 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:Approved | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

BT Tower, 60 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, London, England, UK

Company:

Stanley Donen Films

Trivia:

An article about Peter Cook that appeared in the New Yorker stated that the filmmakers didn't have a title for Bedazzled when it was being made. Cook suggested calling the film Raquel Welch. The producers didn't understand why Cook would want to name the movie after an actress that only appears for a few minutes in it. Cook explained that movie marquees put the lead actors names over the movie title. Thus the letters on the marquee would say "Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in Raquel Welch". The producers ended going for the more ordinary title.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When George files Stanley's contract he puts "Moon, Stanley" after "Moses, Irving."

Quotes:

George Spiggott: [to God] I've done a good deed. I gave that little twit his soul back. Wasn't that generous?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bruce Almighty (2003)

Searching for Bedazzled (1967)

I first bought this movie on VHS in 1983 as an ex rental from a garage, if it wasn't worn out then it certainly is now and I probably remember every line in the movie, but for some reason I have spent the whole evening searching for a copy I can buy to enjoy it again.

The movie is a gem incomparable to the 2000 effort.

Why is the movie so good? I believe the secret to the movie is that they played themselves, Cooke cruel, but humorous, arrogant, intelligent but tragic, Moore full of good intention, seemingly one step behind, but with the brighter future; the combination is gripping.

At the end of it all, as in life Cooke is exposed as being slightly more fragile than he gives on and an unlikely bond appears to have developed between the two.

I was reassured to hear the 60's critics found the movie bland and questioned Cooke's acting ability. Cooke's genius was non-conformity and the movie is full of it, trampolining Nuns, a hypnotically haunting Pop song, thought controlled pigeons, unforgivable abuse of kind old ladies and all captured in a cinematographic magic as were "the Prisoner" and "The Avengers" and which can never be recreated by a sequel.

There are so many great asides, lines and scenes, that to mention one or the other does not do justice; it is the wealth of colourful detail in the scenes, the events, the characters and the script. This movie certainly isn't "bland", "bland" is Cooke's appearance in the "One foot in the Algarve" episode and if there is any movie to best remind us why the pairing had a hint of genius this is it.

I hope I manage to find a copy to buy in the UK, but am also grateful that it is hard to get my hands on one. This movie like my "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" or "Queen 1" LP is that much more enjoyable because it is mine and not the property of mainstream commercialisation ... However be sure you see it at least once when you can.