Bedazzled (1967)

A hapless loser sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for 7 wishes, but has trouble winning over the girl of his dreams.

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Peter Cook (story), Dudley Moore (story),

Stars:

Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Eleanor Bron

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Stanley is a short order cook, infatuated with Margaret, the statuesque waitress who works at Wimpy Bar with him. Despondent, he prepares to end it all when he meets George Spiggott AKA the Devil. Selling his soul for 7 wishes, Stanley tries to make Margaret his own first as an intellectual, then as a rock star, then as a wealthy industrialist. As each fails, he becomes more aware of how empty his life had been and how much more he has to live for. He also meets the seven deadly sins who try and advise him.

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Plot Keywords:

waitress | soul | cook | seven deadly sins | devil | 

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Taglines:

Wait till you see Dudley Moore as 'The Nun' [USA]

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stanley Donen's Bedazzled

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Donen Films, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After Stanley signs away his soul, Spigot files the form away under "M"; the other names he reads out from the files while finding Moon's place are Niccolò Machiavelli, Senator Joseph McCarthy, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Miller (presumably a reference to their Beyond the Fringe colleague Jonathan Miller) and Moses ("Irving Moses, the fruiterer").

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Goofs

When George files Stanley's contract he puts "Moon, Stanley" after "Moses, Irving."

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Quotes

George Spiggott: Just putting a tiny little ventilation hole in this oil tanker.

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Crazy Credits

The film ends with God laughing at the devil; God's laughter continues intermittently throughout the closing credits.

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Connections

References Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

User Reviews

A clever and classy treat

"Bedazzled", mainly because it's not available on DVD (and even VHS in the UK), has become something of a cult in recent years. This is also due to the simple fact that its a very good film, a very mannered and well-crafted high concept flick.

Dudley Moore and Peter Cook were still friends in 1967. They were two of British TV's most feted stars, and had also enthusiastically appeared together in a few ensemble comedy films. They were no slouches when it came to their first feature either. Stanley Donen was brought in a director, Cook toiled over the witty script, Moore did the perky score.

"Bedazzled" is slightly dated and is quite an uncommercial product overall, but its still a clever and interesting film. It doesnt deliver bellylaughs, but it is pretty thought-provoking and intelligent. There's funny one-liners ("Yes, Irving Moses-the fruitier etc), totally original ideas (the animated fly sequence, Raquel Welsh as Lust), slapstick stuff and a top pop parody with Cook as the indifferent "Drimble Wedge".

The pathos and sadness underpinning the movie is perhaps best summed up with the conned old lady's "Goodbye" as the Eyewash men leave. "Bedazzled" is very British and very 60s, but it still a well-made and well-acted fantasy, much better than the silly 2000 remake.