Bart Sells His Soul (8 Oct. 1995)

When Rev. Lovejoy disciplines Bart for a prank he pulled in church - he tricked the organist into playing Iron Butterfly's ""In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - he and co-conspirator Milhouse begin arguing over whether man really has a soul. Bart scoffs at the notion and agrees to "sell" his soul (a piece of paper with the words "Bart Simpson's Soul") to Milhouse for $5. A series of situations makes Bart ... See full summary »

Director:

Wesley Archer

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Barney Gumble / Abraham Lincoln / Santa's Little Helper / Krusty the Klown / Street Sweeper Driver / Derelict (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Others (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Ralph Wiggum / Dr. Hibbert's Younger Son / Todd Flanders / Nelson Muntz / Girl with Sore Teeth (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Dr. Hibbert's Elder Son / Moe Szyslak / Carl / Apu Nahasapeemapetilon / Waiter / Potato Bug Sprayer / Snake / Chief Wiggum / Kirk Van Houten / Comic Book Guy (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Reverend Lovejoy / Dr. Hibbert / Advert Voice / Ned Flanders (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	Dolph / Grandma Van Houten (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Rod Flanders / Jimbo Jones (voice)
Maggie Roswell	...	Luann Van Houten / Maude Flanders (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Dr. Hibbert's Daughter / Sherri / Terri / Martin Prince (voice)
Doris Grau	...	Lunchlady Doris (voice)

Storyline

When Rev. Lovejoy disciplines Bart for a prank he pulled in church - he tricked the organist into playing Iron Butterfly's ""In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - he and co-conspirator Milhouse begin arguing over whether man really has a soul. Bart scoffs at the notion and agrees to "sell" his soul (a piece of paper with the words "Bart Simpson's Soul") to Milhouse for $5. A series of situations makes Bart realize maybe he really did sell his soul, prompting him to go all-out to get it back from Milhouse, who isn't willing to sell. Meanwhile, Moe attempts to open a family-style restaurant inside his tavern, with the gimmick that if he doesn't smile when servicing a customer, the meal is free. Moe's surly demeanor and the stress of running such a business alone conspire to do the establishment in.

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Plot Keywords:

seattle space needle | 2d animation | soul selling

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1995 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Milhous buys Bart's soul is very similar to the scene in Faust, where Mephistopheles buys Faust's soul. Milhous even has the same joviality that Mephistopheles had during the same transaction.

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Quotes

Bart: Milhouse, there is no such thing as a soul. It's just something parents made up to scare children, like the boogeyman or Michael Jackson.

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Connections

Featured in The Simpsons: All Singing, All Dancing (1998)

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Soundtracks

"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"
Written by Doug Ingle
Performed by Cast

User Reviews

Fantastic, Touching Episode

SPOILERS

When Bart gets disciplined by Reverend Lovejoy for making the people sing Da-Gadda-Da-Vada, he gives Milhouse his soul for five dollars. He spends those five dollars on a toy, which doesn't work the way he wanted to. He then tells Lisa he gave his soul to Milhouse and she is shocked.

He goes to the Kwik-E-Mart and the automatic door won't open for him, and worst of all, it works for Rod and Todd! Then he tries to breathe on the ice cream freezer, but his breath won't show up. When he gets home, he watches Itchy and Scratchy, but doesn't laugh! Lisa runs a test on him to see if he really did lose his soul. She puts a skateboard in front of Homer while he's walking, he trips, and his face gets trapped in the stair railing, then Santa's Little Helper bites him. Lisa has come to the conclusion that Bart lost his soul.

Meanwhile, Moe turns his bar into a family restaurant, and the Simpson family comes and order food, but Lisa insists they say Grace, saying the word soul a lot. Finally, Bart snaps and runs out. Then Moe snaps from being too friendly and everyone leaves. His restaurant is out of business.

Meanwhile, Bart goes to Milhouse's Grandmother's house because thats where Milhouse is. Milhouse says he had traded his soul for for buttons, Alf buttons. He said he traded it to Comic Book Guy.

Bart sleeps next to the Comic Store until it opens. When it does, Comic Book Guy says he sold Bart's soul to a kid. Bart finally gives up.

He goes home and prays for his soul. Then his soul floats into his room. It turns out that Lisa had bought Bart's soul back. He thanks her and it's a happy ending.

Overall, this is a touching Bart episode.

9/10