Doctor Faustus (1967)

A man sells his soul to the devil in order to have the woman he loves.

Directors:

Richard Burton, Nevill Coghill

Writers:

Christopher Marlowe (play), Nevill Coghill (adapted for the screen by)

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Andreas Teuber

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Burton	...	Doctor Faustus
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Helen
Andreas Teuber	...	Mephistophilis
Ram Chopra	...	Valdes
Richard Carwardine	...	Cornelius
Patrick Barwise	...	Wagner
Michael Menaugh	...	Good Angel / Bishop (as Michael Meneaugh)
Richard Durden	...	Evil Angel / Knight (as Richard Durden-Smith)
David McIntosh	...	Lucifer
Jeremy Eccles	...	Belzebub
Gwydion Thomas	...	Lechery
Ian Marter	...	Pride / Emperor
Nicholas Loukes	...	Envy / Cardinal of Lorraine
Adrian Benjamin	...	Pope
Elizabeth O'Donovan	...	Empress

Storyline

Faustus (Richard Burton) is a scholar at the University of Wittenberg when he earns his doctorate degree. His insatiable appetite for knowledge and power leads him to employ necromancy to conjure Mephistopheles (Andreas Teuber) out of Hell. He bargains away his soul to Lucifer in exchange for living twenty-four years during which Mephistopheles will be his slave. Faustus signs the pact in his own blood and Mephistopheles reveals the works of the devil to Faustus.

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Plot Keywords:

deal with the devil | based on play | character name as title | psychotronic film | period drama | 

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Taglines:

The story of a scientist who sells his soul to the devil

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The following ensemble cast members received an "Introducing" credit: Andreas Teuber, Ram Chopra, Richard Carwardine, Patrick Barwise, Michael Menaugh, Richard Durden, David McIntosh, Jeremy Eccles, Elizabeth O'Donovan, Gwydion Thomas, Ian Marter, Nicholas Loukes, and Adrian Benjamin. These thespians from the Oxford University Dramatic Society represented the majority of the cast.

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Goofs

When Faustus anoints his head with blood there is one mark on his forehead, but when he is conjuring Mephistophilis, there are two blood marks.

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Quotes

[Mephistopheles has come to Faustus' study]
Doctor Faustus: Where are you damned?
Mephistopheles: In hell.
Doctor Faustus: How comes it, then, that thou art out of hell?
Mephistopheles: Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it. / Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of God / And tasted the eternal joys of heaven, / Am not tormented with ten thousand hells / In being deprived of everlasting bliss?

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Connections

Referenced in R.I.P. (2013)

User Reviews

Back To The Classic

Shortly after I picked up a copy of Marlowe's play, I spotted the film in a video store. Having read the play first, I wondered how the film would portray it.

It did pretty well. The film apparently wasn't a high-budget item, but it conveyed the essence of the play. And, as important, it used the basic Marlowe play. That adds a touch that a more "modernized" film wouldn't have. In that, it shares a legacy found in many Shakespearean films.

The Faust story is well enough known so that there are no plot twist surprises. It may not be for everyone, but it's worth a view. Richard Burton makes a fairly believable Faust.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doctor Faustus

Filming Locations:

Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nassau Films, Oxford University Screen Productions, Venfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1