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The great British comedian Peter Cook plays a mod Mephistopheles in this devilishly funny Faust send-up directed by Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain). Dudley Moore is a lovelorn schlemiel in Swinging ‘60s London whose unsuccessful suicide attempt is interrupted when the Prince of Darkness (Cook) promises him seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Bedazzled, which Cook also wrote, offers nonstop laughs as these wishes play out as a series of fantasies involving the unobtainable object of Moore’s desire (Eleanor Bron from Help!). Moore and Cook deftly don a variety of personas, as the latter’s low-rent Lucifer employs a series of clever loopholes to make the wishes go hilariously awry. Quintessentially British (even though it was directed by an American) Bedazzled alternates between marvelously witty dialogue and moments of surreal physical humor, highlighted by a climatic sequence in which a group of nuns -- including Moore himself in a penguin suit -- bounce around on trampolines. Cook and Moore were half of the legendary British satirical revue Beyond the Fringe and had become a successful comedy duo on British TV; Bedazzled turned out to be the perfect screen vehicle for their slick characterizations and fascinating rapport. The result is a sharp and sophisticated farce that offers wacky answers to eternal questions. If you know only the 2000 remake of Bedazzled, you owe it to yourself to see the original. Gregory Baird

All Movie Guide

Falling somewhere between the Beyond the Fringe school and the Monty Python league, Bedazzled is an irreverent Faust take-off, written by and starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (Moore also composed the music). Moore plays a short-order cook at a London Wimpyburger restaurant, who falls hopelessly in love with waitress Eleanor Bron. About to commit suicide, the broken-hearted Moore is approached by Satan (Peter Cook). The Fallen Angel offers to purchase Moore's soul in exchange for seven wishes--the first of which is squandered when Satan buys Moore an ice cream bar (something over which the two stars quarrel throughout the film). Enticed by living personifications of the Deadly Sins--Raquel Welch, wearing next to nothing, is "Lillian Lust"--Moore allows Satan to grant him his heart's desire, utilizing the magic words, "Julie Andrews!" But with each wish, Satan, being Satan, can't help but gum up the works with a double-cross. The desperate Moore ultimately wishes to be allowed to spend the rest of his life with Eleanor in an environment with no other men--whereupon Satan transforms both Eleanor and Moore into nuns! Finally Satan has a change of heart, allowing Moore and Eleanor to fall in love in more orthodox surroundings and permitting Moore to regain his soul. Satan hopes that God will appreciate this good deed and allow him to re-enter Heaven. But God doesn't buy this; He's satisfied with Satan remaining mankind's "necessary evil." Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 024543425359
• Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo
• Language: English, Español
• Subtitles: English, Español, Français
• Time: 1:44:00
• Sales Rank: 16,177

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Bedazzled (1967) & Bedazzled (2000) / (Chk Sen)

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