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:

Telephone Pole | Bathtub | Rowboat | Bronx Cheer | Soul

Cast

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

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:

"Mister Spiggot" was the name of a one-legged character played by Dudley Moore who applied for the role of Tarzan in a TV sketch with Peter Cook.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Stanley puts a sock in the broken pipe, it is clearly pulled back out in closeup.

Quotes:

George Spiggott: This is the club room. Quite nicely decorated and painted - early Hitler.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Not Only But Always (2004) (TV)

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.