Bedazzled
Starring: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Eleanor Bron, Raquel Welch, AlbaDirector: Stanley Donen
Studio: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 104 minutes
DVD Release: April 3rd 2007
Buy DVD:
DVD Review
When the Devil (Peter Cook) offers suicidal short-order cook Stanley (Dudley Moore) seven wishes, Stanley easily surrenders his soul. All of his wishes are granted, to the letter. Unfortunately, as each wish comes to life, the Devil--cheeky sod!--manages to slip some unexpected problem into the mix, ruining everything in a deliciously funny way. Bedazzled was made long before 10 and Arthur made Dudley Moore an unlikely movie star. It's a much purer expression of the off-kilter British humor that Moore and his writing partner Cook pioneered, humor that would lead to Monty Python's Flying Circus and other absurdist goofballs. Moore is charming enough, but what really makes Bedazzled work is Cook, who combines upper-class arrogance with a cheerful, even casual lunacy. Though he played character roles in movies like The Princess Bride and Black Beauty, he was never able to parlay his sneaky sense of humor into starring roles. Bedazzled is his outstanding triumph. Not only does the movie offer some sly commentary on Christian morality, it has a cameo with Raquel Welch as the embodiment of Lust. A classic. --Bret Fetzer
User Reviews
If only comedy were still funny - Rating: 5/5
This was an amazingly funny movie, and I'm glad to finally be able to own it. I listen to Derek and Clive, so this is a great addition to that. Dudley and Peter were in a class all their own with their comedy--and this is a wonderful example of that amazing teamwork they had. It's too bad that today's 'comics' don't take a lesson from those who made it possible for them to be who and how they are today.
The best Bedazzled - Rating: 5/5
Forget the Elizabeth Hurley/Brendan Frazier version (amusing as Ms. Hurley is as the Devil). This is one of the five greatest comedies of the modern film era. Period.
Bedeviled - Rating: 5/5
This is my wife's favorite film and one of my favorites. It is extremely witty and funny in an ironic fashion. It is an example of classical british comedy that is more cerebral than American "slap stick" humor.
Hilarious! - Rating: 5/5
There's no doubt that the late Dudley Moore was underrated as a comedic performer. "Bedazzled" shows what he could do, and his incredible range (in the scenes in which he's given his wishes by the Devil, he portrays, among other things, a daft supercilious vaguely Scottish intellect, a rich prig, and an Oxbridge professor). Just the anguished pop star face he makes in the scene parodying the 60s-style "Top of the Pops" show is enough to make me cry with laughter. He even wrote the theme song! The film itself looks quite good as well, and has a swingin' London/psychedelic overtone that holds up better than many of its contemporary films. Well worth seeing.
At last! - Rating: 5/5
Finally a DVD of "Bedazzled" has been released in the United States. This is simply one of the funniest movies ever made. It is packed with razor-sharp dialogue and delivery. The cast is perfect. The thick 60's vibe holds up very well in this context.
It is perhaps not surprising that "Bedazzled" made little impact in the U.S. when it came out. It consists almost entirely of people standing around talking, which even in those days was problematic for many Americans.
To his great credit, Peter Cook was able to insert a coherent and meaningful discussion of theological issues into his hilarious script without bogging it down at all. I suppose you'd have to call this irreverent humor, but it is far from disrespectful or offensive.
If you don't mind paying attention to a comedy, then you will be rewarded with a smart, layered, consistently side-splitting movie.
The picture and sound on this disk seem fine and clean, if not fabulous. The extras are unexceptional.
