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, All Movie Guide