Doctor Faustus (1967)

13% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(1,448 ratings)

Richard Burton co-directed (along with Nevill Coghill) this labor of love that records a performance given by Burton at Oxford University in 1966 of Christopher Marlowe's 400-year-old verse play. Burton plays Faust, a medieval doctor who sells his soul to Mephistopheles (Andreas Teuber) in exchange… More Richard Burton co-directed (along with Nevill Coghill) this labor of love that records a performance given by Burton at Oxford University in 1966 of Christopher Marlowe's 400-year-old verse play. Burton plays Faust, a medieval doctor who sells his soul to Mephistopheles (Andreas Teuber) in exchange for mastering all human knowledge. The Devil tempts Faust at every turn by confronting him with the seven deadly sins and Helen of Troy (Elizabeth Taylor), who appears throughout the film in various stages of undress as Doctor Faustus stands firm. The production was filmed in Rome, with the majority of the cast Oxford University amateur actors. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Nevill Coghill, Richard Burton
Written By: Nevill Coghill
Genres: Drama, Horror, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 6, 1968 Wide
On DVD: Mar 2, 2004

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Lots of grads bring their wives back to the old school and ham it up for home movies -- but this is ridiculous.
Variety Staff, Variety
The impersonation of the seven deadly sins is hardly likely to send good men off the rail.
Renata Adler, New York Times
Of an awfulness that bends the mind.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This is extremely unskilled cinema from a talented stage actor.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Weighed down with tedium and old-fashioned dialogue (using the verse's 'Old English' language) that worked on the written page but is misplaced on the screen.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
The overall effect is like a cross between a garishly colored Hammer horror film and a textbook example of '60s hallucinogenic trendiness.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Doctor Faustus is a complete misfire on every single level, a failure the likes of which most supposedly bad movies can't even come close to.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Cast

Richard Burton
as Dr. Faustus
Elizabeth Taylor
as Helen of Troy
Andreas Teuber
as Mephistopheles

Ian Marter
as Emperor
Elizabeth O'Donovan
as Empress
David McIntosh
as Lucifer

See full cast

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