Doctor Faustus

Rating:
Summary: Just because of Liz? Then never!
Review: I'm a big fan of Liz Taylor, and I recently started to collect her movies. That is exactly why I bought this video - to collect her movies, to watch her movies, to see HER and HER ACT!
But in this film, she appears in only a few scenes with the total length of time of appearance less than 5 minutes at a rough estimate - less than 10 minutes with no doubt.
What's worse, she says nothing. One can't even hear her voice at all - except at the last scene where she makes loud guffaws.
So if, like me, you are considering of buying this video just because you are interested in Liz, not in Richard Burton nor in the movie itself, then don't.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites.
Review: Just because Liz doesn't appear enough in a movie is little cause to give it two stars out of five-- ... but, the fact is, Ms. Taylor does pop up quite often in this classic. It is to her-- as Helen of Troy-- that Richard Burton utters the immortal line, "Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?" And this is an immortal performance from Burton. He takes all the over-the-top seriousness and weight of Marlowe's play and turns it into something that is both troubling and at times borderline camp. Check out the bizarre eyeglasses Dr. Faustus wears, for instance, and the psychedelic sets, music and camera shots. It's all deliciously Elizabethan, but also very 1960s. The "troubling" aspect is the way Burton, through his performance that brands itself on the brain, makes us ponder the question: If we were able to have anything we want, would we be happy? Such grave concerns might crush the enjoyability of many a film, but here it is a physically exciting, nightmarish experience, with Marlowe's bewitching iambic pentameter weaving in and out as Burton and camera take us from scene to colorful scene, then give us maybe the best depiction of Hell ever caught on film. Treat yourself over and over to this feast.

Rating:
Summary: Move slowly, you ever-moving spheres of heaven!
Review: Marlowe's play is the archetype and cornerstone of the deal-with-the-Devil genre, and this film embodies it in an unending visual feast. The stylized, atmospheric sets, the low-key score (creepy and yearning by turns)and inventive visuals (one example of many: Faustus' conjuration of Mephistophilis is staged on a literal stage set, yet so well-directed that it never seems "stagy")set off Marlowe's wonderful poetry as black velvet sets off a diamond. Burton gives the performance of his career: even his work in EQUUS, fine as it was, doesn't offer him the scope that Faustus gives him. There are quiet turns of effective horror (all the more unexpected for capping off an overtly comic scene), and the final descent into Hell embodies Marlowe's orignal title: "The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus." This is a tragedy of Faustus' wasted skill, talent, time and opportunities. All productions of Elizabethan dramatists should be this rich, well-directed and rewarding. Andreas Teuber as Mephistophilis steals the film with his performance as an achingly sad Mephistophilis. Truly a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Move slowly, you ever-moving spheres of heaven!
Review: Marlowe's play is the archetype and cornerstone of the deal-with-the-Devil genre, and this film embodies it in an unending visual feast. The stylized, atmospheric sets, the low-key score (creepy and yearning by turns)and inventive visuals (one example of many: Faustus' conjuration of Mephistophilis is staged on a literal stage set, yet so well-directed that it never seems "stagy")set off Marlowe's wonderful poetry as black velvet sets off a diamond. Burton gives the performance of his career: even his work in EQUUS, fine as it was, doesn't offer him the scope that Faustus gives him. There are quiet turns of effective horror (all the more unexpected for capping off an overtly comic scene), and the final descent into Hell embodies Marlowe's orignal title: "The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus." This is a tragedy of Faustus' wasted skill, talent, time and opportunities. All productions of Elizabethan dramatists should be this rich, well-directed and rewarding. Andreas Teuber as Mephistophilis steals the film with his performance as an achingly sad Mephistophilis. Truly a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: DON'T WATCH: JUST LISTEN
Review: Richard Burton stars and co-directed this idiosyncratic production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS (Columbia Tristar), Christopher Marlowe's 16th century masterpiece about an aging German scholar who makes a deal with the devil for youth, knowledge, and a dazzling mistress (Elizabeth Taylor in a silent role as Helen of Troy). Filmed in the UK with supporting performances from the Oxford University Dramatic Society, this disc works better as an audio play. The music is effective and the mellifluous voice of Burton is a wonder. Now where's the uncut Brit version of Ken Russell's THE DEVILS?

Rating:
Summary: Dramatic, disturbing and darn good!
Review: Richard Burton struggles between wanting fame, fortune and Helen of Troy and the good of his soul. One particularly moving scene is where he has a conversation with Mephistopholus (an angel gone bad) about making a deal with the Devil to get what he wants. Richard Burton lovers - get this one for sure!

Rating:
Summary: Marlowe's work admirably brought to the screen.
Review: This 1960's film featuring typical sets from the period does rather well with Marlowe's original play of the tragic decision made by a German professor to sell his soul in exchange for 4 and 20 years of self gratification. As in the original play, it is a very erudite work and features players from Oxford University as well as Burton at the height of his powers and his famous love for Elizabeth Taylor projected here in the role of Helen of Troy. A wonderful and haunting score in the opening credits and throughout the movie adds to the flavor of this intellectual delight. (The score is available on CD if you know where to look) This movie is DEEP. VERY DEEP! With lines such as "Settle thy studies Faustus, and begin to sound the depth of that thou wilt profess" Have a Latin dictionary nearby and don't let your attention wander! This movie is best seen at about 1:30AM, which is when it was usually shown on television! All kidding aside this is an interesting work and well worth your investment and time. Burton was a #1 box office draw in this era and Dr. Faustus will demonstrate why.

Rating:
Summary: Marlowe's work admirably brought to the screen.
Review: This 1960's film featuring typical sets from the period does rather well with Marlowe's original play of the tragic decision made by a German professor to sell his soul in exchange for 4 and 20 years of self gratification. As in the original play, it is a very erudite work and features players from Oxford University as well as Burton at the height of his powers and his famous love for Elizabeth Taylor projected here in the role of Helen of Troy. A wonderful and haunting score in the opening credits and throughout the movie adds to the flavor of this intellectual delight. (The score is available on CD if you know where to look) This movie is DEEP. VERY DEEP! With lines such as "Settle thy studies Faustus, and begin to sound the depth of that thou wilt profess" Have a Latin dictionary nearby and don't let your attention wander! This movie is best seen at about 1:30AM, which is when it was usually shown on television! All kidding aside this is an interesting work and well worth your investment and time. Burton was a #1 box office draw in this era and Dr. Faustus will demonstrate why.

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: Turn off the video and just listen to the poetry and to Burton. Burton's pacing, timing, gravitas bring out the true genius in this Marlowe masterpiece. Any actress would have done Helen as well, while Burton as Faustus is definitive. I wait for this on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: Turn off the video and just listen to the poetry and to Burton. Burton's pacing, timing, gravitas bring out the true genius in this Marlowe masterpiece. Any actress would have done Helen as well, while Burton as Faustus is definitive. I wait for this on DVD.