Nowadays, when we discuss the Seven Deadly Sins, we don't kid around, but in the Swinging Sixties, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore got away with it in this side-splitting Faustian comedy, co-scripted by its stars. Cook, 30, is The Devil, George Spiggot, Moore, 32, is Stanley Moon, Wimpy~s short order cook. Stanley is desperately in love with Wimpy's counter qirl,Margaret Spencer (Eleanor Bron, 33) and George offers him seven wishes in exchange far his soul. in his pursuit of Margaret, Stanley squanders them, but he does get a rather good understanding of the Devil and the chance to meet all Seven Deadly Sins. Raquel Welch, 27, is Lillian Lust. the other six are identified in the cast list. (And yes, that IS Dame Edna Everage's alter ego as Envy!)

The pleasure of watching Cook and Moore work together was shared by Brits and Americans alike for the better part of two decades. Some of the funniest sight gags and most incisive dialogue in "Bedazzled" represent the best of their work in British television. They also won two Tonys and a Grammy together (plus two other Grammy nominations) for their bright, satirical work as a team. At 43, Moore emigrated to Hollywood & quickly established himself as an Oscar-nominated movie star. Except for a 16 month comedy series in the early eighties (that lasted eight times longer than TWO of Moore's comedy series in the nineties), Cook remained in England. He drank, put on weight (he once joked about playing Fat King Farouk 1920-65), accepted cameo roles and died too young of an intestinal hemorrhage. Until another bright, satirical team, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, arrived on the scene, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were regarded by many comedy buffs as Britain's wittiest treasures. (Other Cook-Moore films: "The Wrong Box" & "Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies." Skip Paul Morissey's "The Hound of the Baskervilles"!)

© 2008 - Monica Sullivan - Air Date: 11/19/08