The Classic Story About Good and Evil! First dramatized in the 16th century, the legend of Doctor Faustus is the immortal tale of a German conjurer who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for a life of adventure and excitement. It has proven to be one of the richest legends of our time, inspiring countless plays and motion pictures including Damn Yankees and the Dudley Moore - Peter Cook comedy Bedazzled. In fact, Burton, Taylor and Peter Ustinov filmed a modern adaptation just a few years after Doctor Faustus called Hammersmith is Out. In this classic version, Burton stars as the aging scholar who makes a deal with the devil for youth, knowledge and a dazzling mistress. But when Faustus begins to regret his decision, the devil's assistant, Mephistopheles, sends Taylor as the spellbinding seductress who seals Faustus' fate. This lasting achievement is distinguished by its visual beauty and the great performances of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

In his thirst for knowledge and power, Dr. Faustus (Richard Burton) shuns science and turns to magic. He summons the devil's minion Mephistopheles and makes a deadly deal with the devil. In exchange for being "Great Emperor of the World," and having the beautiful Helen of Troy (Elizabeth Taylor) for his concubine, Faustus promises Mephistopheles his soul. However, the price of power proves too high for Faustus, as earthly pleasures become insignificant in contrast with the loss of his immortal spirit.

After mounting a production of Christopher Marlowe's 16th century play "Doctor Faustus" for the stage, Burton embarked--with the help of Oxford University--on the weighty mission of putting Marlowe's immortal verse on film, and this was the result. Burton gives a typically strong performance in this curiosity full of strong, bizarre imagery.