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Bedazzled (1967) movie poster

Timeline

Bedazzled (1967) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1967 · 103 min · English
JustWatch #28,151 2
Directed by
Stanley Donen
Starring
Eleanor Bron, Raquel Welch, Alba, Barry Humphries, Danièle Noël, Dudley Moore

Desperate to win the affections of the beautiful Vanessa, Elliot makes a deal with the Devil. Trading his soul, he’s granted seven wishes, but as she fulfills each desire, hilarious and chaotic consequences unfold. He soon discovers that getting exactly what you ask for isn't always what you truly want, leading to a series of increasingly absurd situations.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Bedazzled
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Bedazzled (1967)

Where can you watch Bedazzled? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on FlixFling, IndieFlix and YouTube TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Bedazzled Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Bedazzled (1967) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Introduction to Stanley Moon

    Stanley Moon is introduced as a short-order cook working at London's Wimpy's cafe. He is deeply infatuated with waitress Margaret Spencer but remains too shy to confess his feelings. His life is marked by his unfulfilled romantic longing and low self-esteem.

    Where
    London's Wimpy's cafe
  2. Stanley's Desperation

    Feeling hopeless about his romance, Stanley sends Margaret a suicide note and attempts to hang himself. His act is interrupted when George Spiggott, who reveals himself to be the Devil, intervenes. This event marks a turning point in Stanley's life.

    Where
    Wimpy's cafe
  3. Meeting the Devil

    George Spiggott shows Stanley that he is actually the Devil and takes him to the Rendezvoid Club in Soho. At the club, Stanley observes the Seven Deadly Sins and witnesses George performing mischievous acts, highlighting the devil's declining influence.

    Where
    Rendezvoid Club, Soho
  4. Making a Deal

    George admits that he has lost his spark of mischief and offers to grant Stanley seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Stanley agrees, hoping to improve his life and win Margaret's affection.

  5. First Wish - Intellectual Self

    Stanley's first wish transforms him into an articulate, intellectual man. He invites Margaret over, and they connect over art and music, revealing shared interests. However, their romantic moment is cut short when Margaret screams and runs away.

    Where
    Stanley's apartment
  6. Second Wish - Wealth and Luxury

    Stanley becomes a wealthy tycoon, showering Margaret with expensive presents. Yet, their bliss is shattered when Margaret is more attracted to a young man, revealing the superficiality of his riches.

    Where
    Stanley's mansion
  7. Third Wish - Popular Singer

    Stanley wishes to be irresistible to women and becomes a famous pop singer. His fame attracts crowds, but he is soon overshadowed by other performers who mimic him, leading Margaret and his fans to lose interest.

  8. Fourth Wish - Inattentive Listener

    Stanley wishes to eavesdrop on Margaret and hears her speaking fondly of him to the police, who are investigating his disappearance. He is sprayed with bug pesticide and almost caught, but George rescues him as a fly.

  9. Fifth Wish - Ideal Wife and Mother

    Stanley wishes for Margaret to love him, be at home in the kitchen, and be the mother of his children. However, this wish backfires when Margaret is revealed to be married to Stanley's best friend, George, making an affair impossible.

  10. Sixth Wish - A Loving Couple

    Stanley and Margaret wish to become warm, loving, and outgoing. In a humorous twist, they are transformed into nuns of the Order of the Leaping Berelians, highlighting the absurdity of their desires.

  11. George's Deal with God

    George plans to return Stanley's soul to earn a place in heaven, but God refuses him due to his selfishness. George seeks a temporary contract to redeem himself, but Stanley, realizing the devil's unreliability, refuses to finalize any deal.

  12. End of the Wish Sequence

    Stanley chooses to face his fate without making any further wishes or relying on the devil. George remains to tempt him, and they prepare for an uncertain future amidst chaos, with God humorously dismissing George's plans.

Last updated: July 28, 2025 at 06:17

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Timeline questions answered

Bedazzled Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Bedazzled (1967): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does the Devil offer Stanley seven wishes?

George Spiggott, the Devil, admits he has lost his spark of mischief in modern times. He offers Stanley seven wishes as a way to reclaim his old cunning and entertainment value. The deal also allows George to collect another soul, which he hopes will help him earn redemption with God.

Foreshadowing: Early in the Rendezvoid Club scene, George complains about losing his touch and performs minor mischief that falls flat.

  • devil
  • george spiggott
  • seven wishes
  • contract
  • soul deal
Q2

Why does Margaret scream and run away when Stanley becomes intellectual?

When Stanley transforms into an articulate, confident man, Margaret enjoys their conversation about art and music. However, when he tries to get physically close, she panics because his sudden confidence and intimacy feel unfamiliar and overwhelming to her.

  • margaret
  • first wish
  • intellectual
  • art
  • music
Q3

Why does Margaret leave Stanley when he becomes wealthy?

After Stanley becomes a wealthy tycoon with expensive gifts, Margaret is initially charmed. However, she quickly becomes more attracted to a young, handsome man who arrives, proving that wealth alone cannot buy genuine love and that she values physical attractiveness over material wealth.

  • wealth
  • tycoon
  • margaret
  • second wish
  • superficial love
Q4

Why does Stanley become a fly?

Stanley wishes to be a fly so he can listen to Margaret's private thoughts about him. He succeeds in overhearing her speak fondly of him to Police Inspector Clarke, but gets sprayed with bug pesticide when the inspector tries to kill him. George rescues him by appearing as a fly.

  • fly
  • fourth wish
  • eavesdrop
  • pesticide
  • inspector clarke
Q5

Why is Margaret already married to George?

When Stanley wishes for Margaret to love him and become a mother figure, the wish reveals that Margaret is already married to Stanley's best friend, who is actually George (the Devil) in disguise. Margaret's genuine loyalty to her husband makes her end her relationship with Stanley, causing his wish to backfire.

Foreshadowing: The fifth wish twist recontextualizes why George was so invested in helping Stanley pursue Margaret.

  • margaret
  • george
  • marriage
  • fifth wish
  • best friend
Q6

Why do Stanley and Margaret become nuns?

When Stanley wishes for mutual warmth and outgoing affection between them, they both transform into nuns of the Order of the Leaping Berelians. This is the Devil's ironic twist, fulfilling the wish for closeness and devotion by making them commit to religious service.

  • nuns
  • sixth wish
  • berelians
  • transformation
  • irony
Q7

Why does Stanley refuse to sign a new contract with the Devil?

Stanley refuses because he has learned that George's promises are unreliable and selfish. After witnessing each wish backfire and discovering George tricked him about Margaret being available, Stanley realizes the Devil cannot be trusted. He decides to face his fate without magical help.

  • stanley
  • contract
  • refuse
  • soul
  • trust
  • devils promise
Q8

What happens to Stanley's soul at the end?

At the end, Stanley walks away from any further deals with the Devil. Since he never completes a new contract and his original wishes are exhausted, the film suggests his soul remains his to lose or save, though his future remains uncertain. The ending is bittersweet but hopeful.

  • soul
  • ending
  • stanley
  • heaven
  • devils deal
Q9

Does the Devil ever get Stanley's soul?

George initially claims he will collect Stanley's soul after the seven wishes. However, when George tries to redeem himself by returning Stanley's soul to God, he is refused. Stanley then refuses to sign a new contract, leaving the Devil's claim on his soul unresolved by the film's end.

  • soul collection
  • devils contract
  • george
  • heaven
  • redemption
Q10

Why does each wish backfire?

Each wish backfires because Stanley asks for surface-level changes (looks, wealth, fame) rather than genuine self-improvement or authentic connection. The Devil grants exactly what Stanley asks for, but the results reveal the emptiness of superficial desires and teach him that real love requires sincerity, not magical transformation.

  • wishes backfire
  • superficiality
  • moral lesson
  • irony
  • desires

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bedazzled, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bedazzled tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Devilish Deals like Bedazzled

Stories where characters get magical wishes with hilariously unintended consequences. If you enjoyed the magical chaos and ironic wish-fulfillment in Bedazzled, you'll love these stories. This list features movies like Bedazzled where characters make supernatural pacts, leading to similar tales of comic misadventures and satirical lessons about the true cost of getting what you want.

  • mischievous
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • fantastical
  • frustrated
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: whimsical, mischievous
  • Pacing: variable, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a straightforward structure: a character's desperation leads them to a supernatural deal, followed by a series of episodic, escalating scenarios where their wishes are granted in a technically-correct-but-disastrously-misinterpreted way. The journey builds toward a moment of clarity where the protagonist realizes the inherent trap of their bargain and must find a way out, often through self-discovery.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core premise of a supernatural pact, a whimsical and mischievous tone that makes the consequences feel like a cosmic joke, and a blend of lighthearted comedy with a reflective, moral core. They connect through their satirical take on human flaws and the specific pattern of wishes-gone-wrong.

Movies with a Bittersweet Whimsical Vibe like Bedazzled

Fantastical journeys that are playful on the surface but carry a poignant, reflective core. For viewers who loved the unique blend of playful fantasy and heartfelt reflection in Bedazzled. These similar movies share its bittersweet whimsy, mixing comedic or fantastical elements with a moderate emotional journey about discovering what truly matters, perfect for fans of lighthearted stories with depth.

  • whimsical
  • bittersweet
  • reflective
  • lighthearted
  • fantastical
  • satirical
  • Tone: whimsical, bittersweet
  • Pacing: variable, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a character escaping their mundane or frustrating reality through a fantastical opportunity. The initial excitement and comedy give way to a series of experiences that reveal the emptiness of their superficial desires. The climax is not a traditional victory but a quiet moment of choice, where the protagonist opts for authentic, uncertain reality over magical illusion, resulting in a bittersweet but hopeful resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their distinct tonal blend: a whimsical, often absurd surface powered by a bittersweet, reflective emotional engine. They share a moderate emotional weight, a variable pacing that allows for both comedy and contemplation, and an ending feel that is more thoughtful than purely happy.

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Every angle

Bedazzled (1967) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bedazzled in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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