Dr Faustus (Columbia Pictures) (1967)

‘Faustus’ Sets John De Cuir’s imaginative and exciting production design contribute greatly to the dramatic intensity of “Doctor Faustus,” starring Richard Burton and co-starring Elizabeth Tayorate He aie ab oe Theatre in Technicolor. “Doctor Faustus,” which tells of an aging scholar’s pact with the devil, is a centuries-old legend. Burton made the film from the Christopher Marlowe play, with Elizabeth Taylor Burton as Helen of Troy and some 48 student members of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. “Doctor Faustus” is a Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor. Principal set is that of Doctor Faustus’ study, a vaulted book-lined room suited to a man of letters and enquiring mind. In another form, however, the study resembles the inside of Doctor Faustus’ skull, with each corner a cavity of the man’s mind. In a third extension, the skull set is redressed many times to represent an imaginary brothel in which Doctor Faustus meets Helen of Troy, the Vatican catacombs, a black tent on a battlefield and an arrogant Emperor’s court. Burton gave his set of some 200 drawings to Oxford University’s famed Bodleian Library as a permanent record of how the classic was filmed. Born in San Francisco, De Cuir studied art and music. He had symphony and concert soloist experience at Whittier College, and majored in fine arts, theatre and architecture at the Chouinard Art Institute. He practised as an architect before joining Hollywood in 1938 as a special effect expert. In 1944 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and worked in Washington D. C., as an illustrator of Navy training manuals and “The History of the United States Navy.” After the war, he returned to Hollywood as a production designer. His films include “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “House on Telegraph Hill,” “My Cousin Rachel,” “Daddy Long Legs,” “A Certain Smile” and “The Big Fisherman” (all Academy Award nominations) and “The King and I” and “Cleopatra,” for which he won the Academy Award for art direction. He also won an Oscar for special effects with “Phantom of the Opera.” Other notable films include “Island in the Sun,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Circus World,” “The Agony and the Ecstasy” and “The Taming of the Shrew,” also with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. “Doctor Faustus” stars Richard Burton in the titie role, introduces The Oxford University Dramatic Society and also stars Elizabeth Taylor. Mat IC; Still No. 53 A blonde-wigged Elizabeth Taylor tempts Richard Burton as "Doctor Faustus,'' in the new Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor. Burton plays the title role, that of a scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for youth, knowledge and a woman. Mat 2B; Still No. 57 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor star in "Doctor Faustus," which introduces the Oxford University Dramatic Society in minor roles. The Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor is a Burtons production directed by Richard Burton and Nevill Coghill. COLUMN ITEMS In the opening scenes of "Doctor Faustus," in which Elizabeth Taylor also stars as Helen of Troy, Richard Burton appears in the title role as a man of sixty, prepared to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for youth and a woman. This is one of the oldest characters Burton ever has played on the screen, and the work involved in his make-up took two hours daily. * * * Elizabeth Taylor, who appears as Helen of Troy opposite Richard Burton in "Doctor Faustus,"’ the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, also is seen in the film as Diana the Huntress and in six other characterizations. She plays the woman for whom the legendary scholar sells his soul to the devil. * * * The late Winston Churchill once described Elizabeth Taylor as the screen's "classic beauty.'' With her recent appearance as the tempestuous Katharine in "The Taming of the Shrew," and her current appearance as Helen of Troy in "Doctor Faustus,"' both of which also star Richard Burton, Miss Taylor might also be called the screen's "beauty of the classics." * * * Andreas Teuber, who plays Mephistopheles in support of Richard Burton as "Doctor Faustus,"’ which also stars Elizabeth Taylor as Helen of Troy, is a Harvard-educated American who was studying at Oxford University when the Burtons helped raise funds for the University Theatre by appearing in the play there. When they decided to make the film version, in Technicolor, he and 47 other members of the Oxford University Dramatic Society were flown to Rome to repeat their stage roles. * * * A one-time student at Exeter College and member of the Oxford University Dramatic Society, Richard Burton returned to that famed English school with his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, to help raise funds for the University Theatre. They appeared in a two-week engagement of Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" and, then, flew 48 members of the cast to Rome to make the film version in Technicolor. * * Former Oxford University professor Nevill Coghill, who shared directorial honors with Richard Burton on "Doctor Faustus,"' the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor also starring Elizabeth Taylor, formerly was Burton's professor at the famed school. It was Coghill who directed the student Richard Burton in a performance of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," which launched the actor's career. Coghill also adapted the Christopher Marlowe play to the screen. Andreas Teuber An American Fulbright student at Oxford University, Andreas Teuber has a key role in the Burtons production of “Doctor Faustus,’”’ a Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor star ty Theatre, Burton’s own training ground. Teuber, whose father is a neuropsychologist and heads the Psychology Department of Massachusetts Insti ring Richard Burton in the title role AbLUNer ae. cya Theatre and also starring Elizabeth Taylor. Teuber plays the devil’s agent Mephistopheles, who executes a contract with Faustus so that the elderly scholar may regain his youth and may have magical powers in return for his soul. Amongst other things, Faustus uses his hard-won youth and magic to bring Helen to life, and into his arms. It is a role young Teuber had played earlier, on the stage at Oxford, when Burton and Miss Taylor gave their services to a theatrical performance of the play in order to raise money for the Universi Devil Cat When Richard Burton as “Doctor Faustus” is commanded by an autocratic Emperor to conjure up Alexander the Great and his paramour, he arrives at court carrying an evil black cat—the earthly shape of Mephistopheles—to whom he has sold his soul in exchange for youth, knowledge and a woman. To find a wild and devilish black cat in Rome for the Columbia Pictures release, now at the ...... Theatre in Technicolor, was not much of a problem. Members of the property department paid a night time visit to the Largo Argentina, where many of Rome’s stray cats live in the ruins. “Doctor Faustus,”’ which co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and introduces the Oxford University Dramatic Society, was filmed in Rome. Dozens of cats converged on the heap of chopped liver offered them by the property men, and two black cats with particularly bright-green eyes were taken to the studios. One participated in the scene, the other served as a stand-in. The cats were exercised on leads to prevent any sudden disappearance. Richard Burton stars in the title role of “Doctor Faustus,” and Miss Taylor as Helen of Troy. A Burtons production, “Doctor Faustus” was directed by Richard Burton and Nevill Coghill, who also adapted the play to the screen. Burton and Richard McWhorter produced the film, in Technicolor. The music was composed and conducted by Mario Nascimbene. tute of Technology, studied philosophy and bio-chemistry at Harvard, before going to Oxford. Teuber, who has acted in America at the Loeb Drama Center at Cambridge, and with the Princetown Players, is now taking up acting as a fulltime career. Mat ID; Still No. 37 Andreas Teuber, American Fulbright scholar at Oxford University, appears as Mephistophilis to Richard Burton's "Doctor Faustus" in the Columbia Pictures release also starring Elizabeth Taylor in Technicolor. Classic Beauty As Helen of Troy in the Burton’s production of “Doctor Faustus,” Elizabeth Taylor co-stars with Richard BUN BtstRe seco. vaviee es Theatre in Technicolor. Hers is the most famous role in world literature, requiring her to make eight separate dramatic appearances to win Faustus for the devil. To young Bristol-born dress designer Peter Hall fell the job of designing seven different gowns to clothe, as Christopher Marlowe wrote of her role, “a Queen whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.” Miss Taylor’s eighth and very brief appearance to husband Richard Burton, filmed behind locked doors at the De Laurentiis studios, Rome, is in the nude. Hall kept the basic design theme for Helen theatrical rather than realistic. Helen is an apparition from another age. In classical legend, her abduction by Paris caused the 10-year Trojan war and inspired Marlowe to write Faustus’ immortal lines: “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships And burnt the topless towers of Tllium ?” This is the first time Hall designed costumes for an international film. Special makeup was designed for each of Miss Taylor’s gowns, and famous Parisian hair stylist Alexandre created a different wig for each appearance. As Helen, Miss Taylor appears in draped classic dresses, her dark hair piled high. As an apparition in the firmament, she wears a gown of ivory lame with gold and turquoise veils, ornamented with diamond stars and crescents, her hair braided and studded with stars. As Alexander’s paramour, she appears at the emperor’s court in a lilac-and-silver draped dress with metallic silver wig and all-over silver makeup. As Diana, she materializes in the Maze of Delights in a draped ivory gown with long blonde hair. In the sequence where she appears to Faustus as a courtesan, she wears a full-skirted crimson velvet Renaissance dress and red-fringed wig. Finally, she lures Faustus down into a Hieronymus Bosch-type Hell wearing red lame with an auburn wig piled high under an ornamental serpent. The Burtons production of “Doctor Faustus” stars Richard Burton in the title role, introduces The Oxford University Dramatic Society and also stars Elizabeth Taylor as Helen of Troy. Mario Nascimbene composed and conducted the music. Nevill Coghill, who shared directorial honors with Richard Burton, adapted the play to the screen. Burton and Richard McWhorter produced the film, in Technicolor. Advance Notice Richard Burton stars as “Doctor Faustus,” the scholar who gave his soul to Mephistopheles in exchange for youth and the power to summon up the past—including the legendary Helen of Troy—in the Columbia Pictures release opening ....... abithe.. kites: Theatre, in Technicolor. Elizabeth Taylor also stars, as Helen of Troy, and members of The Oxford University Dramatic Society play other important roles. The Burtons production of “Doctor Faustus” was adapted for the screen by Nevill Coghill. Richard Burton and Coghill served as directors and Richard McWhorter produced the film. Music was composed and conducted by Mario Nascimbene. Page ||