Contempt (1963)

Screenwriter Paul Javal's marriage to his wife Camille disintegrates during movie production as she spends time with the producer. Layered conflicts between art and business ensue.

Director:

Jean-Luc Godard

Writer:

Alberto Moravia (novel)

Stars:

Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance, Michel Piccoli

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brigitte Bardot	...	Camille Javal
Michel Piccoli	...	Paul Javal
Jack Palance	...	Jeremy Prokosch
Giorgia Moll	...	Francesca Vanini
Fritz Lang	...	Fritz Lang

Storyline

Paul Javal is a writer who is hired to make a script for a new movie about Ulysses more commercial, which is to be directed by Fritz Lang and produced by Jeremy Prokosch. But because he let his wife Camille drive with Prokosch and he is late, she believes, he uses her as a sort of present for Prokosch to get get a better payment. So the relationship ends.

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Plot Keywords:

satire | femme fatale | filmmaking | screenwriter | capri italy | 

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Taglines:

Not Since "And God Created Woman" So Much Bardot...so much of the magic, the mystery, the animal magnetism that has made her the screen's most exciting woman!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French English German Italian

Release Date:

18 December 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Contempt

Filming Locations:

Isle of Capri, Naples, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,284, 27 June 1997

Gross USA:

$40,575, 17 January 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rome Paris Films,Les Films Concordia,Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 82 min (cut) (re-edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

It is possible that all "mistakes" in the film that involve visible equipment are intentional, or at least intentionally uncorrected: the film, after all, is about the artificiality of making a film, and the initial credit sequence shows filmmakers shooting the film itself.

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Quotes

Camille Javal: Look. Look.
[Wearing a wig]
Camille Javal: Doesn't it suit me? No?
Paul Javal: I prefer you as a blonde.
Camille Javal: And I prefer you without a hat and cigar.
Paul Javal: It's just to look like Dean Martin in "Some Came Running."
Camille Javal: What a laugh.
Paul Javal: What is?
Camille Javal: You may want to look like Dean Martin, but it's more like Martin's Ass.
Paul Javal: Who's that?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The opening cast credits are read, without titles

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Connections

Referenced in Tout Va Bien (1972)

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Soundtracks

Thème De Camille
(French Version) Written and Performed by Georges Delerue Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

Arguably Godard's Best Film, Undoubtedly One of the Best Works in Cinema

Here are what Contempt, by French director Jean-Luc Godard, made in 1963, is about--an examination on a relationship in jeopardy, which has been one of the most universal themes in cinema, and which is probably inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni's trilogy; a struggle in film-making as a side-theme, which may be Godard's self-reflective expression; the international star cast including Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, and Jack Palance, along with the cameo appearance of legendary German filmmaker Fritz Lang; well-choreographed long takes, which are sometimes several minutes in length, and which could be also influenced by Antonioni; inclusion of three montage sequences that comprise sliced flashback and flashforward clips, which create a remarkable contrast to the long takes; beautifully photographed sceneries, especially of the sea; and the memorable orchestral score with sentimental arpeggio by Georges Delerue.

Being both unique and universal, and being perfectly executed, Contempt is arguably Godard's best film, and undoubtedly one of the best works in cinema.