# Contempt

> 1963 film by Jean-Luc Godard

**Wikidata**: [Q598109](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q598109)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/contempt

## Summary
Contempt is a 1963 French drama film directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli. The film is an adaptation of Alberto Moravia's novel "Il disprezzo" and explores themes of marital breakdown and artistic compromise.

## Key Facts
- Release date: October 29, 1963
- Director: Jean-Luc Godard (French-Swiss, 1930–2022)
- Based on: Novel "Il disprezzo" by Alberto Moravia
- Main cast: Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Fritz Lang
- Genre: Drama film
- Country of origin: France and Italy
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- IMDb rating: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%
- Language: French (with English subtitles in many releases)
- Production company: Rome-Paris Films
- Cinematography: Raoul Coutard
- Music: Georges Delerue

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Contempt?**
The film follows a screenwriter (Michel Piccoli) hired to rewrite a film adaptation of "The Odyssey" for a demanding American producer (Jack Palance), while his marriage to a former typist (Brigitte Bardot) deteriorates during a trip to Capri.

**Who are the main actors in Contempt?**
The film stars Brigitte Bardot as Camille Javal, Michel Piccoli as Paul Javal, Jack Palance as Jeremy Prokosch, and legendary director Fritz Lang playing himself.

**What themes does Contempt explore?**
The film examines the breakdown of marriage, the conflict between artistic integrity and commercial demands, and the nature of contempt in relationships, both personal and professional.

**Why is Contempt considered significant in cinema history?**
Contempt is regarded as one of Godard's most accessible and emotionally resonant films, marking a departure from his earlier experimental style while still maintaining his distinctive visual and narrative techniques.

**What is the significance of Fritz Lang's role in the film?**
Fritz Lang, a legendary German-American filmmaker, plays himself as the director of the film-within-the-film, adding layers of meta-commentary on the nature of filmmaking and artistic compromise.

## Why It Matters
Contempt represents a pivotal moment in Jean-Luc Godard's career, bridging his early experimental New Wave films with his later more contemplative works. The film's exploration of the tension between artistic vision and commercial pressures remains relevant to filmmakers today. Its stunning cinematography by Raoul Coutard, particularly the use of the Mediterranean landscape and the iconic tracking shots through Bardot's apartment, has influenced generations of directors. The film also serves as a meditation on the nature of cinema itself, with Fritz Lang's presence adding historical weight and commentary on the medium's evolution.

## Notable For
- One of Godard's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed films
- Features one of Brigitte Bardot's most celebrated dramatic performances
- Contains one of cinema's most famous opening scenes with Bardot in bed
- Shot in color and CinemaScope, a departure from Godard's earlier black-and-white films
- Features a score by Georges Delerue that has become iconic in its own right
- Includes a cameo by legendary director Fritz Lang playing himself
- Adapted from a novel by Alberto Moravia, marking Godard's first literary adaptation
- Set and shot in Italy, particularly around the Casa Malaparte on Capri
- Explores themes of marital dissolution with unprecedented emotional depth for Godard
- Represents a turning point in Godard's career, moving toward more narrative-driven storytelling

## Body
### Production and Development
Contempt was produced by Carlo Ponti and Joseph E. Levine through Rome-Paris Films, marking a significant international co-production between French and Italian cinema. The film was Godard's first major color production and his first experience with CinemaScope, which he initially resisted but ultimately used to create some of his most visually striking compositions. The budget was larger than his previous works, allowing for location shooting in Rome and on the island of Capri, including the modernist Casa Malaparte, which became an iconic setting in the film.

### Adaptation and Screenplay
Godard adapted Alberto Moravia's 1954 novel "Il disprezzo" (A Ghost at Noon), though he significantly altered the source material. While Moravia's novel is more psychological and internal, Godard's adaptation externalizes the marital conflict through visual storytelling and dialogue. The screenplay retains the basic plot structure but infuses it with Godard's characteristic meta-commentary on cinema, art, and relationships. The film's famous opening scene, where Bardot's character asks her husband to describe her body parts, was added by Godard at the request of the producers to capitalize on Bardot's sex symbol status, though he filmed it in a way that subverted its exploitative potential.

### Cast and Performances
Brigitte Bardot delivers what many critics consider her finest dramatic performance, moving beyond her established image as a sex symbol to portray a complex, emotionally wounded character. Michel Piccoli provides a nuanced portrayal of the conflicted screenwriter, while Jack Palance embodies the vulgar American producer with memorable intensity. Fritz Lang's appearance as himself adds authenticity and historical resonance, as Lang was indeed working on a film adaptation of "The Odyssey" during this period. The casting of Lang creates a fascinating layer of reality within the film's fiction.

### Cinematography and Visual Style
Raoul Coutard's cinematography in Contempt is widely regarded as some of the most beautiful in Godard's oeuvre. The film makes striking use of the CinemaScope format, with carefully composed widescreen shots that emphasize the isolation and emotional distance between characters. The tracking shots through the couple's apartment, particularly the famous scene where the camera circles around Bardot and Piccoli as they argue, have become textbook examples of how to use camera movement to convey psychological states. The Mediterranean locations are captured with a luminous quality that contrasts with the emotional darkness of the narrative.

### Music and Sound
Georges Delerue's score for Contempt is one of the most celebrated in film history, though Godard's use of it is unconventional. The main theme is repeated throughout the film but often cut off abruptly or used in fragments, creating a sense of incompleteness that mirrors the characters' relationships. This fragmented use of music became a hallmark of Godard's style and influenced how directors approach film scoring. The sound design, including the use of diegetic music and ambient sounds, contributes to the film's realistic yet poetic atmosphere.

### Themes and Interpretation
At its core, Contempt is about the breakdown of communication and trust in relationships. The film's title refers not just to the contempt that develops between the married couple but also to the broader contempt within the film industry, where artistic vision is often compromised for commercial success. The parallel between the deteriorating marriage and the troubled film production creates a rich metaphor for the creative process itself. The film also explores themes of cultural clash, with the American producer representing commercial Hollywood values in conflict with European artistic traditions, embodied by Lang and the screenwriter.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, Contempt received mixed reviews, with some critics finding it overly intellectual or emotionally cold. However, its reputation has grown significantly over the decades, and it is now considered one of Godard's masterpieces and one of the greatest films of the 1960s. The film has influenced countless directors with its visual style, narrative structure, and thematic depth. Its exploration of the creative process and the tensions between art and commerce continues to resonate with filmmakers and audiences. The film's iconic imagery, particularly the scenes shot at Casa Malaparte, has become deeply embedded in cinema history.

### Cultural Impact
Contempt has left an indelible mark on popular culture, referenced and homaged in numerous films, television shows, and works of art. The Casa Malaparte location has become a pilgrimage site for film enthusiasts. The film's examination of the creative process and the compromises artists must make has made it particularly relevant to discussions about the film industry. Bardot's performance helped establish her credibility as a serious actress, while Godard's direction demonstrated his ability to work within more conventional narrative frameworks without sacrificing his artistic vision. The film's title has entered the cultural lexicon as shorthand for the kind of emotional distance and disdain that can develop in relationships.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. filmportal.de
3. AlloCiné
4. Museum of Modern Art online collection
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Unifrance
7. Contempt. Rotten Tomatoes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Kinopoisk
10. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/mepris-le/)
11. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
12. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
13. film distribution certificate
14. Online-Filmdatenbank
15. Bechdel Test Movie List
16. mymovies.it
17. The Movie Database
18. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/7200-EC16-6638-E94D-71B9-G)
19. [Contempt (Film) - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Contempt)
20. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/86374)
21. Trakt.tv
22. FilmVandaag.nl