The Oldest Profession
The Oldest Profession | |
---|---|
Film poster | |
Directed by |
Claude Autant-Lara Mauro Bolognini Philippe de Broca Jean-Luc Godard Franco Indovina Michael Pfleghar |
Produced by |
Joseph Bercholz Horst Wendlandt |
Written by |
Jean Aurenche Daniel Boulanger Ennio Flaiano Jean-Luc Godard Klaus Munro André Tabet Georges Tabet |
Edited by |
Nino Baragli Agnès Guillemot |
Production company |
Rialto Films (Germany) Films Gibs (France) |
Distributed by | Jack Harris (US) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 119 minutes |
Country |
France Germany |
Language | French |
The Oldest Profession (French: Le Plus Vieux Métier du monde) is a 1967 internationally co-produced comedy film. It features contributions from six different film directors, each one doing a segment on prostitution through the ages.[2]
Plot
- The Prehistoric Era - cavewoman Brit discovers the power of make up.
- Roman Nights - in Ancient Rome, the Emperor visits a brothel and discovers his wife there.
- Mademoiselle Mimi - during the French Revolution, a young man, Philibert, asks to visit prostitute Mimi while his uncle is being executed next door. He says he has no money but will inherit an estate so Mimi sleeps with him, not knowing it is all a con.
- The Gay Nineties - in the 1890s, stripper Nini persuades an elderly banker to marry her.
- Paris Today - in the present day, prostitute Catherine works from a car driven by her friend, Nadia. When the car is impounded, they use an ambulance instead.
- Anticipation - in the future, a man from outer space visits Earth where prostitution has been automated and divided into its physical and sentimental aspects. He is equally unmoved by "Miss Conversation," who recites romances, and "Miss Physical," a silent bedmate, until he realizes that the mouth is one part of the body that can play a part in both aspects.
Cast
- Prehistoric Era (directed by Franco Indovina)[3]
- Michèle Mercier as Brit
- Enrico Maria Salerno as Rak
- Gabriele Tinti as L'uomo del mar (as Gabriel Tinti)
- Roman Nights (directed by Mauro Bolognini)[3]
- Elsa Martinelli as Domitilla
- Gastone Moschin as Flavius
- Giancarlo Cobelli as Menippo, le poète
- Gianni Solaro as Un invité
- Luigi Leoni as Un esclave
- Mademoiselle Mimi (directed by Phillipe de Broca)[3]
- Jeanne Moreau as Mimi
- Jean-Claude Brialy as Philibert
- Jean Richard as Le commissaire du peuple
- Jacques Monod as Un homme du peuple
- Catherine Samie as Toinette
- Gérard Lartigau as Antoine
- Albert Rémy as Frenchman with 2 sous
- Pierre Tornade as Le déménageur
- The Gay Nineties (directed by Michael Pfleghar)[3]
- Raquel Welch as Nini
- Martin Held as Edouard
- Tilly Lauenstein
- Siegfried Schürenberg
- Paris Today (directed by Claude Autant-Lara)[3]
- Nadia Gray as Nadia
- France Anglade as Catherine
- Jacques Duby as Le gendarme
- Francis Blanche as Le docteur
- Marcel Dalio as Me Vladimir Leskov
- Gabriel Gobin as Un monsieur choqué
- Laure Paillette as Une locataire
- Jacques Marin as Un agent de police
- Anticipation (directed by Jean-Luc Godard)[3]
- Jacques Charrier as Nick / John Demetrius
- Anna Karina as Natasha / Eleanor Romeovich, Hostess 703
- Marilù Tolo as Marlene, Miss Physical Love
- Daniel Bart
- Jean-Patrick Lebel
Production
Raquel Welch was the only American in the cast.[4]
Release
The rights to distribute the film in the US and English-speaking Canada were purchased by Jack Harris.[5] Harris later wrote in his memoirs he was attracted by the chance to work on "a brand new film, produced like a major Hollywood picture, featuring Raquel Welch and some of the hottest female stars in the world... It was a big disappointment as a theatrical entry. However through the years, between theatres, television and home video, it has never lost is popularity and has treated me very well."[6]
The Los Angeles Times thought the film was "ruined by some of the worst dubbing in recent memory".[7]
References
- ↑ U.S. Premiere of 'The Oldest Profession' Set Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 June 1968: e20.
- ↑ Canby, Vincent. "NY Times.com: The Oldest Profession". nytimes.com. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Canby, Vincent (1968-11-08). "Movie Review: The Oldest Profession". nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ↑ 'Oldest Profession' Cast Set Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 21 Jan 1967: 18.
- ↑ PRESENTING THE FATHER OF 'THE BLOB' Edwards, Dennis. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 28 Dec 1980: o6.
- ↑ Jack H. Harris, Father of the Blob, 2015
- ↑ 'Oldest Profession' at the Music Hall Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 June 1968: b7.