The Devil and the Ten Commandments


Le Diable et les Dix Commandements, is a French comedy-drama film from 1963, directed by Julien Duvivier, written by David Alexander and Michel Audiard, starring Michel Simon and Louis de Funès. The cast list includes several famous French actors: Simon, de Funès, Fernandel, Danielle Darrieux, Lino Ventura, Jean-Claude Brialy, Charles Aznavour and a very young Alain Delon.
According to Bosley Crowther only one from seven episodes tickled him, in which play Louis de Funes and Jean-Claude Brialy.
The film offers a perspective on sin and salvation. A snake proclaims – voice of Claude Rich – that it is our old friend, the Devil.

Plot

The film consists of seven roughly 15 minute episodes, each showing what will happen if one or more of the Ten Commandments will be broken. The episodes are either mini-dramas. The version available in Germany and Japan has eight episodes.
In the first episode Jérome Chambard is warned that he will lose his job if he continues to swear.
In second episode Françoise Beaufort enamored of a stripper calls on her only to find her married to a janitor who doesn't know what kind of dancing his wife performs.
In the third episode Denis, a Jesuit novice, leaves the order to avenge his sister's suicide, which was provoked by Garigny, who seduced her into prostitution and drug addiction.
In the fourth episode Philip buys a necklace for Micheline though he is bored with her. Fernandel declares that he is God.
In the fifth episode a young man find out that his real mother is not Madeleine, but actress Clarisse Ardant.
In the sixth episode Didier Marin, cashier of a bank, was fired by his boss.
In the seventh episode the Devil appears as a serpent for Jérome Chambard and the bishop are eating.

Cast

1st episode