Monsieur (1964) in Color — Starring Jean Gabin & Philippe Noiret

Monsieur (1964) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Monsieur, the 1964 French-Italian-West German comedy film directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois and starring Jean Gabin, Liselotte Pulver, and Mireille Darc, now available as a professionally colorized version. The film’s sets were designed by Jean Mandaroux. Overwhelmed by the death of his wife, a rich Parisian banker called René Duchêne is walking towards the River Seine to throw himself in when he is accosted by a prostitute. They recognise each other, because she used to be the chambermaid. When she learns that her former mistress is dead, she reveals that the wife he adored had made him a laughing stock by her multiple adulteries. He decides to let the world think he has committed suicide and to go into hiding. Answering an advertisement for a couple to be butler and maid in a country house, he is hired under the name of Georges Baudin, with Suzanne posing as his daughter to be the maid. Their employers are Edmond Bernadac, a rich and staid businessman, and his flighty new Swiss wife Elisabeth, a former air hostess who is fond of alcohol and men. This comedy combines mistaken identity with social satire as a disillusioned banker discovers a new life of purpose in the most unexpected of circumstances. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Overwhelmed by the death of his wife, a rich Parisian banker called René Duchêne is walking towards the River Seine to throw himself in when he is accosted by a prostitute. They recognise each other, because she used to be the chambermaid. When she learns that her former mistress is dead, she reveals that the wife he adored had made him a laughing stock by her multiple adulteries. He decides to let the world think he has committed suicide and to go into hiding.

Answering an advertisement for a couple to be butler and maid in a country house, he is hired under the name of Georges Baudin, with Suzanne posing as his daughter to be the maid. Their employers are Edmond Bernadac, a rich and staid businessman, and his flighty new Swiss wife Elisabeth, a former air hostess who is fond of alcohol and men.

Their new butler rapidly becomes indispensable at smoothing over the continual problems which beset the household, one being that the son of the house immediately wants to marry Suzanne and has therefore to win the permission of her supposed father. He meanwhile has to contend with problems at home, where his dead wife’s parents have moved in and claim to be his heirs. In the end he has to come back to life in order to thwart them and to allow Suzanne to marry the boy she loves.

René Duchêne’s journey from suicidal despair to renewed purpose forms the emotional core of this sophisticated comedy. The discovery that his beloved wife was unfaithful multiple times shatters his image of his marriage and makes his entire life feel like a fraud. The decision to fake his death and disappear represents a radical break from his identity as a respected Parisian banker. By becoming a butler, he exchanges the burdens of wealth and social position for a life of service and anonymity.

Suzanne, the former chambermaid turned prostitute, becomes Duchêne’s unlikely partner in deception. Their pretended father-daughter relationship provides the film with much of its comedic tension, especially when the son of the house falls in love with her. The social gap between Duchêne’s true identity as a wealthy banker and his assumed role as a butler, combined with Suzanne’s similarly hidden past, creates a double-layered masquerade that generates both humor and genuine emotion.

The Bernadac household offers a rich environment for social satire. Edmond Bernadac represents the sober, conventional bourgeois businessman, while his young Swiss wife Elisabeth embodies the new, more liberated Europe of the 1960s—attractive, fond of alcohol, and flirtatious. Duchêne’s competence as a butler and his ability to manage the household’s crises stand in ironic contrast to the chaotic personal lives of the supposedly respectable upper class he serves.

The film’s resolution, in which Duchêne must reveal himself to be alive to defeat his late wife’s parents and their inheritance claims, brings the comic and emotional elements to a climax. His willingness to abandon his peaceful new life to ensure Suzanne’s happiness with the young Bernadac son demonstrates that he has not become a cynic despite the betrayal that drove him to hide. Instead, he has learned that love and loyalty can be found in unexpected places, even with people from very different social worlds.

Cast & Crew

Director: Jean-Paul Le Chanois

Stars: Jean Gabin, Liselotte Pulver, Mireille Darc, Philippe Noiret, Peter Vogel

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Monsieur was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the elegant streets of Paris and the contrasting atmosphere of the country house where René Duchêne begins his new life. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the melancholic Seine embankment where Duchêne contemplates suicide to the lively interiors of the Bernadac estate. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the 1960s French fashion, the carefully designed sets by Jean Mandaroux, and the period details of both urban Paris and rural bourgeois life gain authenticity that transports viewers to the era. Jean Gabin’s performance as the multifaceted René Duchêne/Georges Baudin gains additional dimension in color, his portrayal of the wealthy banker turned butler conveying both the weariness of a man betrayed and the quiet satisfaction of finding new purpose. Liselotte Pulver’s Elisabeth Bernadac benefits from colorization that highlights her character’s Swiss flightiness and charm, while Mireille Darc’s Suzanne emerges more vividly as the young woman caught between her past and her hopes for the future. The supporting cast, including Philippe Noiret as the staid Edmond Bernadac, adds warmth and humor to the ensemble. Now also available in colour.

Buy Monsieur in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1964, Monsieur represents a significant example of the international European co-productions that flourished in the 1960s. The film was made as a co-production between France, Italy, and West Germany, reflecting the growing trend toward cross-border filmmaking in post-war Europe. Directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois, a veteran French filmmaker known for his work across several decades, the film brought together a distinguished international cast to tell a quintessentially French comic story.

Jean Gabin’s presence in the lead role is particularly significant. By 1964, Gabin was one of the most respected figures in French cinema, having successfully transitioned from the young working-class hero of the 1930s to the mature patriarch of French film. His role in Monsieur allowed him to showcase both his comedic timing and his ability to convey profound emotional shifts. The character of René Duchêne, a man of wealth and position who finds redemption through service and disguise, suited Gabin’s late-career persona perfectly.

The film’s design by Jean Mandaroux, responsible for the sets, contributed to the visual elegance that distinguishes the production. The contrast between the opulent Parisian world Duchêne leaves behind and the country house setting where he reinvents himself provided Mandaroux with opportunities to create visually distinct environments that support the story’s themes. The film’s production values, enhanced by the co-production arrangement, allowed for a polished and attractive look that helped the film succeed across European markets.

Monsieur also features the young Mireille Darc, who would go on to become one of France’s most popular actresses in the following decades. Her role as Suzanne demonstrated the screen presence and charm that would make her a major star. The Swiss actress Liselotte Pulver, playing Elisabeth Bernadac, brought an international flavor to the cast, reflecting the co-production’s European scope. Philippe Noiret, in a supporting role as Edmond Bernadac, was already establishing himself as one of the finest French actors of his generation.

The film’s plot, in which a wealthy man hides among the servants, draws on a long tradition of comedy of manners and social satire. The idea that a person of high status might discover greater authenticity in a humble role has been a recurring theme in European literature and drama, from Shakespeare to Pagnol. Monsieur updates this tradition for the 1960s, incorporating modern concerns about marriage, inheritance, and social mobility while maintaining the elegant wit characteristic of French comedy.

The 1960s were a period of significant change in French and European cinema, with the New Wave challenging traditional filmmaking even as established directors like Le Chanois continued to produce polished, commercially successful films. Monsieur represents the latter tradition, demonstrating that classical French comedy could still attract audiences and major stars. Through modern colorization, this charming comedy reaches new audiences who can appreciate Jean Gabin’s performance, its European co-production pedigree, and its place in the history of 1960s French cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: French original mono with English subtitles
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in Monsieur?
A: Jean Gabin stars as René Duchêne/Georges Baudin, with Liselotte Pulver as Elisabeth Bernadac and Mireille Darc as Suzanne.

Q: Who directed Monsieur?
A: Jean-Paul Le Chanois directed this French-Italian-West German co-production.

Q: What is the plot of Monsieur?
A: A wealthy Parisian banker fakes his death after discovering his wife’s infidelities, becomes a butler, and finds new purpose protecting the young woman who helps him in his deception.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• God’s Thunder (1965)
• Any Number Can Win (1963)
• The Gentleman from Epsom (1936)
• The Counterfeiters of Paris (1962)
• The President (1961)