The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) in Color — Starring Claude Rich & Françoise Arnoul

The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover the witty and provocative French anthology The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) Colorized, directed by Julien Duvivier, starring an extraordinary ensemble cast including Michel Simon, Louis de Funès, Alain Delon, Danielle Darrieux, Charles Aznavour, and Françoise Arnoul — now available for purchase in stunning restored HD for just €15.00. Originally titled Le Diable et les Dix Commandements, this audacious film consists of seven linked sketches that dramatise human failings against the Ten Commandments, with a sly serpent — voiced by Claude Rich as the Devil — offering acid commentary on each moral lapse. Originally released in black and white, this colorized version uses advanced frame-by-frame colorization to bring the vibrant Parisian settings, glamorous costumes, and the striking faces of France’s greatest post-war stars to vivid life. Buy this professionally colorized classic movie today and enjoy an instant DRM-free digital download that you can watch on any device.

Plot Summary

A sinuous serpent — the Devil himself, voiced by Claude Rich — slithers through seven interconnected tales, each pivoting on a different Commandment:

Episode 1 — Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain: Jérôme Chambard (Michel Simon), a foul-mouthed handyman at a convent, is warned he will lose his job if he cannot curb his swearing. Salvation arrives in the unlikeliest form when the visiting bishop turns out to be an old school friend.

Episode 2 — Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour’s Wife / Thou Shalt Not Steal: Françoise Beaufort (Françoise Arnoul), enamoured of a stripper, falls for wealthy Philip Allan (Mel Ferrer) and is gifted a stunning necklace. But her husband Georges (Claude Dauphin) discovers the hidden jewellery and unwittingly presents it to Philip’s wife Micheline (Micheline Presle) after their own afternoon tryst — a delicious irony that leaves everyone entangled.

Episode 3 — Thou Shalt Not Kill: Denis Mayeux (Charles Aznavour), a Jesuit novice, leaves the order to avenge his sister’s suicide — provoked by Garigny (Lino Ventura), a pimp and drug dealer who seduced her into prostitution and addiction. Denis arranges to confront Garigny unarmed, but secretly carries a concealed shotgun. When Denis announces he is leaving to inform the police, Garigny grabs the gun and shoots him dead — but Denis has already alerted the authorities, and Garigny is arrested for murder.

Episode 4 — Remember the Sabbath Day / Honour Thy Father and Mother: A mysterious stranger (Fernandel) arrives at an isolated farm claiming to be God. He heals the grandfather who had been feigning paralysis, eases the dying grandmother’s final moments, and departs — only to be collected by psychiatric nurses searching for their escaped patient.

Episode 5 — Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother: Medical student Pierre Messager (Alain Delon) discovers his real mother is celebrated stage actress Clarisse Ardant (Danielle Darrieux). When he visits her, she first attempts to seduce the handsome stranger before retreating into vagueness upon learning the truth. Pierre resolves to be a good son to the couple who raised him.

Episode 6 — Thou Shalt Not Steal: Disaffected bank clerk Didier Marin (Jean-Claude Brialy) is fired. When a gunman holds up his position, Didier fills the thief’s suitcase with money. He tracks down the robber, breaks into his apartment, and recovers the case — but the thief follows him. The two agree to split the loot, only to discover the case contains bread, wine, and sausage: a tramp had substituted his lunch for the cash. The thief? Antoine Vaillant (Louis de Funès), in a scene-stealing masterclass of comic rage.

Episode 7 — The Framing Device: Jérôme and the bishop enjoy a well-lubricated lunch, and the bishop struggles to recall the Ten Commandments — closing the circle on the theme of human frailty with warm, irreverent humour.

Cast & Crew

Director: Julien Duvivier

Screenplay: David Alexander, Michel Audiard

Producers: Claude Jaeger, Robert Amon

Stars: Michel Simon as Jérôme Chambard / Fernandel as the madman / Françoise Arnoul as Françoise Beaufort / Mel Ferrer as Philip Allan / Charles Aznavour as Denis Mayeux / Lino Ventura as Garigny / Alain Delon as Pierre Messager / Danielle Darrieux as Clarisse Ardant / Jean-Claude Brialy as Didier Marin / Louis de Funès as Antoine Vaillant / Micheline Presle as Micheline Allan / Claude Rich as the Devil (voice) / Madeleine Robinson as Germaine Messager

The sheer depth of French cinematic talent on display is staggering. Michel Simon — the grand old man of French cinema — brings rascally charm to the blasphemy-prone Jérôme. Louis de Funès, not yet the box-office titan he would become, delivers a version of his trademark controlled volcanic rage as the pint-sized bank robber. Alain Delon, at the peak of his early matinee-idol period, smoulders with restrained intensity. Danielle Darrieux glides through her episodes as the vain, flirtatious actress with the confidence of a woman who has been commanding screens since 1931. Charles Aznavour is heartbreaking as the vengeful novice, and Lino Ventura embodies menacing authority as Garigny.

Director Julien Duvivier — the legendary filmmaker behind Pépé le Moko and the original Tales of Manhattan — weaves the episodes together with stylistic grace and mordant wit. His direction shifts tone effortlessly from noirish tension (Episode 3) to bittersweet pathos (Episode 4) to satirical farce (Episode 6), united by the Devil’s serpentine commentary and Georges Garvarentz’s playful score.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization of The Devil and the Ten Commandments transforms this French anthology into a visually stunning experience. The elegant apartment interiors of the Beaufort and Allan households, the atmospheric streets of Paris, the moody shadows of Aznavour’s revenge episode, and de Funès’s comic fury in the bank-robbery sequence all gain extraordinary depth through professionally colorized restoration. The contrast between high-society glamour and working-class grit creates unforgettable imagery. Every frame has been carefully enhanced using frame-by-frame colorization techniques to ensure historical authenticity and sardonic wit. Buy The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) Colorized today for €15.00 and own this classic film in a DRM-free colorized version you can watch instantly.

Historical Significance

Le Diable et les Dix Commandements was released in France on 14 September 1962 and in the United States the following year. The film grossed an impressive $13.6 million, making it one of the highest-grossing French films of its era. US critic Bosley Crowther praised the Louis de Funès and Jean-Claude Brialy episode as the highlight. The ensemble anthology format allowed Duvivier to attract an extraordinary roster of stars who might not have committed to a single-narrative feature, creating a unique cinematic mosaic of French moral life.

The film sits squarely in the tradition of European portmanteau comedies that flourished in the early 1960s — films that used interconnected sketches to explore themes of virtue, vice, and human absurdity with a light touch. Duvivier, who had explored similar multi-story structures in Tales of Manhattan (1942) and Flesh and Fantasy (1943), brings decades of experience to the format, and the result is a film that is by turns suspenseful, moving, hilarious, and deeply humane.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, professional AI-assisted colorization
• Audio: French original with English subtitles available
• Runtime: 120 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: Is this film based on a book?
A: No, The Devil and the Ten Commandments is an original screenplay by David Alexander and Michel Audiard, though its episodic structure draws on the tradition of morality plays and parable literature.

Q: Who directed The Devil and the Ten Commandments?
A: The film was directed by Julien Duvivier, one of France’s most celebrated filmmakers, known for Pépé le Moko (1937), Tales of Manhattan (1942), and the Don Camillo series.

Q: How many episodes are in the film?
A: The film consists of seven linked episodes (eight in the versions shown in Germany and Japan), each dramatising a different Commandment, connected by the Devil’s sardonic commentary.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in HD 720p resolution, compatible with any modern device or media player.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You own the file outright and can watch it on any device without restrictions or recurring fees.

Q: How quickly will I receive the download?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment is confirmed. You can begin watching The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) Colorized within minutes of your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Beauty of the Devil (1950)
• The Little World of Don Camillo (1952)
• The Return of Don Camillo (1953)
• Mata Hari, Agent H21 (1964)
• Don Camillo: Monsignor (1961)