The Oldest Profession (1967) in Color — Starring Michèle Mercier & Enrico Maria Salerno

The Oldest Profession (1967) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the provocative, star-studded European anthology film The Oldest Profession (1967) colorized in stunning HD quality. This ambitious Franco-German-Italian co-production features six comedy segments directed by six different filmmakers — including Franco Indovina, Mauro Bolognini, Philippe de Broca, Michel Pfleghar, Claude Autant-Lara, and Jean-Luc Godard — each set in a different historical era, tracing the world’s oldest profession from prehistoric times through ancient Rome, the French Revolution, the Belle Époque, the present day, and into the future. With an extraordinary international cast including Raquel Welch, Elsa Martinelli, Jeanne Moreau, Anna Karina, and France Anglade, this is a uniquely audacious exploration of desire, commerce, and human nature across the ages. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

The film presents six self-contained episodes, each set in a different period of history and directed by a different filmmaker, all linked by the common theme of the world’s oldest profession and how it reflects the values, hypocrisies, and desires of each era.

The prehistoric segment opens the anthology with broad farce as the concept of exchanging favours for material goods is invented in a cave-dwelling society. The ancient Roman episode brings sophistication and satirical elegance to the theme, showing how the profession became institutionalised in classical civilisation. The French Revolution segment uses the upheaval of 1789 to explore how political chaos creates new opportunities and new dangers for those who traffic in desire.

The Belle Époque segment is a lushly romantic exploration of the grand courtesans of turn-of-the-century Paris, where the profession reached its most glamorous and socially accepted expression. The contemporary segment brings the theme into the modern world of 1960s Europe, examining how the oldest profession has adapted to the age of consumerism, advertising, and sexual liberation. Finally, Jean-Luc Godard’s futuristic segment imagines the profession in a science-fiction future where technology, automation, and social engineering have transformed human desire itself — a characteristically provocative and intellectually playful contribution from cinema’s most radical filmmaker.

Each segment features a different tone and style reflecting its director’s personality, creating a kaleidoscopic portrait of human desire and commerce across thousands of years of civilisation.

Cast & Crew

Directors: Franco Indovina, Mauro Bolognini, Philippe de Broca, Michel Pfleghar, Claude Autant-Lara, Jean-Luc Godard
Stars: The extraordinary international cast includes Raquel Welch bringing glamour to the prehistoric segment, Elsa Martinelli bringing Italian sophistication, Jeanne Moreau bringing French intellectual depth, Anna Karina (Godard’s iconic muse) bringing New Wave cool to the futuristic segment, and France Anglade bringing vivacious charm. Each actress embodies a different facet of the film’s central theme.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enhances the film’s visually diverse historical settings with era-accurate hues. The prehistoric landscapes, Roman marble interiors, revolutionary Paris streets, Belle Époque boudoirs, swinging 1960s apartments, and futuristic sets each receive distinct colour palettes that enhance the visual storytelling of each unique segment. Now also available in colour — en couleur — for audiences worldwide.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1967, The Oldest Profession is a fascinating product of European cinema’s most creatively liberated era, bringing together six prominent directors from different national traditions to explore a theme that Hollywood would never have dared to touch. Jean-Luc Godard’s contribution is particularly significant as a rare example of the revolutionary filmmaker working within a commercial multi-director project, bringing his distinctive avant-garde sensibility to science fiction comedy. Through colorization, this unique European anthology film is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original French mono soundtrack with English subtitles
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this really directed by six different filmmakers?
A: Yes — each historical segment has a different director, creating a fascinating variety of styles and tones unified by the common theme, from broad farce to intellectual comedy to avant-garde experimentation.

Q: Is the Godard segment very different from the others?
A: Characteristically so — Godard’s futuristic segment is the most intellectually provocative and stylistically radical, bringing his signature New Wave approach to science fiction comedy in a way that feels distinctly different from the more conventional segments.

Q: Is this film comedic or serious?
A: Primarily comedic — each segment approaches its era with satirical wit and often broad humour, though the underlying examination of human nature across the ages gives the anthology unexpected philosophical depth.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

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