autograph manuscript of ContemptJean-Luc Godard’s cult film that belonged to Brigitte Bardot, was sold this Thursday for more than 300,000 euros, Christie’s auction house announced just over a month after the death of the master of the New Wave.
It consists of 59 pages in blue ink and 24 typed pages, many of which are annotated and corrected by Godard. It also contains a note from the writer Alberto Moravia, whose script is adapted, or even notes and words from the film’s performers: Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance and the director Fritz Lang, who appears in his own role.
“Only known manuscript version of the script”
Initially estimated at between 120,000 and 180,000 euros, it was sold for 302,400 euros, expenses included.
“This is the complete manuscript of the first version of the film, without the nude scenes imposed on the director by the American production of the film”, and in particular the legendary opening scene, between Michel Piccoli and Brigitte Bardot, Christie’s had specified when announcing the sale.
It is the “only known manuscript version of the script” for this 1963 film, which belonged to Brigitte Bardot before she sold it to her photographer friend Ghislain Dussart, known as Jicky. Monument in the history of world cinema, Jean-Luc Godard died on September 13 at the age of 91.
Source: BFM TV
