Le Mépris – Die Verachtung

The director Fritz Lang films Homer's "Odyssey" for the American producer Jeremy Prokosch. The young and penniless screenwriter Paul Javal is asked to rewrite the screenplay according to Prokosch's wishes in a way that will appeal to the public. Javal's wife Camille is not enthusiastic about the assignment. Her initial disappointment at her husband's venality escalates into contempt. Paul seems completely unmoved by Prokosch's blatant advances towards her; he even seems to encourage Prokosch. Too late, Javal decides not to rewrite the script after all.