Molière's primary photo
  • Molière (1978)
  • 260 min | Biography, Drama, History
Molière (1978)
260 min | Biography, Drama, History

Who was Moliere? He is known everywhere as one of the world's greatest playwrights. But who was he? Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622, the son of a prosperous tapestry maker. His mother died when he was a boy. Growing up in the teeming ...See moreWho was Moliere? He is known everywhere as one of the world's greatest playwrights. But who was he? Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622, the son of a prosperous tapestry maker. His mother died when he was a boy. Growing up in the teeming streets of 17th century Paris, Jean Baptiste received a good Jesuit education and was fascinated by the street fairs and traveling carnivals that flourished in spite of the religious repression and hypocrisy of those cruel times. As a young man he joined the theatrical Bejart family to establish the Illustre-Theatre, which soon went bankrupt. The troupe reformed, found patronage, and went on the road for thirteen years, performing all over France. Poquelin developed his stagecraft adapting Commedia dell Arte plots to please brutalized peasants and cynical townspeople. He also married Madeline Bejart, the widowed daughter of the troupe's founder. Later he entered into a love affair with Mme Bejart's daughter, to the dismay of all. The troupe eventually returned to Paris and, on October 24, 1658, greatly impressed the 20-year old King Louis XIV, later to be called the Sun King. Moliere's life became bound up with the magnificent court at Versailles, and with its intrigues. He wrote, staged and acted in the plays now famous all over the world. He fought with his enemies and his friends, enjoyed success followed by failure, organized court festivities and defended himself against increasingly fanatic religious authorities. Above all, his theater was taken from life as his life was theatrical. Written by John Christopher revised by John Chapot See less
Writer
Ariane Mnouchkine (written by)
Producer
Composer
Cinematographer
Production Designer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated May 29, 1978

Release date
Jan 1980 (United States)

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Cast

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83 cast members
Name Known for
Philippe Caubère
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, dit Molière / La Mort Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, dit Molière / La Mort   See fewer
Marie-Françoise Audollent
La Forest - La servante La Forest - La servante   See fewer
Frédéric Ladonne
Molière enfant Molière enfant   See fewer
Odile Cointepas
La mère de Molière La mère de Molière   See fewer
Jonathan Sutton
La Grange La Grange   See fewer
Joséphine Derenne
Madeleine Béjart Madeleine Béjart   See fewer
Brigitte Catillon
Armande Béjart Armande Béjart   See fewer
Julien Maurel
L'ami de Molière L'ami de Molière   See fewer
Philippe Cointepas
Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Armand Delcampe
Jean Poquelin, le père de Molière Jean Poquelin, le père de Molière   See fewer
Jean Dasté
Le grand-père de Molière Le grand-père de Molière   See fewer
Mathieu Rongier
Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Alexandre Ferran
Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Jean-Claude Penchenat
Le Roi Louis XIV Le Roi Louis XIV   See fewer
Thomas Félix-François
Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste Un camarade de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Roger Planchon
Colbert Colbert   See fewer
Maurice Chevit
Le curé de l'école Le curé de l'école   See fewer
Sania Ballerini
Nicolas - frère de Jean-Baptiste Nicolas - frère de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Arnault Thébault
Jean - frère de Jean-Baptiste Jean - frère de Jean-Baptiste   See fewer
Sigoléne Bonnaud
Madeleine - petite soeur Madeleine - petite soeur   See fewer
Mario Gonzales
Scaramouche / Jean-Baptiste Lully (as Mario Gonzalès) Scaramouche / Jean-Baptiste Lully (as Mario Gonzalès)   See fewer
Guy-Claude François
L'homme-oiseau L'homme-oiseau   See fewer
Jean Brard
Le maître-tapissier Le maître-tapissier   See fewer
Michel Hart
Un dévot Un dévot   See fewer
Alfred Simon
Un dévot Un dévot   See fewer
Jean-Pierre Dougnac
Un dévot Un dévot   See fewer
Michel Heudebert
Un dévot Un dévot   See fewer
Gérard Croce
Lieutenant de police Nèfle Lieutenant de police Nèfle   See fewer
Claude-Emile Rosen
Un dévot (as Claude-Emile Rozen) Un dévot (as Claude-Emile Rozen)   See fewer
Christophe Allwright
Le collégien sur le mur Le collégien sur le mur   See fewer
Louba Guertchikoff
Marie Hervé, veuve Béjart Marie Hervé, veuve Béjart   See fewer
Jean-Claude Bourbault
Louis Béjart Louis Béjart   See fewer
Françoise Jamet
Geneviève Béjart Geneviève Béjart   See fewer
Claude Merlin
Joseph Béjart Joseph Béjart   See fewer
Françoise Rozier
Une autre comédienne de l'IllustreThéâtre Une autre comédienne de l'IllustreThéâtre   See fewer
Michel Toty
Un autre comédien de l'IllustreThéâtre (as Michel Toti) Un autre comédien de l'IllustreThéâtre (as Michel Toti)   See fewer
Jean Brassat
Un autre comédien de l'IllustreThéâtre Un autre comédien de l'IllustreThéâtre   See fewer
Josette Boulva
Une autre comédienne de l'IllustreThéâtre Une autre comédienne de l'IllustreThéâtre   See fewer
Christian Colin
Descartes Descartes   See fewer
Fabrice Herrero
Mazarin Mazarin   See fewer
Marilú Marini
La Reine (as Marilu Marini) La Reine (as Marilu Marini)   See fewer
Raphaële Penchenat
Louis XIV - enfant Louis XIV - enfant   See fewer
Jacqueline Staup
Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne (as Jacqueline Staupp) Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne (as Jacqueline Staupp)   See fewer
Elisabeth Ollier
Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne   See fewer
Marie-Ange Dutheil
Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne Une comédienne de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne   See fewer
Jacques Ebner
Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne   See fewer
Marc Godard
Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne   See fewer
Yves Graffey
Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne Un comédien de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne   See fewer
Geneviève Rey-Penchenat
La femme au pain (as Geneviève Rey) La femme au pain (as Geneviève Rey)   See fewer
Myrrha Donzenac
La femme violée La femme violée   See fewer
Jacques Delon
Le chef du village Le chef du village   See fewer
Clémence Massart-Weit
Marotte Ragueneau (as Clémence Massart) Marotte Ragueneau (as Clémence Massart)   See fewer
Serge Coursan
M. Dufresnes M. Dufresnes   See fewer
Daïna Lavarenne
Mme. Dufresnes Mme. Dufresnes   See fewer
Norbert Journo
Gros-René du Parc Gros-René du Parc   See fewer
Nicole Félix
Catherine de Brie Catherine de Brie   See fewer
Rémy Carpentier
Edmée de Brie Edmée de Brie   See fewer
Lucia Bensasson
Thérèse Marquise du Parc Thérèse Marquise du Parc   See fewer
Sarah Donzenac-Ploquin
Armande Béjart dite Menou - enfant Armande Béjart dite Menou - enfant   See fewer
Hélène Cinque
Armande Béjart - adolescente Armande Béjart - adolescente   See fewer
Antoine Brassat
Louis XIV - adolescent Louis XIV - adolescent   See fewer
Gérard Hardy
Charles Coypeau d'Assoucy Charles Coypeau d'Assoucy   See fewer
Patrice Thomère
Monsieur, frère du Roi (as Patrice Thomeré) Monsieur, frère du Roi (as Patrice Thomeré)   See fewer
Yves Gourvil
Le Prince de Conti Le Prince de Conti   See fewer
Daniel Mesguich
Monsieur, frère du Roi Monsieur, frère du Roi   See fewer
Anne Demeyer
La Beauval La Beauval   See fewer
Georges Bonnaud
La Thorillière La Thorillière   See fewer
Marc Berman
Du Croisy Du Croisy   See fewer
Vinca Probst
La jeune mariée La jeune mariée   See fewer
Roger Weber
Le vieux marié Le vieux marié   See fewer
France Trentin
1ère précieuse 1ère précieuse   See fewer
Louise Mailliard
2ème précieuse 2ème précieuse   See fewer
René Zosso
Le chanteur Le chanteur   See fewer
Hubert Gignoux
L'évêque L'évêque   See fewer
Jean Dupont
Le mendiant Le mendiant   See fewer
Michel Herman
L'architecte L'architecte   See fewer
Albert Delpy
Boileau Boileau   See fewer
Patrick Floersheim
Le curé Le curé   See fewer
Sarah Hardenberg
Wife of Monsieur, Henrietta Stuart Wife of Monsieur, Henrietta Stuart   See fewer
Roland Amstutz
Le frère de Molière (uncredited) Le frère de Molière (uncredited)   See fewer
Sylvain Levignac
Gallois (uncredited) Gallois (uncredited)   See fewer
Jacques Nolot
Extra (uncredited) Extra (uncredited)   See fewer
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