12 Brigitte Bardot Films That Remain a Delight to View

      Here are 12 Brigitte Bardot films that continue to be enjoyable to watch — in tribute to the new documentary, Bardot.

      In her 91 years, Bardot has been recognized as a film star, singer, animal rights advocate, and an emblematic figure for both the left and right.

      Her work played a significant role in bringing the French New Wave cinema to an international audience and infused a fresh sense of freedom, openness, and beauty into global filmmaking.

      While some classic movies may be renowned but can seem slow by today’s standards, these Brigitte Bardot films remain a source of enjoyment.

      **Doctor at Sea (1955)**

      Credit: The Rank Organisation

      This light-hearted British comedy-drama, directed by Ralph Thomas, is the second installment in the Doctor series, following Dr. Simon Sparrow’s (Dirk Bogarde) escapades. At that time, Bardot was relatively unknown but made a mark as his romantic interest, Helene.

      The film became one of the biggest British successes of the 1950s and offers an intriguing glimpse into the mindset of postwar Britain, when people were eager for some light-hearted entertainment.

      It’s captivating to see Bardot in an early English-speaking role before she evolved into a cinematic legend.

      **Plucking the Daisy (1956)**

      Les Films Corona

      This beautifully filmed French comedy, also known as En effeuillant la marguerite, was directed by Marc Allégret and features Bardot as a young writer who, through a series of mishaps, ends up entering a risqué competition.

      The film garnered positive reviews, with Turner Classic Movies describing it as “characteristic of the suggestive but harmless films Bardot made early in her career.”

      It ranked as the 20th most popular film at the French box office that year, yet it didn’t have nearly as significant an impact as the next Brigitte Bardot film released in 1956.

      **And God Created Woman (1956)**

      Screenshot – Credit: Cocinor

      This French film is the one that catapulted Brigitte Bardot to international stardom.

      Directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim, it was initially released under its French title, Et Dieu… créa la femme, and tells the story of young Juliette (Bardot), an 18-year-old who attracts attention wherever she goes in Saint-Tropez. Her supposed hedonism includes — prepare yourself! — dancing without shoes.

      It became the highest-grossing foreign film ever shown in the United States, making $4 million.

      In 1999, director Peter Bogdanovich credited this film with “breaking French cinema out of art houses and into the mainstream,” paving the way for the French New Wave.

      **Babette Goes to War (1959)**

      Credit: Columbia Pictures

      By 1958, Bardot had become the highest-paid actress in France, with little left to prove.

      Babette Goes to War (Babette s’en va-t-en guerre) was significant for showcasing her comedic talent and being the first leading role where she remained fully clothed.

      Set in 1940 and beautifully shot in French CinemaScope, it narrates the story of a young Frenchwoman who unintentionally becomes involved in thwarting Germany’s attempt to invade England.

      **The Truth (1960)**

      Credit: Columbia Pictures

      The Truth — aka La Verité — is considerably darker than the Brigitte Bardot films that preceded it.

      Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, it portrays Dominique (Bardot), who stands trial after surviving an attempted murder-suicide that results in her lover's death. Her story unfolds through flashbacks as she faces the trial.

      The film gained notoriety not only for its content but also for an offscreen event: Bardot reportedly attempted suicide during production, prompting the New York Times to comment upon its release, “probably no film in recent years, at least in France, has received as much prior attention.”

      The Los Angeles Times remarked it was “an extraordinary picture, a tour de force from all participants,” describing it as “at once immoral, amoral, and oddly moral.”

      Ultimately, it became the highest-grossing film of Bardot’s career and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

      **A Very Private Affair (1962)**

      Credit: Consortium Pathé

      Louis Malle’s film, also known as Vie privée, seems to reflect Bardot’s personal struggles.

      It follows a glamorous figure named Jill (Bardot) who faces intense scrutiny from the press and grapples with the pressures that accompany fame. The film presents a dark perspective on celebrities’ attempts to live and love away from the limelight, with her affairs being anything but secretive.

      The movie is noteworthy for the pairing of Bardot with Marcello Mastroianni.

      **Contempt (1963)**

      Credit: Embassy Pictures

      In our opinion