Vice and Virtue 1963

Overview

Vice and Virtue is a 1963 war drama film directed by Roger Vadim that is inspired by characters created by the Marquis de Sade. The film stars Annie Girardot as Juliette, known as Vice, and Catherine Deneuve in her first notable film role as her younger sister Justine, known as Virtue. Robert Hossein also appears in the production as a sadistic German officer. Set in 1944 during the German occupation of France, the story follows the contrasting lives of the two sisters. Juliette enjoys a privileged existence as the mistress of Wehrmacht General Bamberg. When Justine seeks help for her fiancé, Jean, who is a member of the French Resistance, the sisters find themselves at a location called la Commanderie. There, Juliette becomes the mistress of SS Colonel Schonberg, while Justine is detained alongside other women forced to serve the sexual needs of high-ranking Nazi officials. The film, released in France on March 1, 1963, has a runtime of one hour and forty-eight minutes and is categorized as both a drama and a comedy.