The Taking of Power by Louis XIV
1966Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed.
Acted in
Jean-Marie Patte
as Louis XIV
Raymond Jourdan
as Jean Baptiste Colbert
Silvagni
as Cardinal Mazarin
Katharina Renn
as Anne d'Autriche
Dominique Vincent
as Madame Du Plessis
Pierre Barrat
as Nicolas Fouquet
Fernand Fabre
as Michel Le Tellier
Françoise Ponty
as Louise de la Vallière
Joëlle Laugeois
as Marie-Thérèse
Maurice Barrier
as D'Artagnan
André Dumas
as Le Père Joly
François Mirante
as M. de Brienne
Roger Guillo
as L'apothicaire
Louis Raymond
as Le premier médecin
Maurice Bourbon
as Le deuxième médecin
Michel Ferre
as M. de Gesvres
Guy Pintat
as Le chef-cuisinier
Michelle Marquais
as Mme de Motteville
Jean-Jacques Daubin
as M. de Vardes
Georges Goubert
as M. de Soyecourt
Pierre Pernet
as Monsieur
Gilette Barbier
as Pierrette Dufour
Jean Obé
as Le Vau
Jacques Charby
as L'assistant de Le Vau
Micheline Muc
as Mlle de Pons
Michel Debrane
as Le tailleur
François Bennard
as L'Archevèque
Georges Spanelly
as Seguier
Jean Soustre
as M. de Guiche
Axel Ganz
as L'Ambassadeur
Jean-Jacques Leconte
as Le 1er Chambellan
Violette Marceau
as Mlle de Chemerault
Paula Dehelly
as Mme d'Elboeuf
Jacques Préboist
as Mousquetaire
André Daguenet
as Le patron marinier
Marc Fraiseau
as Marinier
Pierre Frag
as Marinier
Jean Coste
as Marinier
Rita Maiden
as Une paysanne
Jean-Claude Charnay
as Messenger
Jacqueline Corot
as Madame Henrietta
Hélène Manesse
as The Naiad