The Temptation of Barbizon

The Temptation of Barbizon (French: La Tentation de Barbizon) is a 1946 French fantasy-romance film directed by Jean Stelli. Written by André-Paul Antoine and Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon, the black-and-white picture follows a young couple on their honeymoon in Barbizon, who become the stakes in a celestial contest: while the devil tries to lead the newlyweds astray, a guardian angel intervenes to watch over them. The film stars Simone Renant and François Périer, with Henri Crémieux, Daniel Gélin and André Bervil among the supporting players. The roughly 100-minute production holds a special place in French cinema history as the screen debut of Louis de Funès, who appears briefly and uncredited as a hotel porter — a role lasting only about forty seconds. The film was released in Germany under the title Wenn der Himmel versagt.