Orpheus [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Orpheus [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Director: Jean Cocteau Cast: Jean Marais
Jean Marais
, Maria Déa
Maria Déa
, María Casares
María Casares
, François Périer
François Périer
Jean Cocteau
Orpheus [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Orpheus [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Director: Jean Cocteau Cast: Jean Marais
Jean Marais
, Maria Déa
Maria Déa
, María Casares
María Casares
, François Périer
François Périer
Jean Cocteau

DVD (Black & White)

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Overview

Cinematic poet Jean Cocteau explored the myth of Orpheus on no fewer than three occasions: Le Sang d'Un Poete (Blood of a Poet, 1930), Orphee (Orpheus, 1949) and Le Testament d'Orphee (1960). This second of his "Orpheus" trilogy stars Jean Marais in the title role. Updated to contemporary Paris (albeit a Paris never seen before or since), the story concerns a sensitive young poet named Orpheus, who is married to the lovely Eurydice (Marie Dea). Orpheus' friend Cegeste (Edouard Dermit) is killed in a traffic accident. In the hospital morgue, Cegeste's patroness, The Princess of Death (Maria Casares), revives the young man; then, both Cegeste and Princess pass into the Underworld. Back on earth, Orpheus receives cryptic messages from Cegeste's spirit, as well as nocturnal visitations from the Princess. Meanwhile, Orpheus' wife enters into an affair with Heurtebise (Francois Perier). After seeking advice on her mixed-up love life, Eurydice is herself struck down and killed by the same cyclist who snuffed out Cegeste's life. It appears to Heurtebise that the ghostly Princess has claimed Eurydice so that she, the Princess, can be free to love Orpheus. Heurtebise persuades Orpheus to accompany him into the Underworld in hopes of returning Eurydice to life. By now, however, Orpheus cares little for his wife; he is completely under the Princess' spell. Offered her own liberation from the Underworld by the powers-that-be, the Princess dolefullly agrees to restore Eurydice to life, and to never have anything to do with Orpheus again. Orpheus has weathered much controversy to take its place among the director's most acclaimed works. Originally released at 112 minutes, the film was whittled down to 95 minutes for its American release.

Product Details

Release Date: 08/30/2011
UPC: 0715515085519
Original Release: 1950
Rating: NR
Source: Criterion Collection
Region Code: 1
Presentation: [B&W]
Sound: [Dolby Digital Mono]
Language: English
Time: 1:35:00
Sales rank: 20,764

Special Features

Audio commentary featuring French-film scholar James S. Williams; Jean Cocteau: autobiography of an Unknown (1984), a feature-length documentary; Jean Cocteau and His Tricks (2008), a video interview with assistant director Claude Pinoteau; 40 minutes with Jean Cocteau (1957), and interview with the director; In Search of Jazz (1956), an interview with Cocteau on the use of jazz in film; La villa Santo-Sospir (1951), a 16mm color film by Cocteau; Gallery of images by French-film portrait photographer Roger Corbeau; Raw newsreel footage from 1950 of the Saint-Cyr military academy ruins, a locatin used in the film; Theatrical trailer; Plus: a booklet featuring an essay by author Mark Polizzotti, an excerpted article by Cocteau on the film, and an essay on La villa Santo-Sospir by Williams

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Jean Marais Orphée
Maria Déa Eurydice,Eurydice
María Casares The Princess,Actor
François Périer Heurtebise
Juliette Greco Aglaonice
Edouard Dermit Cegeste
Henri Cremieux Friend in Cafe
Pierre Bertin Police Commissioner
Roger Blin Writer
Jacques Varennes Judge
Andre Carnege Judge
Rene Worms Judge
Renee Cosima Bacchante
Jean-Pierre Melville Hotel Manager
Jean Cocteau Narrator,Narrator
François Perier Heurtebise
Claude Mauriac Actor
Francois Perier Actor
Maria Dea Actor
Edouard Dermithe Actor
Georges Auric Composer

Technical Credits
Jean Cocteau Director,Screenwriter
Emil Darbon Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Orpheus
1. Titles/Prologue [3:16]
2. The Lion's Den [7:38]
3. Usual Route [2:51]
4. "You Are the Death" [5:17]
5. Orpheus Returns [7:49]
6. Eurydice and Heurtebise [4:11]
7. "Resting on My Laurels" [6:47]
8. Pursuit of the Princess [5:54]
9. Eurydice in Danger [7:57]
10. Mirrors Are Doors [6:23]
11. Ruins of Habits [:19]
12. Supreme Tribunal [2:51]
13. Forever [6:20]
14. Out of Sight [4:56]
15. Beware of Mirrors [6:51]
16. Sacrifice [5:01]
17. Condemnation [8:31]
18. Color Bars [2:56]
1. In His Own Hand [3:16]
2. Cocteau's Own Myth [7:38]
3. Echoes of the War [2:51]
4. "Cinématographe" [5:17]
5. The Zone [7:49]
6. Objets d'art [4:11]
7. Thirty-Eight, Thirty-Nine, Forty [6:47]
8. New Urbanization [5:54]
9. Meticulous Discipline [7:57]
10. Misogyny [6:23]
11. Saint-Cyr [:19]
12. Three Judges [2:51]
13. Guardian Angel [6:20]
14. Farce [4:56]
15. The Next Morning [6:51]
16. Rituals [5:01]
17. The Human Mire [8:31]
18. Color Bars [2:56]
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