France, 1949
112m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, French
A French fantasy film directed by Jean Cocteau.
Plot Summary
The poet Orphée becomes obsessed with Death who has taken the form of a princess. When they fall in love, Orphée's wife, Eurydice, is murdered by the Princess' men and Orphée pursues her the Underworld.
Credits
Crew
Director: Jean Cocteau
Andre Paulve Film, Films du Palais Royal
Executive Producer: André Paulvé
Production Manager: Émile Darbon
Script: Jean Cocteau
Director of Photography: Nicolas Hayer
Editor: Jacqueline Sadoul
Music: Georges Auric, Christoph Willibald Gluck
Costume Designer: Marcel Escoffier
Production Designer: Jean d'Eaubonne
Locations: Paris, France; Saint-Cyr, Yvelines, France; Vallée de Chevreuse, Yvelines, France
Cast
Jean Marais (Orphée)
François Périer (Heurtebise)
MarÍa Casares (the princess)
Marie Déa (Eurydice)
Henri Crémieux (the man)
Juliette Gréco (Aglaonice)
Roger Blin (writer)
Edouard Dermithe (Cegeste)
Jacques Varennes, Maurice Carnege, René Worms (judges)
Raymond Faure
Pierre Bertin (the inspector)
Claude Mauriac
Jean Cocteau [narrator – uncredited]
Alternative Titles
Orpheus – US title
Links
Sequel
Le testament d'Orphée (1960)
Extracts included in
Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma (1995)
See also
Orfeu Negro (1959)
Orfeu (1999)
Parking (1985)
References
Books
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.352; 353 – credits; still
Other sources
- BFI Southbank Guide October/November 2018 p.13 – illustrated listing
