Jean Cocteau collaborated with Leon Bakst to write the ballet ‘Le Dieu bleu’ for Ballets Russes, when he was in his twenties. His one-act scenario ballet ‘Parade’ became famous in 1917 and was later expanded into a full opera.
He experimented with the human voice and wrote the play ‘La Voix humaine’ which revolves around a woman speaking to her invisible lover. Cocteau was criticised by actors for being too rigid and not allowing his characters to display their acting skills. This prompted him to take up screenwriting as well as directing and acting for his film ‘The Blood of a Poet’ (1930) that gained him positive reviews.
His work influenced French cinema and the upcoming ‘New Wave’ of his time. He wrote and directed box office hits like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1946), ‘The Storm Within’ (1948), ‘Orpheus’ (1950), and ‘Ladies of the Park’ (1964).
Many of his works have been made into films after his death and received mixed reviews. These include ‘The Mystery of Oberwald’ (1981) and ‘Thomas the Imposter’ (2012).
After his wife passes away, a poet named Orphee follows her into the underworld. However, things take an interesting turn when he falls in love with Princess Death. The Princess eventually decides to send Orphee back out of the Underworld, along with his wife.
This fantasy romantic drama film tells the story of a beautiful young girl, who takes her father’s place as a prisoner of a mysterious beast, in an enchanted castle. However, soon the beast starts developing feelings for her.
The Blood of a Poet is a fantasy film divided into four sections. The first part tells the story of an artist who sketches a face, but he is in for a shock, when its mouth begins to move. When he tries to rub out the mouth, he is in for another shock to see that it has transferred to the palm of his hand. In the second part, a female statue tries to speak to the artist. The third part revolves around a few students who are having a snowball fight. The final scene is about a card shark playing a game with a woman.
This Spanish comedy drama film tells the story of a television actress, who is left by her lover without any apparent reason. She embarks on a journey to find out why, but on her way, she comes across multiple eccentric characters.
Michel, 22, who is in love with Madeleine, tells his family that he intends to marry her. His possessive mother, Yvonne, has no wish to lose her son. Besides, this marriage could expose some dark family secrets. So the parents, with help of Yvonne’s single sister Leo, hatch a plan to break this engagement. But later, Leo decides to set things right.
The Eagle With Two Heads is a French drama film, which revolves around a poet, who plans to assassinate an unpopular queen. However, things take a turn and the two instead fall in love.
Black Crown is a mystery drama film which tells the story of Mara, a woman who is caught in an illicit love affair by her husband. When he decides to divorce her, she murders him. However, shortly after, she begins to suffer from amnesia. She tries to remember the place where some precious jewels were hidden.
Directed by Jean Cocteau, this short film of 35 minutes takes the viewer on a tour of Francine Weisweiller’s villa located on the French coast. This location is used by Cocteau in one of his later films.
Countess of Saint-Helie lives in an old derelict castle with daughter Elfy, and foster-daughter Anne who both are in love with the same man, Herve. The castle’s master, Baron Julius Carol, has been mysteriously missing for some years, and the castle also has lore about hidden treasure. In a shocking incident the Baron’s mummified body is found in an oubliette, disclosing more enigmas.
Also known as Il mistero di Oberwald, the movie tells the story of a young radical poet Sebastian, who breaks into a castle in Oberwald, to kill the Queen. The Queen has been mourning her husband for ten years. Things get complicated when both discover that Sebastian is the spitting image of the dead king.
This short documentary film is meant to be a poetic essay, where Jean Cocteau delivers some impressions on his time and on his imagination regarding the future.
This experimental film was created as a fairytale for the subconscious mind based on the game of chess.
