Orphée (Orpheus) (1950)

100% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(3,905 ratings)

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… More 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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jean Cocteau
Written By: Jean Cocteau
Genres: Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1950 Wide

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Seeing Orpheus today is like glimpsing a cinematic realm that has passed completely from the scene.
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com
Pretentious? Certainly, but full of the joy of filmmaking and there is a fairly coherent light through all the madness. It may illuminate man's obsessions and idol worship in a cautionary way, but Cocteau is also embracing those very ideas with his film.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a paragon of magical realism that transports the ancient Greek myth into the then-modern realm of postwar France
Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
Cocteau's superb take on the Orpheus myth ascends to glorious audio and visual resolution on Criterion's stunning Blu-ray release of this seminal post-war film.
Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
If you're the kind of amateur existentialist who admires the ring of a sentence like "look a lifetime in a mirror and you will see Death at work", then this beautiful film is for you.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Comes as close as cinema can to poetry.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Notable for its vivid and inventive imagery, bringing the Greek myth of Orpheus to the present day with style and passion that's both poetic and realistically gritty
Moira Sullivan, Movie Magazine International
This is one of the most exquisite gems of cinema history. Cocteau's film of the Orpheus myth. Many moments are enchanting such as cryptic messages broadcast from a car radio.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Orphee is visual treat, as you would expect from Jean Cocteau. Perhaps not as obvious as his other famous works but it's these subtleties that make it stand out even more. It's lovely to see the progression of ideas from some of his early works too, specifically Blood of a… More
Orphee is visual treat, as you would expect from Jean Cocteau. Perhaps not as obvious as his other famous works but it's these subtleties that make it stand out even more. It's lovely to see the progression of ideas from some of his early works too, specifically Blood of a Poet. With bizarre statements such as 'Silence played backwards is three times as quiet' and the idea of death being a glamorous woman, I just can't help but love it?
Stella D

a modern (or at least 50s paris) retelling with beautifully simple effects; almost as magical as la belle et la bete. wonderfully poetic dialogue. gotta love the death bikers :p i read cocteau wanted garbo or dietrich for casares' part. that's fun to imagine.
Cindy I

A modern retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Eurydice dies and Orpheus goes to the underworld to bring her back, with the understanding that he can never look at her. I heard raves about this and was excited about seeing it, especially knowing that director Jean… More
A modern retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Eurydice dies and Orpheus goes to the underworld to bring her back, with the understanding that he can never look at her. I heard raves about this and was excited about seeing it, especially knowing that director Jean Cocteau had directed the magical, brilliant La Belle et La Bete. But I was profoundly disappointed in this. Yes, the effects were interesting, but La Belle did them SO much better. The underworld, instead of seeming ominous and threatening, just seemed to be a dark street in a bad neighborhood. And finally, I just didn't buy that these characters had a love that transcended death itself. Vastly overrated. But maybe I'm just missing something.
Arash X

Another stunning work of art by a true artist
Ken S

The special effects are what really standout about this really interesting film. A precursor to David Lynch, Tim Burton, Rex Meyer and Guillermo del Toro.
Chris B

Another poetic and beautifully lensed film from Jean Cocteau on a subject he is very fond of both professionally and personally. This is his take on Orpheus set in 50s Paris and featuring some eerie and gorgeously gothic imagery much like his version of Beauty and the Beast. A great… More
Another poetic and beautifully lensed film from Jean Cocteau on a subject he is very fond of both professionally and personally. This is his take on Orpheus set in 50s Paris and featuring some eerie and gorgeously gothic imagery much like his version of Beauty and the Beast. A great symbolic and meditative film to be absorbed and thought upon. From a refined time and place by an amazing and gifted Director.
Emily B

A beautiful masterpiece. After "La Belle et la Bete" I didn't think it could get much better but I was wrong. Plus those effects are amazing! <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view&current=orpheus.gif"… More
A beautiful masterpiece. After "La Belle et la Bete" I didn't think it could get much better but I was wrong. Plus those effects are amazing! <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view&current=orpheus.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/orpheus.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>