Two Screenplays: The Blood of a Poet / The Testament of Orpheus

by Jean Cocteau, Carol Martin-Sperry (Translator)

As a screenwriter and director, Jean Cocteau was, without doubt, the father of the New Wave. This volume includes the complete screenplays of his first film - The Blood of a Poet - and his last - The Testament of Orpheus. Both show the mark of an original and astonishing personality, a man whose contribution to the history and art of the film has been immense.
Included too, are some of Cocteau's most important writings on the cinema, explaining his methods and philosophy of film-making, as well as sixty photographs from the two films and of the writer-director at work.

Genres: Film, Poetry, Plays

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager, playwright and filmmaker. Along with other Surrealists of his generation (Jean Anouilh and René Char for example) Cocteau grappled with the "algebra" of verbal codes old and new, mise en scène language and technologies of modernism to create a paradox: a classical avant-garde. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Colette, Édith Piaf, whom he cast in one of his one act plays entitled Le Bel Indifferent in 1940, and Raymond Radiguet.

His work was played out in the theatrical world of the Grands Theatres, the Boulevards and beyond during the Parisian epoque he both lived through and helped define and create. His versatile, unconventional approach and enormous output brought him international acclaim.

Reviews

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speedrun en 2 horas de un libro de dos guiones de pelis que ya me había visto.

Muy interesante para ver como lograba Cocteau esos efectos tan surealistas y tan caracteristicos suyos. Además de para darle una segunda vuelta a las ideas que presentan estas dos películas muy densas y, en mi opinión, especiales, además de libres de interpretación.
Creo también que los texto que acompañan a los guiones aportan ideas muy interesantes, tanto de la concepción de Cocteau del arte (que siempre me ha parecido muy extravagante), como del proceso de creación de sus películas y lo que buscaba con ellas.

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 5 out of 5]

These screenplays w/ stills from 2 of Cocteau's most amazing films will always be dear to me. When I was a kid, one of the only field trips we ever took from school was to go see Cocteau's "Beauty & the Beast" 2 or 3 yrs in a row. Do schools do such things anymore? Or do students go see the Disney version or some-such instead?! B/c of those field trips, Cocteau has probably made a very deep impression on my psyche. My own movies aren't even remotely like his though. Still, I've seen these movies several times each & wdn't mind seeing them again. Talk about atmosphere!

[Rebecca Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty indispensable book if you're a fan or merely a puzzled viewer wanting a better grasp of these films. Note I did not say understanding - interpretation is left up to the viewer, as Cocteau makes clear in essays which are nonetheless very enlightening as to his intentions as a filmmaker. Having the translated screenplays makes is very handy for one wanting to mull over some of the deeper aspects. There are also many photos included of both the films and production.

[Denise M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in French in high-school. I loved Cocteau then and still love to read great quotations from his works.