Source: Some information on this page may have been sourced as part of the 2023 Wikimedia Australia Partnership Projects grant, with the purpose of improving and expanding the use of Wikidata on our website. Wikidata is a free and open knowledge base that can be read and edited by both humans and machines. Read more about this project here.
Cocteau’s updating of the Orpheus legend which haunted his own life takes the poet, from contemporary Paris to a mysterious chateau ruled by an imperious Princess, who first claims a younger poet, then Orpheus’ wife, Eurydice. With its unforgettable imagery of leather-clad motorcyclists, the eerie ruins of the Zone and messages from another world received by car radio, this has had a profound influence on both Hollywood and the avant-garde. Awards: Venice Film Festival 1950: Fipresci Prize ; British Academy Awards 1950: Best Film. See also: ‘Le Sang d’Un Poete’ (Blood of a Poet, 1930)[0107789, 16mm] and ‘Le Testament d’Orphee’ (1960) [X000058, 16mm] & ‘The Orpheus Trilogy’ (VHS) [2083267].
Credits: Producer, Andre Paulve ; director, writer, Andre Paulve ; photography, Nicolas Hayer ; music, Georges Auric.
Cast: Jean Marais, Francois Perier, Maria Casares, Marie Dea.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
X000252
Languages
English
French
Subject category
Foreign language films
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)