The Testament of Orpheus (1960)
The Poet looks back over his life and work, recalling his inspirations and obsessions. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Jean Cocteau
Written By: Jean Cocteau
Starring: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Jean Cocteau, Jean Marais, Yul Brynner, Charles Aznavour, Lucia Bosé, Claudine Auger, Françoise Christophe, María Casares, Edouard Dermithe, Michèle Comte, Brigitte Morisan
Genre: Drama
Franchise: Orpheus (by Jean Cocteau)
AKA: Le testament d'Orphée ou ne me demandez pas pourquoi
Country: France
Where to Stream
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The Testament of Orpheus belongs to 14 collections
1. Criterion Collection (collaborative: moderated by caffe - 165 stars)
2. Surreal (collaborative - 47 stars)
3. Certified weird (collaborative: moderated by Dreamer - 46 stars)
4. Psychotronic Film and Video Guides (collaborative: moderated by Gregzilla - 40 stars)
5. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Scottathon - 39 stars)
6. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 38 stars)
7. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)
8. The Obscure, the Forgotten, and the Unloved (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 15 stars)
9. Experimental/Avant-Garde (collaborative: moderated by Dorkovsky - 14 stars)
10. Wierd / Mindfuck / Surreal (collaborative: moderated by neurophate - 9 stars)
11. They Shoot Pictures ex-Top 1,000 (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 3 stars)
12. Discussed in Truffaut's "The Films in My Life" (public: juandr - 2 stars)
13. weird (public: ptkw - 2 stars)
14. La Fémis 208 films (public: chengming)
Browse the full list of collections
| Date | User | Rating | |
| Jun 26, 2022 | SHOCKULAR | 25 3rd |
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The third of the Orphic Trilogy feels more like a 90 minute therapy session for Cocteau, and I wish he'd kept it between him and his therapist. This is self-indulgent claptrap in the worst way possible. The cinematography and effects are often beautiful (all of the points are for that), but the movie it serves just screams of an unchecked ego. It's under 90 minutes long but feels much longer--very boring and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Very much not for me.
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| Mar 12, 2022 |  |
Ab-ı Haya | 87 93rd |
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02.21 Çiftlik
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| Mar 11, 2022 |  |
Gnalkhere | 60 25th |
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a Marvel film for Arthouse cinema of the 60s
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| Jun 20, 2021 |  |
NathanBates | 60 34th |
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In some ways, this is a perfect reflection of that typically-French angst over the torment of an artist in expressing himself. At other times, it feels like a "greatest hits" compilation of parts of his earlier works, with some surreal gobbledygook attempting to cement it all together. The visual imagery is amazing (if at times repetitious); the underlying philosophy is much thinner.
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| Sep 04, 2019 |  |
paulofilmo | 68 38th |
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(I'm sorry- I don't understand. even though i fell asleep several times.)
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| Dec 23, 2016 |  |
auhasarderik | 10 97th |
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Some of this is borderline magical and unlike any other movie in its candor and reflection. 'Grand beautiful moments, poetic trances, the feeling of an artist bearing his soul, great playful depth.'
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| Feb 06, 2015 |  |
lisa- | 5 70th |
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jean cocteau presents his own artistic endeavour as an attempt - and ultimately a failure - at reconciling the two worlds, one of reality and truth, and the other of dreams, of mythology and of impenetrable obstacles. has some dull moments, especially during the tribunal scene when he talks too much about his theories, but this very reflexive and self-indulgent film is easily his most enjoyable i've seen to date.
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| Jan 27, 2014 |  |
graveyardtan | 75 44th |
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Bunuel he's not.
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| Oct 27, 2013 |  |
Bagger | 60 29th |
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Alright, Cocteau. I know I'm probably not well-founded in my criticism since I haven't seen the other movie you seem to mention every other scene here, but you still are pushing your goodwill with the audience when you author-avatar engages in probably the most navel-gazing metaphysical courtroom drama I have seen in moving pictures for what feels like a full half hour of screentime.
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| Mar 28, 2012 | Coheed | 90 90th |
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If this is any ego to this work like some of the reviews I have read have suggested, at least Cocteau is trying to make something to question and dissect his own artistic purposes and his life rather than to produce empty posturing. A free flowing narrative of images where Cocteau literally cross examines himself and his imagination, it is a beautiful and truly memorable work of dream logic. Even without seeing Orpheus yet, this stands out for its quality.
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| Feb 26, 2010 |  |
Stain | 0 8th |
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The _Cannonball Run_ of art films. Cocteau wanders around as star of his own movie all about what a poet he is, various friends of his occasionally show up (including Yul Brynner), and we're all supposed to ooh and ah about what a timeless masterpiece this is
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| Feb 04, 2010 | gleeb | 59 17th |
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Yeah, OK, you're a poet. Now shut up about it. Some interesting camera effects, though he overdoes them.
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| Nov 29, 2009 |  |
Piglet | 85 96th |
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Fantastic. Must see Orpheus soon!
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| Jul 09, 2009 |  |
MartinTeller | 58 15th |
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In some ways it's an inventive follow-up to Orpheé. But Cocteau, who also stars in this one, is egotistical, not as clever as he thinks he is (goddamn, how many lame "running the film backwards" tricks can you stuff into 80 minutes?) and takes himself too seriously. The film fares best when it takes a light-hearted surrealistic approach. When Cocteau starts going off about being an artist and a poet, you just want to smack him. The most tolerable film of the trilogy, but that's not saying much.
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| Dec 19, 2008 | theyshoot08 | 50 0th |
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996
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| Sep 10, 2008 |  |
Mentaculus | 78 68th |
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The camerawork is wonderful (some of the shots are incredible), but it's mostly really high concept kitsch; an important reflection on Cocteau's life and work, but often, its inherent outré tests even the greatest patience.
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| Mar 20, 2007 |  |
eveelun | 80 78th |
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A very interesting offering from Cocteau. He goes way over the top with the camera effects (mostly reverse motion shots and vanishing objects), though that doesn't really bother me and some of them were really well done. I really liked the tongue in cheek moments (especially the beginning) and wish there were more of these. So I'd say it's a bit uneven, but on the whole there were more than enough interesting and provocative elements, especially for Cocteau fans.
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| Average Percentile 65.24% from 215 Ratings |  |