Synopsis:
A time-traveling 18th century poet (Jean Cocteau) emerges in the 20th century and interacts with key figures from his previous film Orpheus (1950) — including the poet Cegeste (Edouard Dermithe) and the Princess of Death (Maria Casales).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Artists
• Fantasy
• French Films
• Jean Cocteau Films
• Jean-Pierre Léaud Films
• Time Travel
• Yul Brynner Films

Review:
Jean Cocteau’s swan song was this installment in his “Orphic trilogy,” following The Blood of a Poet (1930) and Orpheus (1950). Unfortunately, it’s simply a rambling, self-absorbed affair, showcasing Cocteau’s obsession with being artistically “disobedient” and having a lasting cultural impact. In addition to bringing back characters from Orpheus (gee, they must be enduring characters if they suddenly appear again here!):

… Cocteau seems to want to show off how many cinematic friends and influences he has, featuring additional cameos by Jean-Pierre Léaud:

… Pablo Picasso:

… and Yul Brynner:

Sadly, there’s little point to any of it; one hopes Cocteau at least enjoyed the process.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Some clever cinematographic moves
  
  

Must See?
No; you can skip this one unless you’re a diehard Cocteau fan.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Moria Review
• NY Times Original Review