{"id":77874,"date":"2021-10-30T13:45:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T20:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77874"},"modified":"2021-11-06T09:37:45","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T16:37:45","slug":"parents-terribles-les-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77874","title":{"rendered":"Parents Terribles, Les (1948)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;No mother is a friend to her son.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-77875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster-690x1024.png 690w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster-182x270.png 182w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Poster.png 745w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn overly possessive mother (Yvonne de Bray) reacts with alarm when she learns that her grown son (Jean Marais) has spent the night with his new girlfriend (Josette Day) &#8212; but matters get even more complicated when it turns out de Bray&#8217;s husband (Marcel Andre) has been having a sugar-daddy affair with Day, and de Bray&#8217;s sister (Gabrielle Dorziat) decides to intervene on behalf of everyone.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Family Problems<\/li>\n<li>Father and Child<\/li>\n<li>French Films<\/li>\n<li>Jean Cocteau Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJean Cocteau&#8217;s fourth film as a director &#8212; after <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=50480\"><em>The Blood of a Poet<\/em> (1930)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44745\"><em>Beauty and the Beast<\/em> (1946)<\/a>, and the non-<em>GFTFF<\/em>-listed <em>The Eagle With Two Heads<\/em> (1948) &#8212; was this adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Les_Parents_terribles\">his own 1938 play<\/a>, featuring much of the same cast that performed in its 1946 Paris revival. While Cocteau chose not to &#8220;open up&#8221; his play (it takes place in just two indoor locations), he did strategically employ close-ups and other cinematic techniques to provide a more intimate look at his characters&#8217; interactions and emotions: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Son-Mother-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As always with Cocteau&#8217;s work, there are numerous disturbing themes and topics at play &#8212; from de Bray&#8217;s unhealthy distress at learning her son won&#8217;t be coming home to her (she has to be reminded, &#8220;Michel is no longer a child, he&#8217;s a man.&#8221;), to the revelation that Marais has fallen in love with his father&#8217;s mistress (who is herself unaware of this relationship until a key moment in the storyline). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the meddling of &#8220;Aunt Leo&#8221; (Dorziat) hints at yet more weird dynamics in this self-proclaimed &#8220;caravan&#8221; of a household, especially given she was once romantically interested in Andre herself.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Most impressive among the cast is Marais (Cocteau&#8217;s real-life lover and partner), whose performance as &#8220;The Beast&#8221; is likely his best-known portrayal on-screen. It&#8217;s interesting to see him teaming up once again with Day (&#8220;Beauty&#8221;) in a more realistic pairing: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Day-Marais-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, while Cocteau fans will certainly want to check this one out, it&#8217;s not must-see viewing for all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jean Marais as Michel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Marais-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Michael Kelber&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-77881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Parents-Terribles-Dorziat-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look. Listed as a film with Historical Relevance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0040682\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jonathanrosenbaum.net\/2003\/11\/les-parents-terribles-2\/\">Jonathan Rosenbaum&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/05\/24\/movies\/les-parents-terribles-review.html\">NY Times Review (of restoration)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/movies\/la-et-mn-les-parents-terribles-review-20180712-story.html\">L.A. Times Review (of restoration)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sensesofcinema.com\/2020\/cteq\/les-parents-terribles-jean-cocteau-1948\/\">Senses of Cinema Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;No mother is a friend to her son.&#8221; Synopsis: An overly possessive mother (Yvonne de Bray) reacts with alarm when she learns that her grown son (Jean Marais) has spent the night with his new girlfriend (Josette Day) &#8212; but matters get even more complicated when it turns out de Bray&#8217;s husband (Marcel Andre) has been having a sugar-daddy affair with Day, and de Bray&#8217;s sister (Gabrielle Dorziat) decides to intervene on behalf of everyone. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77874\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77874"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78052,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77874\/revisions\/78052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}