Orpheus (French: Orphée) is a 1950 French film directed by Jean Cocteau and starring Jean Marais. This film is the central part of Cocteau's Orphic Trilogy, which consists of The Blood of a Poet (1930), Orpheus (1950) and Testament of Orpheus (1960). The trilogy has been released as a DVD boxed set by The Criterion Collection.
Set in contemporary Paris, the movie is a variation of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus. At the Café des Poètes, a brawl is staged by acolytes of the Princess (Casares) and the young poet Cègeste (Edouard Dermithe), a rival of Orpheus, is killed. Cègeste's body is taken to the Princess's car by her associates, and Orpheus (Marais) is asked to accompany them as a witness. They drive to a chateau (the landscape through the car windows are presented in negative) accompanied by abstract poetry on the radio. This takes the form of seemingly meaningless messages, like those broadcast to the French Resistance from London during the Occupation.
Orpheus becomes obsessed with Death (the Princess). Heurtebise (Périer), her chauffeur, entertains analogous unrequited love for Orpheus's wife Eurydice (Marie Déa). They fall in love. Eurydice is killed by the Princess's henchmen and Orpheus goes after her into the Underworld. Although they have become dangerously entangled, the Princess sends Orpheus back out of the Underworld, to carry on his life with Eurydice, but he cannot look at her or she will die. They believe it to have been a dream, Eurydice is revealed to be alive, and expecting a child.
Plot
Symphony is a surrealist silent retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It is written, directed, shot and edited by teen filmmakers at Interlochen's Motion Picture Arts Camp. Symphony fuses the tropes of past cinema to create cinema of the future.
12 Episodes - Philosophers discuss the 'beginning of the world', the universe, and the inter-action of the Human Soul within.
You've seen my smile a thousand times,
And seen the wounds from which i've bled,
This empty shell gets left behind,
It's time to sever ancient times,
It speaks to me like words from a book,
A tale for which I died,
Don't look to me for sympathy,
You've shamed the words on which I thrive.
Take note of me, as your dreams turn to despair,
Find your solace in a place, devoid of all my thoughts,
To the reaper I am slain,
These razors tear within,
I'll life a life of sin, to rid myself of this
disgrace,
My demons come to fall.
Winning the battle, I leave behind,
Discard the chaos, i am inclined,
To seek a refuge, deep within my hate,
These thoughts inside, it's that i ache,
For a chance to execrate emotions I deny,
To seek vengeance, these thoughts I cry,
Alone at night I drown myself to sleep,
I find it hard to move, A fire burns inside.
Take note of me, as your dreams turn to despair,
Find your solace in a place, devoid of all my thoughts,
To the reaper I am slain,
These razors tear within,
I'll life a life of sin, to rid myself of this
disgrace,
The colours are the same, the identity is now lost,
We play the game, their true nature is to hide itself.
Blind me from the truth,
Discard the blame,
Hand it down to the ones without shame,
Draw in your breath, it's sharp like a sword,
Pain from the poison, your mouth it is poured.
And now to this you've succumb,
A tantalising retreat,
Now into blackness you go,
Enemy of defeat,
The coloured shades of hate,
Now form around you,
But how much more can we take?
The world is starting anew.
Blind me from the truth,
Discard the blame,
Hand it down to the ones without shame,
Draw in your breath, it's sharp like a sword,
Pain from the poison, your mouth it is poured.
The colours are the same, the identity is now lost,
We play the game, their true nature is to hide itself.
Now into blackness you go,
A tantalising retreat,
The world is starting anew,
Enemy of defeat.
Blind me from the truth,
Discard the blame,
Hand it down to the ones without shame,
Draw in your breath, it's sharp like a sword,
Pain from the poison, your mouth it is poured.
Draw in your breath, it's sharp like a sword,
Soul on fire I dared the gods
My shadow is your guide
Through the hollow and I came
You pause Follow me
Up the hill So hard So hard
To keep you from my eyes
Have to turn around
And see your face
Follow me
Come star of dawn
Come fall of night
Come follow me
I follow you through a broken dream
I’ve set my sail
So hard to wait
To see your face
I heard that your orpheus he done left town
Snuck out the back way while you slept face down
Bound for the underworld he rolled down his wool sleeves
And like a serpent coiled about the wet leaves
Tennessee waltzing a dance of disease
Can't you see
Pick up your shears delilah right there
Leave all your cares to fall like dead hair
Outside a carriage waits to take you home
Its tricky handbrake will not hold out for long
Do hop inside for your map it has been drawn
Can't you see
What leads you
What leads you
What leads you
What leads
Pickin' the mandrake I would use for tea
I heard the water spirits calling me
And faintly a peacock cried behind the tulles
Can't you see
That when you feel it tickle your brain
Filling your skull's bowl with a butane
Maybe the genie wants back in the lamp
He's run out of wishes and his clothes are all damp
Back to the bottle though he knows just how cramped
That can be
What leads you
What leads you
What leads you
What leads you
What is it now now
What is it
What is it
What is it now
What is it now now
What leads
Well what leads you
What leads you now now now
Down down down
Down down down down down
(S. Engel)
Well, I'm back to make your face
So it smiles once again
And harpoon you like a whale
With a bent and rusty nail
If your husband knew, he'd say
That you're living in sin
Well, if grinnin' is a sin
That's the reason I'm here
Back with you, Mrs Blear
Sleep on, dear
Deep and easy, our night man is here
I'll steal your dreams for my shiny gold chain
And you'll wake with your eyes full of rain
Finding I've disappeared
I don't think of yesterday
Merely drum out the sound
But forgetting you was hard
That's why I'm back in town
And you had a loveless week
And the world's let you down
But I'll make it up somehow
There are ways, Mrs Brown
That's why I'm back in town
Sleep on, dear
For the night wouldn't dare interfere
And the ghosts of my cigarette play
On the ceiling, and time drifts away
With the burden it bears
Remember me
I've already forgotten you
And make your beds for me
For the things we ought not to do
Drive us all
Star in your time respected
You couldn't bring the past to life
Slipped through your hands again
Don't look back
And you mourn again
Who from us can feel your pain?
Sing a sweet song
To pass the day
Entrancing even the most harden
Convinced the highest ranking to do your bidding
Let us into the underworld to retrieve your only love
And defy the serpent's curse of death
The magic you possess
The different ways they said you died
I say you died of loneliness
Sad and alone
Sunrise to sunset
You touch a chord with me
Orpheus
A minstrel supreme, but a lonely human being
They never let you have it all in this world
Even you, with the magic of your song
Our lives are bitter sweet
The serpent's seen to that
Orpheus
(Carly Simon)
Orpheus, it could have been
you could have held me again
You said your songs had all gone
And that the road back up was too long
But it ws there for us
It was there for us
I loved you all along
Orpheus
The part of me that died
Was ready to be reborn
And you called of the hounds
Of hell with your songs
Orpheus, Orpheus
I loved you all along, Orpheus
Orpheus, It could have been
You could have held me again
But you couldn’t wait
Somewhere along the road
you lost your faith
Out of despair and believing
I was gone
You gave up on my love
you gave up on us
But it was there for us,
It was there for us
I loved you all along
Thru magic power of aerial music,
Entrancing skies and birds and stones,
I hear the cruel tears of martyr
Mourning his love all gone to kingdom come.
I also hear the shrieks of thousand wild voices,
The coarse fingers rip apart your adolescent flesh,
The chaste blood drops with the sound of purest peal,
And ground and beasts and trees gasp at the sorrow they feel.
Oh beauteous Orpheus, repose,
Your heart's still beating in the nature's symphony,
Forevermore trying to arouse,
Your passion's still living in sublime harmony.
The powers of the underworld, begone,
All left subdued by perpetual godlike sound.
The storms fade away and venoms stay benign,
Alive or dead – obedient like a lamb.
Oh beauteous Orpheus, repose,
Your heart's still beating in the nature's symphony,
Forevermore trying to arouse,
Lead as you may, and for a time, their minds will not
stray.
A path of mistrust, of violence and hate, in the words
from above,
He will send you straight, to the pits of fire,
Their pitchforks held high, this hell is on earth,
And for blood, they will cry,
Out loud (out loud), for a new form of god,
Revolution, hear it come
Sticks and stones may break bones,
But these bloodstained walls, will not fade,
Into darkness, and out of sight,
We will make them aware of our plight
In the winds of change, you will see them unite,
Under covered moon, from a battle now past,
In the winds of change, and the fires that burn,
Under covered moon, a revolution unseen.
Time for change, has been foreseen, in this darkest
hour,
Pray for the light, the warm embrace, escape the fate
Hammer of the gods, powers that be,
Are held tight in their hands (held tight in their
hands).
For their soldiers, and their enemies,
We seek justice, it’s their turn to speak
Sticks and stones may break bones,
But these bloodstained walls, will not fade,
Into darkness, out of sight,
We will make them aware of our plight
In the winds of change, you will see them unite,
Under covered moon, from a battle now past,
In the winds of change, and the fires that burn,
Smoke rising, refineries churning,
Society built of steel,
Collapse is certain, and only time will tell,
Crops die, churches burn,
Rampant decay, all around, (all that’s left)
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
The human plan, it will always fail,
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
This human race, destined to die
Your prophecies of grandeur, your words of hope,
Fall on deaf ears, all lies to one, (lies to all)
Metal replaces flesh, (flesh), silicone absorbs the
mind,
All life is lost, machines have won
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
The human plan, it will always fail,
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
This human race, destined to die
Sulphur fills the air, arsenic lines the soul,
The world decays, (decays), and all is gone
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
The human plan, it will always fail,
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
This human race, destined to die
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
The human plan, it will always fail,
This human idea, a thing that can not last,
Take this scythe, it dwells within your mind,
Menticide, to rid the smile off your face,
Take the time, to ponder thoughts of your dismay,
disarray, obliterate,
The nowhere ending that’s in sight
The sparkle in my eye, makes it plain to see,
My face of vengeance,
And when you see my smile, then you will see,
My face of vengeance
Now, look inside, your fake denial, euphoric state,
Cast aside, the misconception comes too late,
A taste of sweet betrayal seeps,
Into your mouth your thoughts impeached,
Seek your solitude to scheme,
My bitter demise is yours to keep
Is yours to keep
The sparkle in my eye, makes it plain to see,
My face of vengeance,
And when you see my smile, then you will see,
My face of vengeance
The sparkle in my eye, makes it plain to see,
My face of vengeance,
And when you see my smile, then you will see,
Take this needle out of me,
I’m stuck a dozen times a day,
To get the feeling to subdue,
But it never goes away,
From this deceptive state,
The torture hidden in plain sight,
As this denial dies in me,
The poison ferments for you
Take out the deathly tip,
Within this hardened soul,
Await the crimson drip,
But the red drape never falls
You take the knife into your back, so seemingly,
And yet you walk away unscathed,
Surrounding you, empowering me,
And yet you walk away unscathed
Accursed, and vile
The putrid, denial,
Empowering, illusion,
Your grip starts, to loosen, now
With this motion set in place,
A man who seeks to win the race,
Forever gleaming endless glaze,
A heart of steel escapes the maze
Take out the deathly tip,
Within this hardened soul,
Await the crimson drip,
But the red drape never falls
You take the knife into your back, so seemingly,
And yet you walk away unscathed,
Surrounding you, empowering me,
And yet you walk away unscathed
With this motion set in place,
A man who seeks to win the race,
Forever gleaming endless glaze,
A heart of steel escapes the maze
With this motion set in place,
A man who seeks to win the race,
Forever gleaming endless glaze,
A heart of steel escapes the maze
Take the needle, out of me,
Flickering light, moving shadow,
In the realm of my mind, (my mind),
Chaotic as always, stable thoughts denied,
A clarity banished, and paranoia, frustration, anxiety
Body, soul, mind have all, separated,
Confusion, the last remnant
Curl into a ball, become unborn again,
Drown in the sorrow, now this is the end
Look around, nothing makes sense,
All that was, no longer is,
All that could be, was merely a dream
The maniacal laugh, that you don't fear,
The taunting words (defeat), that you can only feel
This grin of madness, (upon my face),
The scar of fear, your eternal sadness, is all you fear
This grin of madness, (upon my face),
The scar of fear, your eternal sadness, is all you fear
Curl into a ball, become unborn again,
Drown in the sorrow, now this is the end
Curl into a ball, become unborn again,
Yeah that summer I did nothing
Sleeping and thinking and hanging around
I Left the dark streets of September
As the air was cooling down
Woah yeah it was cooling down
I need the sunshine in the mornin'
Heading for the open road
Sunshine in the mornin'
Lord you gotta let it go
Ever since I lost her
It seems the more I learn the less I know
And everyday I think about her
But if I look back I'm gonna turn to stone to stone
Oh yeah I'm gonna turn to stone
I need the sunshine in the mornin'
Heading for the open road
Sunshine in the mornin'
Lord you gotta let it go
I need the sunshine in the mornin'
Yeah I gotta feel its glow
Sunshine in the mornin'
Lord you gotta let it go
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
I'm heading for the open road
Go yeah cool yeah
Hit me without warning
I was left out on my own
The bad times they were forming
I went through them alone
But a new day it is dawning
And I feel my pain is gone
The open road is calling
And I am moving on
I need the sunshine in the mornin'
Heading for the open road
Sunshine in the mornin'
Lord you gotta let it go
I need the sunshine in the mornin'
Yeah I gotta feel its glow
Sunshine in the mornin'
Citadels crumble now,
Around you they fall,
Beneath the shadow lurks civilization,
Forgotten and old,
But there in the distance,
The monolith stands,
Beneath it many have died,
And for it many did fall
Once in time, It gave hope,
It gave a reason to believe,
Across banners and shields
It was stretched for the battle ahead
A sign of belief unknown,
Neath the shadow of the monolith,
To your knees did you fall, your blood did flow,
What have we now, when all hope is gone,
What have we now, when all hope is lost,
To the drones that slave away,
They live to serve and die the same,
A lie that breeds their truth,
Will forever curse them all
Many that cried false, were early put to death,
Their cries of pain and torture undue,
As they take their last breath,
Citadels crumble now,
Around you they fall,
Beneath the shadow lurks civilization,
Forgotten and old,
To the drones that slave away,
The hypocrisy, of democracy,
Pollution fills the air,
They wage wars on sin,
But no nation wins,
Falsities hidden from sight,
Time unifies,
Can you here their lies?
Deafening roar hear their scream,
In petrol you will douse,
Take the to the slaughter house,
You've seen it all A thousand times.
Marching endlessly, destination now defined,
Existence, is your only question,
Marching mindlessly, ask no questions, tell no lies,
To the suffering, offer no repentance.
At home in the motherland, with iron pen in hand,
They sign for death a million times,
Barricade the doors, they seek their silent wars,
Revolution calls your name, can you see, infantry,
Rolling up at your door,
Make your stance, one last chance,
To save the world from this destruction.
Marching endlessly, destination now defined,
Existence, is your only question,
Marching mindlessly, ask no questions, tell no lies,
To the suffering, offer no repentance.
Curse them here they come again,
Sending more to the slaughter,
Thanks to mortal hands,
These walls do stand (do stand),
Held strong by fate,
No one gets out alive (they’re dead now),
Their only true chance now,
Is to surrender (their soul)
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
They beg for death
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
They beg for death
Curse them here they come again,
Can they not hear my laughter (my laughter),
With this struggle they cause,
Will only postpone their slaughter,
Thanks to mortal hands,
These walls do stand (do stand),
Held strong by fate,
No one gets out alive
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
They beg for death
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
They beg for death
Through pain and salvation,
They will get out alive,
They blame leaders that lead them,
Yet they’ve been lead so blind
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
They beg for death
Cut down by knives, trampled by hordes,
They will falter after the fall,
They beg for death, with their last breath,
Orpheus
Memories.
Flood my mind.
And I'm drowning.
They wash away.
Thoughts of anything.
But you.
I lie awake.
In the dark.
And I'm crying.
Watching stars.
Making wishes.
That I hope come true.
You bring me to my knees.
I'd do anything. Anything.
To bring you back to me.
I know it's all my fault.
But that doesn't make the pain any less.
In my eyes. The brightest of skies.
Still seem gray.
All they do. Is remind me how little you care.
I've never been so scared.
That when I wake up.
I'll never see you again.
That when I turn around. And look to you.
Losing strength,
Losing sleep,
Thoughts run wild and feelings die,
Seeking help to no avail,
Lost in thought, your mind's betrayal,
Can you feel them in the night?
When they cause their constant fright,
In your mind can you here,
Dreams that fail and disappear.
Don't try to run, don't try to hide, yourself,
No one can help you they are blind,
Search within yourself and you will find
The answer clear and now defined,
The answer clear and now defined.
You're losing sleep,
you're losing strength,
Seeking help to no avail,
Lost in thought, your mind's betrayal,
Can you feel them in the night?
When they cause their constant fright,
Seeking help to no avail,
Lost in thought, your mind's betrayal.
Don't try to run, don't try to hide, yourself,
No one can help you they are blind,
Search within yourself and you will find
Standing firm on this stony ground
The wind blows hard
Pulls these clothes around
I harbour all the same worries as most
The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost
I wrestle with an outlook on life
That shifts between darkness and shadowy light
I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear
But Orpheus sleeps on his back still dead to the world
Sunlight falls, my wings open wide
There's a beauty here I cannot deny
And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs
Are just so many people I knew never cared
Down below on the wreck of the ship
Are a stronghold of pleatures I couldn't regret
But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide
As Orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing
Sleepers sleep as we row the boat
Just you, the weather, and I gave up hope
But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps
Were fuel for the fire and straw for our backs
Still the voices have stories to tell
Of the power struggles in heaven and hell
But we feel secure against such mighty dreams
As Orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Please believe, when this joke is tired of laughing
The unbegotten son,
The question of ages,
Few centuries now mark his grave,
He who brings hope to all, who's origin stays in doubt,
Now swiftly brings their fall,
Believe, in one,
The council is undone,
The Creed Of Ulfilas
Scripture, Which stands the test of time,
Clouded in uncertainty,
They follow suit through time,
They defend the faith.
The united crumble, each man for his own,
One man cries allegiance,
Guarded by the throne,
The people of the land,
To execute the right,
Seek to destroy the holy ghost,
Believe, in one,
The council is undone.
The Creed Of Ulfilas
Scripture, Which stands the test of time,
Clouded in uncertainty,
They follow suit through time,
They defend the faith.
Now mark my words,
The end draws near,
This fatal bickering will spread the blood along the
walls,
Only when all are one,
Will this fight truly end,
The mortal suffering is but just one more step to,
Believe, in one,
She was the picture of beauty and grace
He bottled her magic and fixed her in place
His music was written all over her face
He mined her perfection and chipped it away,
Reducing his lover to poems and paint
As his gaze grew distorted his subject grew faint
Howling, Eurydice covers her face
As we carry her off to the vanishing place
Shuddering, Orpheus opens his eyes
A look nullifies her,
He blinks and it flies her
Away'
His tributes were clumsy and tainted by lust
Her features were blunted and cold to the touch
She covered his failures with lipstick and blush
He'd harvest the melodies caught in her throat
He'd belch out the rhythm and raise her a toast
Of all his abortions, he loved her the most
Howling, Eurydice covers her face
As we carry her off to the vanishing place
Shuddering, Orpheus opens his eyes
A look nullifies her,
He blinks and it flies her
Away'
Names have held me in the gray light of dawn.
Before morning had come, after night time had gone.
They held me with hands, that hadn't a claim.
A claim to my life, a right to my name.
Brown arms in Houston, that called after me.
Soft words in Georgia, that rose from the sea.
Names twist like vines, all windy and green.
That climb on the fence post, that reach after me.
There's Denver, Jackson, there's Tulsa and more.
There's none that said home. There's none with a door.
Brown arms in Houston, that called after me.
Soft words in Georgia, that rose from the sea.
The wind's calling me.
Like I've heard it before.
I'll leave you one morning.
I haven't much more.
Listen tonight
To the soft falling rain.
And think of my song.
Remember my name.
Brown arms in Houston, that called after me.
Soft words in Georgia, that rose from the sea.
Brown arms in Houston, that called after me.
Brown arms in Houston, that called after me.
(Musical ending)
Ba da da da da da da
I can't find the time to tell you
Ba da da da da da da
I can't find the time to tell you
So many things to say
I could fit 'em in a book
Fit 'em in a book of a thousand pages, yeah
So many people say
That I couldn't tell a lie
Couldn't tell a lie in a thousand ages
Baby you're wrong
Baby you're wrong
(Chorus)
I look at your pretty face
And I fall in love with you
Fall in love with you every time I see you, yeah
Nightgowns of regal lace
That are flowin' to the ground
Flowin' to the ground in a mist around you
Baby you're wrong
Baby you're wrong
Baby you're wrong
Baby you're wrong
(Chorus)
Ba da da da da da da
Ba da da da da da da
Ba da da da da da da
Ba da da da da da da