All language subtitles for Nicole.Stephane.Interview.DVDRip

Writer, poet, artist, filmmaker -

Jean Cocteau left us
40 years ago.

In remembrance of this great artist,
we have a guest who knew him well.

This is the film from 1950.

Thank you for joining us,
Nicole St�phane.

We just saw the credits of
Les enfants terribles, begun in 1949

and finished in 1950,

a magnificent Melville film
adapted from Cocteau's novel

with Cocteau's aide.

Today, on the 40th anniversary
of his death,

his presence among us
is greater than ever,

at least for me,
and I think many others.

Jean Cocteau, to me,
was a poet

from the Age of Enlightenment

projected, as if by mirrors,

into the 20th century.

There's something surprising
about this unique and brilliant artist.

I'm pleased that Cocteau's name
has been redeemed, 40 years later,

thanks to the efforts
of Dominique Paini and his partners

at the Pompidou Center.

His name has at last been redeemed.
It's so important, for he suffered terribly.

We were awful to Jean Cocteau.

I'm speaking of the period
when I met him,

the 1950s.

He suffered terribly from it.
In fact, he had a heart attack.

Like so many people,
like all of us,

he needed to be loved,
and above all, understood.

Nicole St�phane,

we just saw
the opening credits.

Now we'll have a look
at your role in the film.

Don't scare me like this.

Speak to me.
What did that awful letter mean?

It's your fault.

My fault?

Yes, your fault.

Paul explained
what had happened,

pouring out the truth
in broken whispers.

Agathe listened
in stunned silence.

The poison's stench
spread through the room

as the plot's devious
mechanisms were unfurled.

Elisabeth lied!
I told her I loved you!

She lied!

You must live!

It's too late, Agathe.

Paul, don't drink it!

You'd think I meant
to poison him.

I wouldn't put it past you.

You're out of your mind!

Monster!

Filthy monster!

Maybe I'm a monster,

but I'm not a coward.
I didn't want to lose you.

I loathe Agathe.
I couldn't let her take you away.

She's going to shoot!

This is how it must be.

I have to make life unbearable,
make it sick of me.

I have to make the game despise me
so it will spew me forth,

so it will spit in my face!

I must become hideous!

She'll kill me!
She's gone insane!

Help!

No, I haven't gone insane.
You're wrong.

You're the one who's insane.

I must hold out to the end,
and the end's a long way off.

I must live it all,
and it won't be easy.

Paul, look at me.

Can you hear me?

I know you can.
You have to try.

Don't let go.
Count with me.

Count, add, multiply.
I'll lead the way.

Come on! Walk!

Don't let go! Keep moving!

I've gotten lost.
You're under my spell!

I'm hypnotizing you!

Nicole St�phane,
how does it feel to see that again?

After 54 years -

you can hear it in my voice -

it's very moving.

It brings back memories
of Edouard Dermithe,

who passed away recently.

Cocteau's voice
in the film is sublime.

It draws us in.

It's like the exhibition
at the Pompidou Center.

We enter into Cocteau's world,
into his genius,

and all throughout the film,
with his voice,

he leads us
to his characters.

He wrote it in 1929,
and it became a film in 1950.

I wanted to say that Jean Cocteau
wrote two major novels:

Les enfants terribles in 1929,

and Thomas the lmpostor.

He wanted to adapt Les enfants terribles
and have Melville direct it.

He said, "I can't make this novel
into a film myself," and he didn't want to.

Later he said - it's in Editions
du Rocher's Du cin�matographe -

in reference to you
and Edouard Dermithe,

"From the start they were
brother and sister.

The beauty of their souls and bodies
enlightened and uplifted them,

ignorant though they were
of the trade.

It takes an accomplished actor
to achieve the marvels they did

without even realizing it. "

That's quite an homage!

It was marvelous.
Cocteau would come by at night.

The shoot lasted
three weeks in an old -

It was on rue d'Enghien,

in the offices of a newspaper
that had collaborated during WWll.

We shot there
in that sumptuous setting

for three weeks, and Cocteau
would come by every night.

We'd dine with him
at midnight or 1:00 a.m.

He'd sneak in like a cat

and observe from the shadows.
He was happy.

One day he directed us,
because Melville was sick.

He directed for one day,
and that's when I saw -

He had a way with actors.

He'd say,
"I think I'd make that bit there

a little stronger, "

and with such kindness.

Working with him was incredible.

I also remember

a lunch outside
with the actors and crew.

Halfway through the meal,

an amazing person arrived
whom I didn't know,

someone from another world -
Jean Genet.

I remember it clearly.
Cocteau's striking laughter

was really something special.

Imagine Cocteau and Genet
laughing madly

as they spoke
of 19th-century French theater!

It was the most
magical day of my life.

It was a great moment
in my life.

I was very, very happy.

A few days before his death,

Edouard Dermithe,
Cocteau's adopted son,

said to me,
"We were so happy back then!"

And we were.

What images of Cocteau
remain with you today?

I had several marvelous
moments with him.

Now everyone knows,
so I can say it.

It's official now, but I couldn't talk
about it for at least 30 years,

but I slapped Melville
on Cocteau's account.

That night I got a phone call.

"My dear, are you free
for dinner tonight?"

I said yes, but I felt
uncomfortable taking sides.

I'd done it impulsively,
passionately.

Jean-Pierre was pretty violent,
but of course we made up afterwards.

I received a phone call
from Cocteau

inviting me to dinner
at Le Grand V�four.

Cocteau had his own table,

just as Victor Hugo
and Colette did,

in this fabulous restaurant.

I had dinner there
alone with Cocteau.

I listened to him for an hour,

not just in awe
but fascinated too.

I thought, "I can't believe it!
I'm having dinner alone

with Jean Cocteau
and listening to him."

Not only was he fascinating,

he was also
incredibly seductive.

He moved like a dancer.

His laugh,
his way of looking at you,

his humor,

his scorn -
all the things

in those books.

Thank you
for those lovely memories.

Here are some
of the books you pointed to:

Cocteau et le cin�ma, a superb book
published by Cahiers du Cin�ma.

The catalog to the Cocteau
exhibition you mentioned.

Kudos to Editions du Rocher,
who reprinted several works:

The Testament of Orpheus,
Du cin�matographe, and

Entretien
sur le cin�matographe.

La Pl�iade's 500th volume
is dedicated to Cocteau's plays.

Cocteau sur le fil,
Vilmorin Cocteau,

and of course, Les enfants terribles,
his magnificent novel.

Thank you, Nicole St�phane.

We'll close with the final moments
from this legendary film.

Help!