The Terrible Parents

Les Parents Terribles (French)

By ART BUCHWALD

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A Cittadella Film release. Written and directed by Jean Cocteau. Producers, Francis Cosne, Alexandre Mnouchkine. Original music by Georges Auric. Cinematography by Michel Kelber.
 
Michel - Jean Marais
Madeleine - Josette Day
Georges - Marcel André
Yvonne/"Sophie" - Yvonne de Bray
Tante Léo - Gabrielle Dorziat
 

In Jean Cocteau’s last film the eagle had two heads. In this one the hero has two parents, and they’re both very nasty people. Cocteau has taken his play and put it on film with little change in plot or dialog. The advantage of putting “The Terrible Parents” on the screen is that you can study them much closer. The disadvantage is that the flicker is very talky and since the dialog is the most important thing, the pix may run into trouble with American audiences.

Briefly, the plot goes like this. Mother loves son (with more than motherly love). Son loves mother but also loves pretty girl. Father also loves pretty girl and makes girl give up son. Aunt loves father and fixes it up for boy and girl to get together. Mother can’t take losing son, so she takes poison.

Cocteau is more concerned with his characters than with the plot. He continually uses closeup shots of faces and body movements. There are very few sets, and there are many trick camera shots. Cocteau makes expert use of his camera and the technical part of the picture is tops.

Yvonne De Bray, as the mother, gives an outstanding performance. Jean Marais, as the muddled son, is a little confused in his acting, but turns in a credible performance.

Camera, Roger Corbeau, Henri Tiquet.