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L'éternel retour (1943)

| Drama, Romance | 3 January 1948 (USA)
L'éternel retour Poster
This is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, set in 1940s France. The script was written by Jean Cocteau.

Director:

Jean Delannoy

Writers:

Jean Cocteau (dialogue), Jean Cocteau (scenario)

Stars:

Madeleine Sologne, Jean Marais, Jean Murat | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview:
Madeleine Sologne Madeleine Sologne ... Nathalie la blonde
Jean Marais ... Patrice
Jean Murat ... Marc
Junie Astor ... Nathalie la brune
Roland Toutain Roland Toutain ... Lionel
Jane Marken ... Anne (as Jeanne Marken)
Jean d'Yd Jean d'Yd ... Amédée Frossin
Piéral Piéral ... Achille Frossin
Alexandre Rignault Alexandre Rignault ... Morholt
Yvonne de Bray Yvonne de Bray ... Gertrude Frossin
See full cast »
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Storyline

This is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, set in 1940s France. The script was written by Jean Cocteau.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

wedding planning | older man younger woman relationship | leg wound | drunkenness | wine cellar | See All (90) »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 January 1948 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Eternal Return See more »

Filming Locations:

Château de Pesteils, Polminhac, Cantal, France See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films André Paulvé See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #7.5 (1994) See more »

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User Reviews

Patrice is Tristan
26 February 2007 | by dbdumonteil – See all my reviews

The first Cocteau/Delannoy collaboration.That would not be the only one ("la Princesse de Clèves,1961).

Like "les Visiteurs du Soir" ,"l'Eternel Retour" was the typical Occupation movie : a way to keep reality away .But whereas Carné's work was hailed as an attack against Hitler (Jules Berry's devil was supposed to represent the Fuhrer),Cocteau-Delannoy's fans was sometimes accused of germanophilia.But with hindsight,it's talking nonsense:even if Patrice was a fair-haired Tristan,Jean Marais joined the army and he fought against Nazi Germany.One thing for sure: Jean Marais made his sweater fashionable,and Madeleine Sologne did the same with her hairdo.

This is the "Tristan and Isolde" legend transposed to the contemporary era.Tristan becomes Patrice,Isolde becomes Nathalie (one of the two Nathalie because,like in the story,there are two of them),King Mark simply turns into "Oncle Marc".The dwarf,Frossin,is also featured and is played by Piéral who also appeared in "La Princesse de Clèves" and many historical films.This is really a good directing job by Jean Delannoy,too often slagged off by the Young Turks of the New Wavelet.The castle and the misty banks of the lake are haunting.And Jean Marais is ideally cast as Patrice/Tristan.

If you are interested in the FRench cinema,this is essential viewing.
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