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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

Referenced in En direct de...: Wakhévitch (1957) See more »

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User Reviews

 
L'eternel retour
8 March 2010 | by chill1019 – See all my reviews

I see the Nazi references, but there are subtle subliminal messages being sent to the French people who were under the jackboot of Nazi oppression. It was not a proud time for them. Remember that during the Middle Ages, Vikings invaded France from the North. The men from the North who became the Normans finally assimilated nicely with the people living in northern France. Men who were expert sailors learned farming and the language of the "French". Re-telling the Tristan story always seemed to me to be a way to reach the soul of the French. It's a way to remind them of the time of the brave knight who comes to the rescue of his lady. The blondness of Patrice and Nathalie could be a reference to the Normans. They are both orphans of the sea and the death scene with both of them positioned perfectly on a boat(linked eternally)with the skies parting to bring them up to heaven is very reminiscent of the French epic poem "Chanson de Roland". It also reminds me of a dead Viking warrior being cast out to sea on his burning boat. A film to be enjoyed on many levels and a way to appease the Aryan loving Nazis while resonating with the proud history of the French.
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