Cocteau’s Orpheus Trilogy | WTF is This?Host: Eric TrommaterPanel: Erin Brown, Sila Blume, and Jennifer TrujilloIn this episode, we step through the mirror into the cinematic life of Jean Cocteau. We examine the foundational trilogy—The Blood of a Poet (1930), Orphée (1950), and The Testament of Orpheus (1960)—not as technical exercises, but as a shared space where the image carries a specific, undeniable weight.We’re moving past the usual "film school" vocabulary to discuss how Cocteau demands a unique kind of recognition from his audience. From the post-war static of the car radio to the literal thresholds of death, we explore how these films function when we stop treating them as "social commentary" and start treating them as a lived, theological reality. We also place Orpheus ('50) in its proper sequence on our "Road to Godard," between the elegance of Grand Illusion ('37) and the eventual collapse of Weekend ('67).Clips and Music Featured:Archival Resonance: German troops marching (1939) and the BBC’s 1945 broadcast of the crossing of the Rhine, grounding the Orphic myth in the shadow of history.Sonic Texture: The surrealist "horse-sense" of the Mr. Ed theme, the precision of Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata No. 1, the ethereal "Space Ambience" by Alexander Nakarada, and Philomena Cunk’s vital inquiry: "What the f*** is this?"Links:German Troops Marching: https://youtu.be/cQXS6yWuyWw1945 BBC Broadcast: https://youtu.be/67m3jOU94PwMr. Ed Theme: https://youtu.be/6GAbc5uQXJoSaint-Saëns Violin Sonata: https://youtu.be/qdmz1PjC1oMSpace Ambience: https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQCunk (What is this?): https://youtu.be/2ek8WvBI48wOrpheus Clip 1: https://youtu.be/c4CeP3tuHVUOrpheus Clip 2: https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0Orpheus Clip 3: https://youtu.be/m5NHeauBtTMConnect With Us:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@worldcinehistApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cinema-history/id1744483892Spotify: http://spotify.comX (Twitter): @etrommaterJoin the World Cinema History DVD Extras ClubSupport the show and get closer to the booth! Benefits include bonus episodes, attending live recordings, and having your name mispronounced on the podcast (our sincerest apologies in advance).Join here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory

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