Jean Cocteau

Cocteau, Jean (1889–1963), French author, artist, and film director. He first rose to fame with poetry, ballets such as Parade (1917), and the novel Thomas Vlmposteur (Thomas the Imposter; 1923). After overcoming opium addiction, he produced some of his most brilliant work, such as the play Orphee (1926) and La Machine Infernale (The Infernal Machine; 1934). Prolific in many fields, he also made several films, including Le Sang d'un Poete (The Blood of a Poet; 1932), Beauty and the Beast (1945), Orpheus (1949), and Les Enfants Terribles (1950).