La cravate (1957)

Director:

Alejandro Jodorowsky

Writers:

Alejandro Jodorowsky (writer)
Thomas Mann (novel)

Release Date:

1 May 1957 (France)

Genre:

Fantasy | Short

Plot:

A short mime adaptation of a Thomas Mann story about a Parisian urchin who makes her living selling human heads. |

Plot Keywords:

Mime | Identity | No Dialogue | Recapitation | Actor Director Writer

Cast

Denise Brossot
Rolande Polya
Alejandro Jodorowsky		(as Alexandre Jodorowsky)
Saul Gilbert
Raymond Devos
Jean-Marie Proslier		(as Jean Marie Proslier)
Margot Loyola
Michel Orphelin
Jean Claude Sergent
François Perrot		(as François Parrot)
Theo Lesoualch
Harriet Sohmers
Marcel Dortort
Marthe Mercure
D.R. Balmaceda
Pierre Tassier
Solange Morlaive
Maria Irene Fornes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Micheline Beauchemin	...	(uncredited)
Ruth Michelly	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Alejandro Jodorowsky		(as Alexandre Jodorowsky)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alejandro Jodorowsky		writer (as Alexandre Jodorowsky)
Thomas Mann		novel "The Transposed Heads"

Produced by
Saul Gilbert	....	producer

Original Music by
Edgar Bischoff

Film Editing by
Saul Gilbert

Costume Design by
Ruth Michelly

Other crew
Jean Cocteau	....	writer: introduction

Distributors

• ABKCO Music and Records (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Raro Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD) (boxed set)
• Tartan Video (2007) (UK) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Les têtes interverties (France) (informal title)
The Severed Heads (International: English title) (informal title)

Runtime:

20 min

Country:

France

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Trivia:

This film was thought to be lost for almost 50 years until a print was discovered in an attic in Germany.

Movie Connections:

Version of Org (1978)

Short, sweet, and interesting viewing for Jodorowksy fans

"La Cravete" is the legendary cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's first work, and it shows. Those expecting another mind-boggling trip along the lines of "El Topo" or "The Holy Mountain" will be disappointed (though that should be a given considering the short running time). This is more akin to Jean Cocteau's work, lighthearted yet bizarre. Unlike Jodorowsky's later work, there doesn't seem to be much symbolism on display, but fans of the filmmaker may find it amusing. It certainly looks impressive and there's a nice homemade quality to it. The one way it resembles Jodorowsky's later work (and what will make this enduring to fans), is that there is an emotional core to all the weirdness. Not a masterpiece, but short, sweet, and certainly interesting. (6/10)