Les Parents Terrible (1948)

A diabetic woman (Yvonne De Bray) lives her life around her immature son (Jean Marais) and holds him to her with a tight grip. When he announces he's fallen in love, she becomes hysterical. The news is also a shock to his father (Marcel Andre) because the girl (Josette Day) is his ex-mistress. The parents are determined to break up the relationship. Based a play by and directed by Jean Cocteau. The film shows its theatrical roots as it's played out in three distinct acts and the entire film takes place on two sets. But this allows the ensemble of actors (Gabrielle Dorziat as an Aunt is the fifth character) to take center stage and we're rewarded with five superb performances. I would imagine 1948 audiences might have been shocked by the overt incestuous interplay between the mother and son (they're constantly kissing, he climbs into bed with her and offers to do her hair and make-up) but Marais' child like innocence manages to temper our squeamishness. The film is quite funny most of the time but there's always an underlying sense that this won't end well. It's also nice to see Marais and Day reunited in very different roles from their turn in Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Highly recommended.