Jean MARAIS - Set of six letters to his friends. Cocteau and the theater.

Jean MARAIS (1913.1988)

Set of six autograph letters signed to his friends Simone and Maurice Combe.

Eight pages in-4° in total. Various headers.

Cabris, Vienna. March 8, 1975, August 3, September 26 and November 20, 1979, March 27, 1980.

“To classify Jean Cocteau's letters (not dated) I am obliged to reread them. This is very trying. Both painful and moving. »

Friendly correspondence from the French actor informing his friends of his theatrical and cinematographic activities. Marais discusses an upcoming film by Claude Lelouch in which he is due to star as well as the recent success of the play King Lear . He finally returns to his emotion while reading Jean Cocteau's letters.

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Letter I. March 8, 1975

“Dear Maurice, as the photo is black, I wrote the dedication separately. You choose what you prefer. Thank you and with all my heart I kiss you and Simone. Jean Marais. »

Letter II. August 3, 1979.

“My dear friends, what a beautiful place you are. I am happy that you are in a setting that suits you. I think of you tenderly. The Alcalde worked well but the role seems bland to me after the monstrous Lear. I'm playing in a few days in Cannes then in Sète. I take back. I'm sending you big kisses. Your Jean. »

Letter III. September 26, 1979.

“My adorable friends, I am very pretentious: I am sure that you think of me and with tenderness as I think of you. Of course I agree if Antenne 2 wants to make arrangements with us. Lelouch's movie was pushed back because he didn't finish his work. So I could have played now. Cinema will never change but… I owe it so much! To classify Jean Cocteau's letters (not dated) I am obliged to reread them. This is very trying. Both painful and moving. I reread mine too and I notice my total ignorance. I have made a little, very little progress thanks to him and you. I'm staying in Cabris while waiting to be called. When?… I make pottery. I kiss you both very much. Your Jean. »

Letter IV. November 20, 1979.

“My dear friends, what a joy to see you if you come to Nice . I will be there and I hope to go to your conference. Perhaps you will come here to dine or sleep or have lunch? Anyway, we'll see each other. I sold Cabris and I'm happy about it. However, I stay there until the final act, that is to say at the end of March. At the moment I'm lazy, I'm mostly tidying up. I think of you, of course, often and with tenderness. I spend a lot of time looking for another house, more modest, but where you will always be welcome. I send you a lot of affection. Your. Jean Marais. »

Letter V. March 27, 1980.

“My dear friends, I am a very bad friend and very lazy who leaves you without news. I have been in Vienna for more than two weeks where we are playing “Les Parents Terribles”. We are there for 3 weeks. Big success, full houses with people standing or sitting on the floor. Amazing ! This adventure amazes me. Today I'm doing a signing in a French bookseller. So I will be with you a little. I am returning to Cabris on April 1 ^to move. I'm going to be without a house for a while because the other one won't be ready. I hope you are healthy and happy. I kiss you very hard and tenderly. Jean (Marais). »

Letter VI. Undated.

“Dear Maurice, here is finally the little duck who brings you my affection. Your. Jeannot Marais. »