BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
| 1946 (Digitally Restored in 2013) – 96′ – Drama, Romance, Adventure, Fantasy, Classic, Film & Literature, Family 14+.
Written by: Jean Cocteau, Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
Based on the Book by: Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve.
Directed by: Jean Cocteau.
Starring: Josette Day, Jean Marais, Marcel André, Mila Parély, Nane Germon, Michel Auclair, Raoul Marco, Jean Cocteau.
Official Selection Cannes International Film Festival 1946.Official Selection COLCOA 2014.
In French with English subtitles or in English.
A The Criterion Collection release. |
For modern audiences, the shimmering black and white of Jean Cocteau’s masterwork might obscure its visual opulence, much the same way as the animal features of the Beast obscure his inner humanity. Look beyond that, because this stylish, adult rendition of the famous 18th century fairytale is one of the highlights of French postwar cinema. Unlike the break to neorealism that marked the postwar films of Italy, France tended to continue in the styles established in the Vichy years. But like all Cocteau films, this is foremost a personal exploration, a poetic total immersion into allegory and symbolism. Nevertheless, the surreal yet realistic sets, Jean Marais’s convincing prosthetic make-up – which took five hours to apply – the Vermeer-like framing by legendary cinematographer Henri Alekan, all of these were remarkable achievements given the limited means at Cocteau’s disposal. Don’t miss this fully restored big-screen presentation of the film Empire magazine ranks 26th among the 100 Best Films of World Cinema.