Beauty and the Beast (1946)

• Year: 1946
• Released: 23 Dec 1947
• Country: France
• Adwords: 1 win & 3 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038348/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/beauty-and-the-beast-re-release
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: French
• MPA Rating: Not Rated
• Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
• Runtime: 93 min
• Writer: Jean Cocteau, Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
• Director: Jean Cocteau, René Clément
• Cast: Jean Marais, Josette Day, Mila Parély
• Keywords: monster, daughter, underdog, beauty, rose,

	7.9/10
	92/100

Beauty and the Beast Storyline

Adélaïde, Belle, Félicie and Ludovic are young adult siblings who once lived in grandeur until their father’s merchant ships were lost at sea. The family is now near ruin, but Adélaïde and Félicie nonetheless still squander away the family money on themselves and keeping beautiful, whereas Belle slaves around the house, doting on her father. Ludovic detests his two spoiled sisters, but is protective of Belle, especially with his friend Avenant, a handsome scoundrel who wants to marry Belle. Crossing the forest one dark and stormy evening, the father gets lost and takes refuge in a fantastical castle. Upon leaving, he steals a blossom off a rose bush, which Belle requested. The castle’s resident, an angry beast, sentences him to one of two options for the theft of the rose: his own death, or that of one of his daughters. As she feels she is the cause of her father’s predicament (despite her sisters asking for far more lavish gifts), Belle sacrifices herself to the beast. Upon arriving at the castle, Belle finds that the beast, whose grotesqueness she cannot deny, does not want to kill her, but wants to marry her and lavish her with riches. He does not force her, but he will ask her every night to marry him, these times the only ones when he will appear to her. She vows never to say yes. As Belle resigns herself to her mortal fate and looks deeper into the beast – whose grotesque exterior masks a kind but tortured soul – will her thoughts change? Meanwhile, Belle’s family, who learn of her situation, have their own thoughts of what to do, some working toward what they believe is Belle’s best welfare, and others working toward their own benefit.

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Beauty and the Beast Movie Reviews

Once upon our time…

This film immediately captured my attention with the written comments at the beginning of the film. Director Jean Cocteau begins this story by explaining why he wanted to make this film. He talks about the passion behind the picture and all the social unrest at the time. He ends this written dialogue with a comment that will forever remain in my mind. He says, “…and now, we begin our story with a phrase that is like a time machine for children: Once Upon a Time…” This just sent chills down my spine. Why? Because, although he is addressing children, I feel that it is really a phrase meant for all of us. It is used to bring the child out in all of us, to show us that we do not need to be 4 or 5 to fully understand the themes of this film … we are meant to just sit back and let the film take us to another mythological time.

The amazing set design also impressed me about this film. Again, without the modern conveniences of today’s cinema, Cocteau had to improvise. This was hard for him to do. Not only were there huge budgetary issues (since it was the end of WWII and France was about to be demolished), but also he was racing against an impending war. Fear was deep in the hearts of the French after WWII, and what a better way to rally your people then with a story about love found in the darkest of places.

This film also made me very sad. I am sometimes disgusted with the way that Disney … for lack of a better word … Disney-fies their fairy tales. I think after watching this masterpiece I will have trouble ever being able to go back to the computer generated “Song as Old as Time” version that Disney plastered their trademark to. Never have I been so impressed with black and white cinematography as I have been with this film. The actress that plays Belle, Josette Day, steals the camera every time it is on her. She looks so radiant with the black and white that to see a colorized version of this film would completely do it injustice. The power and emotion that comes between Belle and the Beast feels so true. Cocteau has somehow grabbed the true feeling of two people that are complete opposites that seem to find true love in the coldest of places. I would be one of those reviewers that believes that if this film were released today, it would still pull the audiences in as it did the first time. Only proving that it was made well before it’s time, it shows so many of the characteristics of the modern day movie. Even the special effects seem perfect for this film. Even with budget being sub-par, we are able to get a true feeling that this Beast is one of the magical kind.

Oh, this film was superb. I would have to say that it is the best adaptation of a fairy tale that I have seen today. Definitely my best 40s film (made in 1946), and possibly the best telling of Beauty and the Beast EVER!!

Grade: ***** out of *****

Cocteau’s greatest masterpiece

This is one of the finest Surrealistic films ever made, yet is very watchable and “approachable” for the average person. Cocteau combines his penchant for odd camera work, odd imagery and a lot for Classical mythology to create a treat for the eyes. In particular, I was surprised that the anthropomorphism seen in Disney’s version of Beauty and the Beast appeared here first–such as living fireplaces and lamp sconces which are living human arms coming out of the walls! It is just so COOL to see this throughout the movie! So, is this movie so “artsy-fartsy” that the average viewer would be bored to tears? No way–I could see children and adults alike being captivated by this spectacle.

Another very important feature of this film is the amazing cinematography. It is one of the most beautiful black and white movies ever made–with wonderful use of lenses and camera angles to make the story seem just like the fairy tale it is. It’s truly breath-taking in every respect. Describing this movie much further is very difficult, as the movie is so visually and so odd and quirky–but all in good ways that are sure to please.

Stunning, simply stunning!

Having grown up with and have loved Disney’s Beauty and the Beast all my life, I really wanted to see La Belle et la Bete, and boy I was not disappointed at all! The film is absolutely stunning in every regard, almost like visual poetry based on the timeless fairy tale.

The story is very simple, but it is also very touching, with an ending that almost broke my heart. The music is amazing, lyrical, poetic and sensitive, likewise with Jean Cocteau’s beautifully written script. What made the film though were the breathtaking visuals, the cinematography is superb, the sets are beautiful, the costumes are exquisite and there are stunning interiors that look like the paintings of Dore and Vermeer.

Not to mention the acting, the two leads especially are absolutely impeccable, with a chemistry that is completely believable and makes the film extra touching. Josette Day is a sheer delight as Beauty, beautiful, beguiling and sympathetic, and while Jean Marais is wonderfully conceited as the jerk Avenant, with the help of the superb make-up he is an absolute revelation as the Beast, frightening perhaps at first but kind-hearted and poignant later. Marcel Andre gives nice support as the Merchant, as do Mila Parely, Nane Germon and Michael Auclair.

Overall, stunning and wondrous, for lovers of timeless fairy tales, touching love stories and visually stunning movies, watch La Belle et la Bete. 10/10 Bethany Cox