La belle et la bête (1946)'s comments

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acelerada

I'm not sure whether Belle entrance to the castle or Avenant's hair flip is my favorite part in this film.

10 years 11 months ago

thijmensietsma

Stunning, Belle entrance to the castle is one of the most beautiful scenes in film I have ever seen. Cocteau takes you away into his magical world, what a vision!

12 years 4 months ago

MrE2Me

Absolutely gorgeous. Visual poetry.

13 years 2 months ago

ChrisReynolds

A true artistic masterpiece of cinema.

11 years 7 months ago

sammysin

Cocteau is an absolute genius.

12 years ago

seithscott

A beautiful film, Stunning effects and brilliant acting.

13 years ago

St. Gloede

Finally got to watch this. Great film!

14 years 7 months ago

deckard.

candlesticks instantly make everything super gothic!

1 year 11 months ago

Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête is, especially when compared to the ubiquitous Disney versions, a real creepshow. Following the original fairy tale more closely than those more recent versions of Beauty and the Beast, it at first seems like a Gothic redress of Cinderella (though I think the sisters here are much worse), but then Cocteau plunges us into a magical world of trick photography and near-pantomime acting (aside from Michel Auclair's naturalistic comedy performance as Belle's brother Ludovic) that feels more like one of the great fantasies of the silent era. It's gorgeous and always surprising. My research hasn't exactly confirmed anything, but the one big diversion from the original story seems to be the character of Avenant (surely an inspiration for Disney's Gaston), a rival for Belle's affections, and ultimately a threat to the Beast. But Cocteau's use of a dual role to connect the Beast and Avenant through actor Jean Marais creates an enigmatic transference unique to this version, one specifically designed to highlight what's always been true of this story when put to screen - after falling in love with the Beast along with Belle, we're disappointed with the Prince. Melodramatic acting falls by the wayside at the end and Josette Day's Belle keeps it subtle.

4 years 4 months ago