Cinema
Beauty and the Beast
La Belle et la Bête
Jean Cocteau · 1946
Synopsis
A merchant, lost in a forest, enters a mysterious castle and picks a rose from its garden for Belle, his youngest daughter. The Beast, master of the place, appears and condemns him to death for this theft. Belle takes her father's place and goes to the castle. The Beast receives her with consideration and, every evening, asks her to marry him; every evening, Belle refuses. One day, she obtains permission to go back and see her family.
Context
The tale comes from the version by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. Filming took place just after the Occupation, with scarce and uneven film stock. The exteriors were shot at the château de Raray. Henri Alekan did the photography, Christian Bérard the sets and costumes, Georges Auric the music, and René Clément took part in the shooting. Jean Marais plays the Beast, Josette Day Belle. The film was released on 29 October 1946.
Who it is for
An hour and a half, in black and white; the handmade special effects are part of the film's charm.
Prizes and reception
Prix Louis-Delluc 1946; ranked in 2010 twenty-sixth among the hundred best films of world cinema by Empire magazine.
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