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Josette Day, Jean Marais, Mila Parely, Nane Germon, Michel Auclair ... see more see more... , Marcel André , Raoul Marco , Georges Auric , Jean Cocteau

Jean Cocteau's adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (originally released in France as La Belle et la Bte) stars Josette Day as Beauty and Jean Marais as the Beast. When a merchant (Marcel Andr (C)) is t... read more read more...old that he must die for picking a rose from the Beast's garden, his courageous daughter (Day) offers to go back to the Beast in her father's place. The Beast falls in love with her and proposes marriage on a nightly basis; she refuses, having pledged her troth to a handsome prince (also played by Marais). Eventually, however, she is drawn to the repellent but strangely fascinating Beast, who tests her fidelity by giving her a key, telling her that if she doesn't return it to him by a specific time, he will die of grief. The film features a musical score by Georges Auric. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

21,031 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

43 critics

Unrated, 2 hr.

Directed by: Jean Cocteau, René Clément

Release Date: January 1, 1946

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DVD Release Date: June 2, 1998

Stats: 846 reviews

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movie poster Will you be my wife? "belle" of the ball Belle Poster The Beast
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Flixster Reviews (846)

  • flixsterman
    April 6, 2012
    flixsterman
    La Belle et la Bête is poetry captured on film. The haunting effects of Bête's castle furnishings are alone worth the price of admission (or DVD rental). Visually, the entire picture is stunning. A beautiful work of art.
  • FilmFanatik
    November 14, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Jean Cocteau's masterpiece, La Belle et la bete, is one of the most perfect fantasy films ever made. Not only is it incredibly well-shot (with not just static camera shots but some frantic back and forth shots between characters), but it's also very well-made. The beast's make-up... read more, for instance, still holds up all these years later. Josette Day is absolutely gorgeous and wonderful as Beauty, and a great foil to the beast's persona. There are some great old school special effects and camera tricks to make the story work, as well as some classic filmmaking errors. For instance, in one scene, the boom mic is in shot for a lengthy period of time before it goes out of the frame. It's a mistake that apparently Cocteau wasn't worried about, and I find that incredibly validating to the film itself. It's so good that even mistakes can't affect its power. Absolutely wonderful from beginning to end.
  • fb1216165431
    September 9, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Beauty And The Beast revives the timeless and classic fable, but with the sophisticated vision of French artist Jean Cocteau. Impressive. Lovely.
  • FrizzDrop
    December 9, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    If you've seen the Disney version, you may want to read the original fairy tale before viewing, otherwise you'll be either lost or completely confused. This French adaptation is nowhere near the singing silverware we've all found entertaining and adorable, yet it possesses an eve... read moren better quality: truth. The entire film is one candlelit thriller, depicting the struggle within the main character to not love her brother's friend, the ugliness of the beast, and his true depravity, and of course the love which dare not speak its name. A classic by birthright.
  • ebs90
    November 14, 2010
    ebs90

    This version of Beauty and the Beast is the perfect visual rendition of a fairy tale: lush and overflowing with light and texture. The atmosphere is heavy, the vegetation is exuberant, the decor is intricate and abundant. With these devises Cocteau introduces us to a world of

    ... read morearchetypes and myths where the famous story comes to life. However, his mise en scene still feels very, very theatrical, which adds a more grounded element to the film and puts it somewhere between fantasy and straight up surrealism.

    With the help of perfect performances by Josette Day and Jean Marais, Cocteau revives the darkness inherent to every fairy tale that has survived to this day, and puts forth a screenplay as alluring and romantic as it is at times visceral and disturbing. Beauty and Beast are caught up between fear and insecurity, guilt and self-loathing, then empathy and surrender. I especially appreciated how clear this dynamic proved to be in the script and that it stays true to the myth of Eros and Psyche, from which the fairytale itself derives. It is a completely human drama radically removed from reality, which is in keeping with the purpose of fairy tales themselves. Beauty and Beast are as awe-inspiring on the surface as they are in their conflicts and personalities.


    Along with inventive special effects and editing, this type of clear-headed, sensible storytelling -yet, in my opinion, not quite sentimental (and a good thing, too)- in the midst of such otherworldly visuals and mood make a very unique film and one of the most thoughtful fairy tale adaptations I have seen.
  • webalina
    July 20, 2010
    webalina
    This French production of the classic fairy tale is sheer poetry. Director Jean Cocteau imbued each frame with a beauty and magic that was rarely seen in films of that period, and almost never in today's films.

    The story back in reality is interesting -- a down-on-his-luck me... read morerchant tries to survive his circumstances while raising a houseful of selfish children, except for daughter Belle. But it is the scenes in the castle of the enchanted Beast that make this film the masterpiece it is. The sequence when Belle first enters the castle moves like a dream -- people seem to float rather than walk, inanimate objects move of their own accord, doors open without assistance. And then there is The Beast -- a regal, noble creature with the unfortunate need to hunt and eat other creatures, and even more so, to be loved for what he is, despite his looks. The lovely Belle is at first repulsed by him, and then of course sees through his appearance and into his heart. The scenes between the two characters, played by Josette Day and Jean Marais, are almost ballet-like in the way they move and flow to and from each other.

    Cocteau is known in his films for his use of slow-motion and trick photography to achive fascinating effects, and this film is no exception. There are several examples, one being a transformation shot that was so smooth I backed up the film to see where the change actually happened.

    If I have any fault with this film, it is with Jean Marais. His manner and rhythm of speaking -- I noticed this in Orpheus as well -- rings false with me and reminds me of someone ACTING, as if he was in a Community Players' production and was only pretending to be French. Also -- and this has been noted many times -- once the Beast enchantment is removed and he becomes human again, he loses his appeal for me. He was too made-up, too pretty, too "civilized", You want to see Belle and the Beast together happily ever after, not Belle and some handsome prince. OF COURSE she's going to want him! I realize that the point of the tale is that he becomes human, but it seems to take away the lesson of the film and the story -- to love someone despite their flaws. One shouldn't then lose the flaws and then say "I'm really perfect. I just wanted to see how shallow you were first."

    This film is a journey through both a dream and a nightmare, and is a must-see.
  • SirPant
    June 14, 2010
    SirPant
    The ultimate 'Once upon a time..' masterfully crafted by poet, artist, and all round polymath, Jean Cocteau, whose visual style is perfectly at home in the medium of fairytale. You may feel like you've seen this film before, that is probably because it's been dissected, bastardis... read moreed, repackaged and force fed to you by Disney. Rant over, this is a wonderful film and an unmissable classic.
    PS. English Cocteau fans (and those who are visiting London) should go see his paintings that are permanently on display at the Church of Notre Dame de France, just behind Leicester square. It's quite special, even if you're not religious!
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    August 12, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Here's another lesson of how all the CGI in the world can't do shit against a creative use of traditional effects. Yes, the beast looks like a stuffed doll, but it never works against the dreamy atmosphere of the film. It's those rare type of films that you can say that you "drea... read morem it" instead of "i watched" and that's in the best sense possible.
  • rubystevens
    August 8, 2008
    rubystevens
    once upon a time...
  • harrycaul
    November 30, 2007
    harrycaul
    The most enchanted and enchanting of cinematic fairy tales. I think I slightly prefer Cocteau's later "Orpheus" to this but it's a very close contest. The word 'magical' is over-used in fantasy cinema criticism but there is no better word to describe this film.

View All Beauty and The Beast (La Belle et la bête) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jane Sumner
November 14, 2002
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News

A daring artist, working in a difficult time of shortages and old equipment, convened 'a little village of workmen' and packaged a dream for the ages. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
September 5, 2002
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

It's a magical passage to a more impassioned and bewitching era. Full Review

August 13, 2002
Village Voice

The film is all surface, and undermines its own don't-trust-a-pretty-face and anti-greed themes at every turn. Full Review

Wesley Morris
June 21, 2002
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Endures as an improbable dreamscape that marries the apex of cinema to a classic fable. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the most magical of all films. Full Review

Christopher Lloyd
September 6, 2010
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Director Jean Cocteau created a visually stunning world in which to populate his characters. Even seen today, the technical and artistic achievements of the film are quite impressive. Full Review

Tim Brayton
June 17, 2008
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

It's true that a bit of the film's impact has been diluted by its significant influence both within its genre and without; but the original is still a special thing, a beautiful hallucination. Full Review

Cole Smithey
June 14, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Lovely.

Sean Means
June 8, 2007
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune

Cocteau didn't just interpret a fairy tale with this black-and-white wonder, but re-created a fairy-tale world. Full Review

Jeff Vice
June 7, 2007
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Has lost none of its power to amaze and enthrall. And this magical adaptation of the much-filmed Jean-Marie Leprince de Beaumont tale clearly inspired much of the imagery for the Disney version. Full Review

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