Search - Beauty and the Beast [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1946 DVD Release: 06/03/1998 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Dual Layered,Restored/Remastered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 47 Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tales & Legends See Also: Essential Art House: Beauty and the Beast [Criterion Collection]

Jean Cocteau's adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (originally released in France as La Belle et la Bête) stars Josette Day as Beauty and Jean Marais as the Beast. When a merchant (Marcel André) is told 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, All Movie Guide

Josette Day - Beauty
Jean Marais - The Beast/ Avenant
Mila Parély - Adelaide
Nane Germon - Felice
Michel Auclair - Ludovic
Marcel André - The Merchant

Jean Cocteau's wonderful fairy tale Beauty and the Beast is the sixth DVD in line from Criterion and a welcome addition to their collection. While there is little question that this presentation is the best this movie has ever looked on home video, it's also evident from the start that the full-frame (1.33:1) image is showing signs of age. Scratches and dirt show constantly, and are a continual annoyance, though not so much to ruin viewing the movie. The sound, which is the original 1.0 mono track, is thoroughly adequate for this kind of film, and reproduces the dialogue nicely, without significant distortion. As for extras, they really don't seem to justify Criterion's higher price tag. A commentary track from film historian Arthur Knight is the main supplement. He's very observant, but as is often the case with commentary from historians, quite dry. In addition, there is a 20-minute excerpt from the series "Cinematic Eye" on different aspects of the film, much of what is repeated from the commentary. Next is the text for the original story from Madame Leprince DeBeaumont, where changes can be read from the film version. Finally, there's a segment on the restoration of the film, which does go to show just how bad the film needed work, and even though the current image is lacking in a number of ways, it could have been far worse. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide