Search - Beauty and the Beast: Essential Art House on DVD

Artistic Beauty & Beast, Surreal Art Deco Ambience

carol irvin | United States | 09/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jean Cocteau was the lead artistic director in French cinema. This is a revered, beloved film of his. It is a classic retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale yet also is surreal with Dali-like sets and props and an Art Deco look and feel to it. Cocteau cast his own long time lover, Jean Marais, as the beast. Marais is a good looking man but, ironically, he is so great as the beast that it is a bit disappointing when he becomes his classically handsome self at the film's end.

The plot is that La Belle's (Beauty's) father steals a rose from La Bête (the Beast) and he must surrender his daughter to La Bête in order to remain alive. Belle moves into the La Bête's exquisite Art Deco like mansion with all its perfect accoutrements and gardens. She doesn't realize it but it is her love that can restore La Bête from his present form to his former Prince Charming handsomeness.

Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont wrote the original fairy tale and Jean Cocteau wrote the screenplay adaptation with all of its artistic, visual and surreal influences."

"Don't pat me like an animal." "But you are an animal!"

bernie | Arlington, Texas | 08/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Belle's father (Marcel André) has to go to town for business. He asks Belle (Josette Day) what she would like him to bring her. A Rose as there are no roses at home. On his way back from the city he must go through a mysterious forest in the evening. He stumbles upon an enchanted abode. There he is offered food and drink. On his exit the next morning he pilfers a prize rose to fulfill his daughters wish. Now he is confronted by the home owner La Bête (Jean Marais). For his indiscretion he is given the choice of giving up his life or that of his daughter. He returns home to tell the tale.

The story first written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont is adapted by Jean Cocteau to film, also directed by Jean Cocteau.

I could expound on the great visual effects and dialog choices. But it is much better described by the voice over track on the Criterion version. You will be enchanted by this version and will come to make this your favorite.

Beauty and the Beast: Diary of a Film
"

As Beautiful As I Remembered

Jenn's Mom | Western New York | 05/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD was purchased as a present to myself. It is as lovely as I remembered from watching it years ago. Subtitles are easy to read. I would certainly recommend it."

Foreign film treasure

Carol Wright | Salem, Or. | 03/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Love this movie! before modern special effects, there was this movie with very clever effects.
Interesting for any movie lover!"