La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Genre: Drama / Fantasy
Duration: 96 minuten
Alternative title: Beauty and the Beast
Country:
France
Directed by: Jean Cocteau
Stars: Jean Marais, Josette Day and Mila Parély
IMDb score:
7,9 (30.165)
Releasedate: 29 October 1946
La Belle et la Bête plot
"Once upon a time…"
When a lost merchant arrives at a strange castle, he picks a rose. The owner of this castle, a half-human, half-monster with magical powers, does not allow this and threatens to kill him unless one of his daughters comes to replace him. His youngest daughter sacrifices herself, but she discovers that the castle owner is not as inhuman as his appearance suggests.
Actors and actresses
The Beast / The Prince / Avenant
Belle
Belle's Father
Félicie
Adélaïde
Ludovic
The Usurer
Voice of Magic (voice) (uncredited)
Reviews & comments
Bobbejaantje
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- 2365 messages
- 2119 votes
I was already familiar with the story from the Disney version that I saw some time ago. It wasn't bad, but it is certainly a step lower than this wonderful film.
Magic is the key word here. The magic is constantly hanging in the air, both pronounced and less pronounced. Unforgettable in my opinion are the entrance of Marc André in the castle, the portrayal of the beast by Jean Marais, the special effects and the attention to costumes and decor in general. For an hour and a half I was more or less enraptured by this visual feast, which was further underlined by a fitting score. I didn't expect it to be this good, and I'm already looking forward to watching it again. Am I bewitched now?
Translated from Dutch · View original
Noodless
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- 10100 messages
- 6209 votes
Still curious about this classic and now I have finally seen it. I thought Beauty and the Beast (2017) with Emma Watson was ordinary. The 1991 cartoon is still fun, but I am particularly charmed by La belle et la bête (2014) with Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux. The latter is also more in line with this story from 1946. It has a slightly different angle than the two Disney films mentioned. Here in this film, particular attention is paid to atmosphere, drama and costumes. The exciting music is not always successful. The location, sets, effects and the beast are really successful for that time. Jean Marais' portrayal of the beast with all that fake hair may seem less convincing now, but apparently it must have hurt. The chemistry between Belle and the beast is not that strong, despite the fact that both perform their roles well. The lock has a clumsy effect that does not really work satisfactorily. 6.5/10
Translated from Dutch · View original
filmfan0511
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- 1125 messages
- 1165 votes
La Belle et la Bête is a charmingly depicted fairy tale. Slightly rawer than the Disney version, of course, but still not terribly intense or dark. Slightly less moralistic perhaps, but it remains a fairy tale with a message and a happy ending, with the well-known story structure and the archetypal characters. The design was very attractive. The village where Belle comes from, the forest, the Beast's castle and its entire layout; the atmosphere really shines at times. Many elements from the later Disney version are recognizable, although the castle is certainly designed a bit creepier, if only because this is not animation. I also wondered, like some others above, whether this film would have been better in color, but in retrospect I don't think so. The black and white tones turn some images and shots into something very dreamy and surreal. I'm thinking of a scene where the Beast carries an unconscious Belle up the steps of his castle for the first time; I loved the contrast of black and white in that scene, and of course you can't achieve it in the same way in a color film. Now, of course, there is plenty to be said for the other side of the argument.
I sometimes found the acting to detract from the experience a bit, although the Beast is still portrayed quite well, especially in terms of body language. But I didn't think the rest of the cast was anything to write home about. The last five minutes also ruined the illusion of the film a bit for me. A very strange ending in my opinion, where the film actually completely loses me. Left a bit of a strange aftertaste. With a better ending this would have been a 3.5*, but I'm going to keep it at a 3* for now. Nice to have seen it once, that's for sure.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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