Rating: 
Summary: Like seeing this masterpiece for the first time!!
Review: I've been enchanted with "La Belle et La Bete" for as long as I can remember, seeing it at repertory movie houses more times than I can remember, even buying an original poster from its French release. I thought I knew "Beauty and the Beast," but seeing this DVD version, published by the reliably meticulous crew of the Criterion Collection, was a revelation and a delight. Through long and painful processes (documented on the DVD), the scratchy, jumpy, fluttery-sounding film I loved has been transformed. The producers modestly say "restored;" I say nothing short of REBORN. No more scratches, hairy-looking objects, missing frames.... finally this masterpiece has, as Cocteau intended, the "soft gleam of hand-polished old silver." The superb restoration alone would distinguish this release, but we're also treated to two fascinating and informative commentary tracks, numerous short segments including a "making of" the original film, recollections of various people involved in its production, the art of makeup, a whole alternate operatic soundtrack, and more. When I could look away from the screen, I discovered a lavish booklet containing an excerpt from Cocteau's press book for the U.S. release of the film, a passage from a biography of Cocteau, and the entire original fairy tale (it was surprisingly short), handsomely laid out amidst a selection of still photos from the film, all suffused with that patina of old silver. Criterion rather immodestly calls the result "breathtaking," and proclaims it is "...proud to present the definitive edition" of a "masterpiece." They deserve to be proud; I cannot imagine a better treatment of this classic and beloved film.
Rating:
Summary: Cocteau's sensual version of the timeless fairy tale
Review: Jean Cocteau's elegant vision in "La Belle et la Bete" is an absolute treat. Marie Leprince de Beaumont's dark fairy tale is turned into a film of erotic obsession. With its inventive and stylized images, this sensual film is not really for the kids. But some day they will come to appreciate Cocteau's film as much as they love the Disney version. Josette Day is Beauty, while Jean Marais plays not only the Beast, but Avenant and the Prince as well. However, the costumes, make-up and sets are what you will remember long after you have seen this 1946 film for the first time. One of the most beautiful black and white films ever made, with lush cimenatography by Henri Alekan. Do not wait until your kids are old enough to watch this one before you see it for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: PAINTING WITH BLACK AND WHITE AND SILVER
Review: Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will leave an impression on those who are about to see it for the first time. Anyone who has seen it already will be able to recount multiple favorite images and delight in expounding upon them. Film in the hands of some people seems to become more malleable. Cocteau is one such weaver of images whose fantasy world is at the same time childlike and foreboding - innocent as a puppet theatre ,then dark as sin.
The film mixes fantasy and reality by presenting time spent in the ordinary world in straightforward, unambiguous scenes and juxtaposing these with theatre-like sequences that represent the parallel world of enchantment. Surreal set pieces, mists and blackness define the borders of the Beasts domain.
From the Beasts smoking hands after the kill to the living arm sconces and the couples flight in the end, simple effects seem to gain impact from the bare uncomplicated nature of them thrust out into view like magic tricks.
Composed like paintings the rich imagery conspires with stellar black and white photography
to produce a seeming mid range of silver smoke and shimmering highlights.
Anyone into or discovering film should acquaint themselves with this highly original sence of cinema that has lured admierers for almost six decades.
This adaptation of a fairytale will be best understood by adults but should be shared with children as well.
Small children will be uneasy in the presence of the Beast who looks a far cry from a cartoon character. Also, someone older will have to read the subtitles to them but in a darkened room that might make it even more effective as a fairy tale experience.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT STUFF
Review: THIS IS A GREAT DVD AND YOU CAN GET IT BRAND NEW CRITERION ON OTHER WEBSITES FOR LIKE $30.00, SHOP AROUND!!!!
I LOVE MY COPY.
Rating:
Summary: ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A GREAT FILM...
Review: In this, his first feature film, director Jean Cocteau set a standard for filmmaking that not even he could surpass. A masterpiece of inventive, surreal imagery, this film captivates the viewer as few other films have. Haunting, lyrical, and enchanting, this film retells the story of an age old fairy tale classic, "Beauty and the Beast" by Jeanne Marie LePrince De Beaumont. The film is sheer poetry in motion. This marvelous, exquisitely rendered adaptation centers around the core of the fairy tale. An impoverished merchant (Marcel Andre) comes across a most unusual chateau, deeply hidden in the forest, where he is provided with hospitality by an unseen host. Upon leaving, he happens to break off a rose from a rosebush in the garden of his reclusive host, in order to take it back to Beauty (Josette Day), the most beloved of his three daughters. This simple act calls forth his previously unseen host, The Beast (Jean Marais), who tells him that the theft of that which The Beast loves most will cost the merchant his life or the company of the one whom the merchant loves most, one of his daughters. Allowed to return home temporarily, the merchant tearfully recounts what happened to him, and Beauty surreptitiously goes in his place to the enchanted chateau upon a magical horse that seems to sparkle with fairy dust. It is there that she, too, meets The Beast. Alas, the path of true love does not run smoothly, and Beauty and The Beast, together, make that discovery. Be prepared for a visual feast of dreamy black and white cinematography, as well as one of the most unusual sets ever to grace the silver screen. Living statuary, human candelabras, and tears that turn to diamonds are just some of the exquisite, surreal immagery that take the viewer's breath away. Superlative performances by Josette Day and Jean Marais, as well as an excellent supporting cast, make this, indeed, a film to remember! Filmed in 1946, time has not dimished the ability of this masterpiece to enchant and captivate the viewer. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: The Magic Of French Cinema: Film Lover's Collection
Review: The 1947 French Cocteau classic, "La Belle Et La Bete" (Beauty and the Beast)was revolutionary in its day and on this new DVD, we get all the scoop on the making of this film and the masterpiece of French cinema. There is commentary by cultural historians and film critics, insight from the director, cinematographer and the cast and even more impressive, the opera by Phillip Glass, which he modeled after this same film. The film stars Josette Day as Belle and a costumed and frightening Jean Marais as the Beast. This film was released when World War II still weighed on people's shoulders. The French cinema was taking the film world by storm. It would be only one of many Cocteau films, though most assuredly his best work. The most impressive aspect of this film is its special effects and cinematography. Cocteau infused the film with surrealism and magic, enhanced by special effects which were new at the time, though tame and old-fashioned by today's standards. Before the digital, computer-generated image, there was "camera tricks". Cocteau was wise to make a film set to an enchanted fairy tale. He was able to make the bewitched castle seem alive. There is a prevailing eerie mood. Gargoyle, stone statuary, noctunal moods, voices, talking mirrors and doors, doors which open and close on their own and dimly lit candelabrum made the interior of the Beasts castle supremely Gothic and sensational. As far as the acting goes, the cast does a good job at deliviring a good performance eventhough they are portraying fantasy characters. Josette Day is a beautiful and noble heroine as Belle and the Beast, monstrous in looks but gentle of spirit and kind hearted in a more human way. The story is more true to the original concept of Beauty and the Beast. This is not to be mistaken with the Disney 1991 animated film. There is very little cuteness and charm in this one. It's presented as a serious work of cinema. A must have for cinema students.
Rating:
Summary: Like seeing this masterpiece for the first time!!
Review: I've been enchanted with "La Belle et La Bete" for as long as I can remember, seeing it at repertory movie houses more times than I can remember, even buying an original poster from its French release. I thought I knew "Beauty and the Beast," but seeing this DVD version, published by the reliably meticulous crew of the Criterion Collection, was a revelation and a delight. Through long and painful processes (documented on the DVD), the scratchy, jumpy, fluttery-sounding film I loved has been transformed. The producers modestly say "restored;" I say nothing short of REBORN. No more scratches, hairy-looking objects, missing frames.... finally this masterpiece has, as Cocteau intended, the "soft gleam of hand-polished old silver." The superb restoration alone would distinguish this release, but we're also treated to two fascinating and informative commentary tracks, numerous short segments including a "making of" the original film, recollections of various people involved in its production, the art of makeup, a whole alternate operatic soundtrack, and more. When I could look away from the screen, I discovered a lavish booklet containing an excerpt from Cocteau's press book for the U.S. release of the film, a passage from a biography of Cocteau, and the entire original fairy tale (it was surprisingly short), handsomely laid out amidst a selection of still photos from the film, all suffused with that patina of old silver. Criterion rather immodestly calls the result "breathtaking," and proclaims it is "...proud to present the definitive edition" of a "masterpiece." They deserve to be proud; I cannot imagine a better treatment of this classic and beloved film.
Rating:
Summary: Cocteau's sensual version of the timeless fairy tale
Review: Jean Cocteau's elegant vision in "La Belle et la Bete" is an absolute treat. Marie Leprince de Beaumont's dark fairy tale is turned into a film of erotic obsession. With its inventive and stylized images, this sensual film is not really for the kids. But some day they will come to appreciate Cocteau's film as much as they love the Disney version. Josette Day is Beauty, while Jean Marais plays not only the Beast, but Avenant and the Prince as well. However, the costumes, make-up and sets are what you will remember long after you have seen this 1946 film for the first time. One of the most beautiful black and white films ever made, with lush cimenatography by Henri Alekan. Do not wait until your kids are old enough to watch this one before you see it for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Criterion collection film trashed by Disney
Review: This was a great move for the Criterion Collection to rerelease a film and classic story that was ruined by the Disney version.
This film is much more true to the original story. Disney even stole ideas from this release to put in their version and never credited Cocteau for what they took from him. The special makeup effects for the beast are nothing short of incredible considering when this film was made. This film is also credited with reviving French cinema which had been ravaged by the German occupation. It was an early attempt to present a child's fairy tale for an adult audience. The Criterion edition also has the excellent Phillip Glass opera available for the secondary audio track.
Rating:
Summary: The Magic Of French Cinema: Film Lover's Collection
Review: The 1947 French Cocteau classic, "La Belle Et La Bete" (Beauty and the Beast)was revolutionary in its day and on this new DVD, we get all the scoop on the making of this film and the masterpiece of French cinema. There is commentary by cultural historians and film critics, insight from the director, cinematographer and the cast and even more impressive, the opera by Phillip Glass, which he modeled after this same film. The film stars Josette Day as Belle and a costumed and frightening Jean Marais as the Beast. This film was released when World War II still weighed on people's shoulders. The French cinema was taking the film world by storm. It would be only one of many Cocteau films, though most assuredly his best work. The most impressive aspect of this film is its special effects and cinematography. Cocteau infused the film with surrealism and magic, enhanced by special effects which were new at the time, though tame and old-fashioned by today's standards. Before the digital, computer-generated image, there was "camera tricks". Cocteau was wise to make a film set to an enchanted fairy tale. He was able to make the bewitched castle seem alive. There is a prevailing eerie mood. Gargoyle, stone statuary, noctunal moods, voices, talking mirrors and doors, doors which open and close on their own and dimly lit candelabrum made the interior of the Beasts castle supremely Gothic and sensational. As far as the acting goes, the cast does a good job at deliviring a good performance eventhough they are portraying fantasy characters. Josette Day is a beautiful and noble heroine as Belle and the Beast, monstrous in looks but gentle of spirit and kind hearted in a more human way. The story is more true to the original concept of Beauty and the Beast. This is not to be mistaken with the Disney 1991 animated film. There is very little cuteness and charm in this one. It's presented as a serious work of cinema. A must have for cinema students.
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