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Legendary Director, Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast is sheer magnificence in film making. Countless movie critics and reviewers list this brilliant and innovative film as one of their all time favorite movies. It ranks in my Top Ten list of favorites as well. Beauty and the Beast tells the timeless and haunting tale of a young servant maiden given to a magical beast in exchange for her father's life. Beauty and the Beast,(Belle et la bête, La) won the 1946 Prix Louis Delluc award in France. This film has a surreal quality, powerfully transporting the viewer into the depths of tender emotion and sublime enchantment. Unlike Disney's Beauty and the Beast, this movie is more of an adult version, where allegory and allusion abound. This DVD is in French, with English Subtitles. A pleasant feature on this DVD is an original opera written for this film by Composer Phillip Glass. If you've never seen this movie, you simply must! If you're a collector or avid movie fan, this DVD belongs in your collection. Cocteau's hauntingly mesmerizing Beauty and the Beast will stay with you forever.Read full review
This is the most superb movie I have ever seen. The absolute artistry and creativity found within every moment and nuance of the film renders the pathetic tricks and amateur sensationalism that passes for effect in today's films completely incompetent and without creative skill or talent. This film is made in French and there is pretty much no necessity for understanding that language to comprehend what is happening. Any use of dubbed dialogue or subtitling would destroy the intensity and perfection of this timeless masterpiece. The plot, dialogue, sheer creativity, and production perfection draws me through and inside of that barrier which exists between film and film-viewer. I think it is vital to be Involved in the film (and that is extremely easy to do)in order to enjoy to the fullest extent the myriad subtle (and not-so-subtle)techniques and effects. A favorite of mine is the wall sconces in the Beast's castle that are shaped as arms with the hands holding torches. It is always thrilling to see the arms and hands become real, in motion, when the characters are not watching BUT WE VIEWERS CAN SEE ALL THE WHILE! A great thing about watching Beauty and the Beast is that even with subsequent viewings, the magic is new again and I am enthralled again, seeing more, different things each time. The majestic retelling of an older story is constructed in the true spirit of classical drama - leading me (in multiple levels of perception from literal to symbolic) along the painfully human path from loneliness to love to tragedy. For me, I always have that classic response to the classical drama, I am cleansed, refreshed, and completely entertained.Read full review
I saw this film years ago and was haunted by its imagery and beauty. I am involved with theater at Brazosport Center for Science and the Fine Arts here on the Gulf Coast of Texas. We are producing Disney's staging of Beauty and the Beast this summer (2007). But I think it is important to know more about a show than one person's idea. So remembering this version, I got it and watched it again. Wonderful. What Cocteau did with what he had in 1946 after four years of Nazi occupation is astounding. The actors were in bad shape with many problems associated with starvation; each and every one gave a wonderful performance. Cocteau agonized over power problems, costumes, sets and not being able to find props. He improvised and made a marvelous film. Very true to the original French book written in the 18th century. The film is black and white, but with the wonderful imagery it matters not a bit - the French did not have color capability for another seven years at any rate. The digital restoration is very good, the music lovely, wonderful sets, costumes, and props. This film is good for any collector of period pieces or someone who likes a good story. Be sure and watch the documentary about the film.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Being a fan of The Criterion Collection, I finally picked up a copy of this movie. I thought it was a very good film. Great camera work, cool makeup, and a classic story, make this a 5 star in my book. If you are a fan of classic films or you love every Criterion release on dvd like I do. Check it out, will ya.
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