La Belle et La Bête 1946 Film Review

Fig 1: La Belle et La Bête (1946)

Tale as old as time, La Belle et La Bête was first published in 1757 written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince in Beaumont, France, this 1946 movie adaptation of the book was directed by Jean Cocteau which tells a poetic story of how "Love can turn a man into a beast. But love can also make an ugly man handsome." (Prince, La Belle et La Bête, 1946). The plot follows a merchant and his three daughters and son, one daughter who is prettier and a better person than the others. When the merchant loses his fortune, Belle is forced to do all the housework (which she does willingly without complaint) whilst her sisters and brother live the good life however the merchant learns that a ship is returning with goods that will restore his wealth, he sets out on a journey to the docks, his daughters ask for him to bring back jewels, dresses and fur except for Belle who only asks for a rose. Leaving the port empty-handed and disappointed, on his way home he gets lost in a forest and stumbles upon the Beast's castle and is served by invisible servants. The next morning before setting off, he picks a rose, the Beast appears, with the worst, least dramatic entrance ever ... And tells the merchant the crime of stealing one of his roses is punishable by death, however he allows for one of his daughters to take his place. Back at the house the merchant says he will return but Belle feeling responsible and won't allow her father to die, rides the white horse to the Beast's castle without anyone knowing. The Beast welcomes and treats her like a Queen and mistress of the palace, every night they dine together and every night the Beast proposes and every night it is declined. As time passes she begins to look past his hideous appearance and see the good qualities within, when she leaves the castle to visit her family, the beast begins to die of sorrow, when she returns she looks upon the beast with love which turns him into a handsome Prince. 

A main theme of La Belle et La Bête is gothic surrealism, it is present throughout the story: the Beast is a surreal character - his transformation is evident of this in addition to the juxtaposition of man and animal, it creates the idea that there's more than what meets the eye. Also the castle's production design (by Christian Berard) the whole concept is gothic surrealism, it is isolated in a dark forest in the middle of no where, one of the first sights the audience sees when inside the castle are disembodied hands (see fig 2) - fitting to the traits of gothicism and dismebodied hands that act as servants - very surrealist. The locations are "set in a credible French country landscape that contains not just the realistic home of Beauty but also the weird, enchanted domicile of the Beast. It could almost be a documentary - which allows us to believe anything Cocteau asks of us." (Derek Malcolm, 1999).

Fig 2. Gothic Surrealism within the castle.

Another theme of this film is romanticism which is strongly connected to fairy tales, Cocteau is a poet and surrealist who "wanted to make a poem, wanted to appeal through images rather than words" (Roger Ebert, 1999). He achieved this, especially during the scene where Belle subconsciously explores the castle, (see fig 3), she doesn't walk but floats across the corridor in a dreamlike poetic way. "Henri Alekan's equally extraordinary cinematography, ... is the opposite of conventionally fantastic. 'I'm pushing Alekan in precisely the opposite direction from what fools think is poetic,' Cocteau wrote." (Derek Malcolm, 1999). Cocteau doesn't go out of his way camera wise to come across as poetic. Fairy tales are poetic, "Each fairy tale is a magic mirror which reflects some aspects of our inner world, ... For those who immerse themselves in what the fairy tale has to communicate, it becomes a deep, quiet pool which at first seems to reflect only our own image; but behind it we soon discover the inner turmoils of our soul—its depth, and ways to gain peace with ourselves and with the world, which is the reward of our struggles." - Bruno Bettelheim (Solomon, 2010, 11).

Fig 3. Belle unconsciously explores the Beast's castle.

Coctaeu made this film not long after World War II and even though there wasn't many special effects then compared to now, it does lack astonishing effects however he uses trick shots and more practical effects like the creature make up and costumes, "It's all the better for not relying on astonishing special effects but on the private thoughts of the watcher. Would some Hollywood films today do us that honour?" (Roger Ebert, 1999). This question can easily be answered in 2017 when the newest Beauty and The Beast comes out (see fig 4).

Fig 4. Beauty and The Beast 2017 Movie Poster

Bibliography:

Ebert, R. (1999). Beauty and the Beast. [Online] Available from: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-beauty-and-the-beast-1946 [Accessed on: 04/11/2016].

Gallon, S. (2015). And never look in to my eyes; Gothic Surrealism in La Belle et la Bête (1946). [Online] Stirling: University of Stirling. Available from: http://www.gothic.stir.ac.uk/blog/and-never-look-in-to-my-eyes-gothic-surrealism-in-la-belle-et-la-bete-1946/ [Accessed on: 04/11/2016].

Malcom, D. (1999). Jean Cocteau: La Belle et La Bête. [Online]. The Guardian. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/jul/01/1 [Accessed on: 04/11/2016].

Solomon, C. (2010) Tale As Old As Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast. First edition. New York: Disney Editions.

La Belle et la Bête (1946). [DVD] Jean Cocteau, France: Criterion.


Illustration List:

Figure 1. La Belle et La Bête Movie Poster. (1946). http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/BeautyAndTheBeast1946 [Accessed on: 04/11/2016]

Figure 2. Gothic Surrealism within the castle. https://www.pinterest.com/kasidahb/jean-cocteau/ [Accessed on: 04/11/2016]

Figure 3. Belle unconsciously exploring the Beast's castle. https://www.pinterest.com/kasidahb/jean-cocteau/ [Accessed on: 04/11/2016]

Figure 4. Beauty and The Beast 2017 Movie Poster. (2016). http://www.flair.be/nl/celebs/396578/primeur-zo-zullen-emma-watson-en-haar-beest-eruitzien-in-beauty-and-the-beast [Accessed on: 04/11/2016]