Synopsis
Once upon a time, in a world of magic and wonder, the true love of a beautiful girl may finally dispel the torment of a feral but gentle-hearted beast. Beauty and the Beast (La belle et la bête) is a landmark feat of cinematic fantasy in which master filmmaker Jean Cocteau conjures spectacular visions of enchantment, desire, and death that have never been equaled. The Criterion Collection proudly presents the original film version of Mme. Leprince de Beaumont’s fairy-tale masterpiece, in a restored, spectacular special edition.
Cast
| Avenant/Beast/Prince Ardent | Jean Marais |
| Belle | Josette Day |
| Félicie | Mila Parély |
| Adélaïde | Nane Germon |
| Ludovic | Michel Auclair |
| Moneylender | Raoul Marco |
| The merchant (Belle’s father) | Marcel André |
Credits
| Director | Jean Cocteau |
| Written and directed by | Jean Cocteau |
| Cinematography | Henri Alekan |
| Based on the short story by | Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont |
| Music | Georges Auric |
| Editing | Claude Ibéria |
| "Illustrated" by | Christian Bèrard |
| Technical consultant | René Clément |
| Art director | René Moulaërt and Lucien Carré |
| Costume design | Marcel Escoffier |
| From the house of | Paquin |
| Makeup | Hagop Arakelian |
| Sound | Jacques Lébreton and Jacques Carrere |
| A production of | André Paulvé |
Disc Features
- Breathtaking high-definition digital transfer made from restored film elements
- Original opera written for the film by renowned composer Philip Glass, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1
- Screening at the Majestic, 1995 documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
- Interview with cinematographer Henri Alekan
- Two commentary tracks: one featuring film historian Arthur Knight, and the other featuring writer/cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling
- Rare behind-the-scenes and publicity stills
- Original 1945 trailer narrated by Cocteau
- Film restoration demonstration
- 1995 restoration trailer
- A reprint of Mme. Leprince de Beaumont’s original fable, translated from the French
- Notes by Francis Steegmuller, from his landmark book Cocteau: A Biography
- A note about the film by Jean Cocteau
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Optimal image quality: dual layer edition
From the Current
Beauty and the Beast
by Jun 3, 1991Beauty and the Beast, the first film of Cocteau’s own since The Blood of a Poet, is by general consent...
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Original Score or Philip Glass Opera?
5 posts by 5 people updated 2 months ago
