Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast

Matthew Britt
12/19/10
Jean Cocteau
Beauty and the Beast
Fantasy
French
1946

Seeing this version of Beauty and the Beast was interesting because, one; i didn't know this version existed and two, I always loved the famous Disney version as a child. The film techniques and general quality of the film were certainly ahead of its time for 1946. One thing about the film that really makes it important in my eyes, like all the other film's we've viewed in class, is its ability to create mood and atmosphere through simple means; and the unlimited power of a single shot. The film relies heavily on romanticism and plays out like a romantic poem. This film really touches upon childhood emotions in the same manner fairy-tales and classic childhood tales would. Watching the movie certainly brought me back to my childhood. Seeing the progression of the story, and how Belle eventually falls for the beast, the movie really emphasizes a certain dream-like and magical feeling; with romantic theme's dealing with how true-love is skin deep and often unpredictable. The costume's and makeup used in the film definitely helps in creating the romantic mood; as well as the scenes that take place in the Beast's castle. It's extremely impressive how the director, Cocteau, was able to create a fantasy-world that's uniquely his own, and massively appealing.

In David Galeff's "A Sense of Magic: Reality and Illusion in Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast", Galeff discusses Cocteau's enthusiasm towards the power of a fairy tale, and his quest to touch upon the inner child of his audience. This article really gives insight to Cocteau and his passion's as an artist for mystery, the imaginary, and the sense of the impossible being possible. In Roger Ebert's review of the film, Ebert stresses the context of when the film was made, and the fact that there was limited means for creating special effects. This really points to the authentic magic of the film, and Cocteau's masterful talents as a director.

In Galeff's article, he speaks of how Cocteau requests "naivete" from his audience, in order to fully appreciate the magic and fairy-tale effect of the film. "In requesting naivetee from his audience, Cocteau is asking for a regressive belief in magic, a belief in the improbable so necessary to the fairy tale". This quote really confirms what I felt when I saw the film. Throughout the film there was a pervading sense of magic and this very unique feeling that made me harken back to my days of being a child and being immersed in the romanticism of a captivating imaginative tale. It's interesting that this article confirms that this response is what Cocteau was expecting from his viewers. In Ebert's review, Ebert notes a similar response to the film. "Its devices penetrate the usual conventions of narrative, and appeal at a deeper psychic level". This is ultimately what this masterful film achieves.
In a review written by Donald Faulkner, the reviewer states "this film proves that there's no such thing as technique, but only invention". I think this beautifully sums up the power of the film. This piece of cinema stands out on its own due to its uniqueness in it's dream-like quality and imagination. The filming techniques used in the film were effective and masterful; such as the creation of tension through dramatizing certain shots and the use of motion to add to the buildup of particular scenes. As mentioned before, the various sets and costume's employed in the film really establish a unique dreamworld of its own. This was an extremely well-made film.