Beauty and the Beast (La belle et la bête) (1946)

Posted : 11 months, 1 week ago at Jul 27 0:59

This is the greatest, most accurate, and astounding film version of a fairy tale ever. A simple French story is elevated by Cocteau’s poetic vision – the painted faces posing as statues which follow the characters are creepy, but beautiful, the diamond tears are a unique and moving image. Truly though, it is Jean Marais as The Beast that gives the film its power. The makeup is one thing, to this day it remains believable and fantastic, but it’s the humanity within his eyes and speech that projects forth and captures your attention. To be completely honest, his performance is one of my all-time favorites. I could study the nuisances, eccentricities and vulnerabilities in it for days and days on end and never tire of seeing his animalistic fits, or princely courtesy and tenderness for ...Read more