Based on the enduring fairytale by Mme. Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Jean Cocteau's 1946 classic is a surreal, boldly imaginative retelling of one of the greatest love stories of all time. When her merchant father is sentenced to die by the Beast (Jean Marais) for plucking a rose outside his seemingly deserted castle, Beauty (Josette Day) pleads to take his place, ultimately melting the heart of the Beast, who nightly repeats his forlorn request for her hand in marriage. Learning that her father is ill, Beauty begs leave to visit him, a request the Beast grants on the condition that she return (or the Beast will die of grief). Not surprisingly, complications arise. Cocteau's film broke new ground in several areas, most notably in the brilliant camerawork by Henri Alekan, and moody score by Georges Auric, both of which are shown off to handsome advantage in this Criterion Collection disc. Extras include two engaging commentary tracks by film historian Arthur Knight and cultural critic Sir Christopher Frayling; a wonderful 27-minute 1995 documentary revisiting the original filming locations and featuring cast and crew, including Marais, Alekan, and costar Mila Parély; a 10-minute archival interview segment with Alekan; an eye-opening four-minute look at the restoration for the film's 50th anniversary re-release; and--most interestingly--a complete opera by Oscar nominee Philip Glass (The Hours) presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and synched to the film. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—July 5, 2011—Criterion, 93 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1946's Beauty and the Beast sports a great transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras are nearly identical to the standard DVD release, including two audio commentary tracks (the first by film historian Arthur Knight; the second by writer and cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling), composer Philip Glass's opera La Belle et la Bête presented as an alternate soundtrack, the 1995 documentary “Screening at the Majestic,” which revisits the original filming locations and features cast and crew, including cinematographer Henri Alekan and costars Jean Marais and Mila Parély (27 min.), an archival interview with Alekan (9 min.), excerpts from a 1964 French television show—not listed on the box (9 min.), a film restoration demo (4 min.), a stills gallery, trailers, and a booklet (featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O'Brien, a 1947 piece on the film by Cocteau, excerpts from Francis Steegmuller's 1970 book Cocteau: A Biography, and an intro to Glass's opera by the composer). Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for a classic foreign film.]
Beauty and the Beast
Criterion, 93 min., in French w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 18, Issue 3
Beauty and the Beast
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