7/30/2019 La belle et la bete film review

1/3

La Belle et la Bete

La Belle et la Bete has a fashion designer as their production designer and it

reflects in the film. The costumes that Belle wears when she is in the castle are

highly extravagant and decadent, in contrast to what she normally wears. Bete

seems to be moulding her astatically into the queen he wants her to be.

The set design pushes the story into a fantasy world, floating candelabra and

moving furniture that serves the inhabitants creates a unique world. The film

critic Malcolm explains that this film is unique he states that, It is certainly

different in atmosphere and style from anything that had gone

before(Malcolm,1999) this difference allows the movie to feel as though we are

watching a fairy tale.

La belle et La Bete doesntpretend to be real it is a true fantasy story, the hallway scene when she glides into her room is a prime example of the film throwing

away realism. Humphreville a film critic examines that this fairytale has amorphed into something more surreal ,The childs story remains but with some

surrealistic overtones, (Humphreville,s.d) Humphreville seems to be saying thatthe surrealism that stems from the house coming to life gives the story an edge .

Betes house is a reflection of himself, it is magical and calm.

Figure 2. Corridor.(1946)

Figure 2 shows Belle entering the candelabra hallway to take her fathers place

to be killed. The house seems to react to belle in a very calm way although it

7/30/2019 La belle et la bete film review

2/3

looks really menacing and could be easily terrifying. The arms in the walls

remind me of repulsion but it doesnt have an eerie feel to it.

The Poster art doesnt really give away a lot to the film, figure 1 shows btewatching over Belle and the Prince in the foreground.

Figure 1. la Belle et la Bte Poster art.(1946).

The prince isnt revealed until the very end of the film and in many ways its sadthat the character of beast is gone forever because his onscreen character

becomes lovable, as we watch him grow and restrain his animalistic nature to

appear civilised in Belles presence. Scheib said that Cocteau is not afraid toshow the animalistic side of the Beast and we are treated to a series of striking

tableaux where the romance is undercut (Scheib,s.d)Scheib appears to be saying

that its uncanny for us to see Bete acting like an animal, but this really puts the

point across that he is struggling with his animalistic instincts. Creating a well

rounded character who is a lot more complex ,than just a scary beast whostrying to lock away Belle.

7/30/2019 La belle et la bete film review

3/3

Bete is played by the same actor who plays Avenant and the prince. Bette and

Avenant are similar, in persona Bete is part animal and we watch as he tries to

suppress his animalistic instincts while Avenant although hes human he has a

strong male ego that makes him very animalistic in a way because he reacts to

his raw emotions without thinking of the consequences.

Bibliography

Humphreville,K.(s.d) La Belle et la Bte.At:

http://people.wcsu.edu/mccarneyh/fva/c/La_Belle_et_la_Bete_780.html

(Accessed13.12.12)

Malcolm,D.(1999).Jean Cocteau: La Belle et la Bte. At:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/1999/jul/01/1(Accessed13.12.12)

Scheib,R(s.d).Beauty and the Beast(La Belle et la Bete).At:http://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htm

(Accessed13.12.12)

Illustration list

Figure 1. la Belle et la Bte Poster art At:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_Bte_fil

m.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_Bte_film.jpg( Accessed13.12.12)

Figure 2. Corridor.(1946). From La Belle Et La Bete. Directed by : Jean Cocteau.

[Film still] France. At:

http://www.leninimports.com/jean_cocteau_la_belle_et_la_bete_gallery_8.jpg(

Accessed13.12.12)

http://people.wcsu.edu/mccarneyh/fva/c/La_Belle_et_la_Bete_780.htmlhttp://people.wcsu.edu/mccarneyh/fva/c/La_Belle_et_la_Bete_780.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/film/1999/jul/01/1http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/1999/jul/01/1http://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpghttp://www.leninimports.com/jean_cocteau_la_belle_et_la_bete_gallery_8.jpghttp://www.leninimports.com/jean_cocteau_la_belle_et_la_bete_gallery_8.jpghttp://www.leninimports.com/jean_cocteau_la_belle_et_la_bete_gallery_8.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg/220px-La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpghttp://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://0to5stars-moria.ca/fantasy/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-la-belle-et-la-bete.htmhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/film/1999/jul/01/1http://people.wcsu.edu/mccarneyh/fva/c/La_Belle_et_la_Bete_780.html