Surely the most beautiful realization of a fairy tale ever brought to the silver screen. Albeit for adults possibly more than children. Superbly photographed and lit, with the quality of the old masters, strange and Gothic sets, remarkable costumes, and a fine cast who seem to be imbued with the fantasy of it all. Cocteau was certainly the great poet of the Cinema, and this is perhaps his finest achievement. The magical and enchanting effects are often achieved in the camera rather than the laboratory, as Cocteau was a master of film illusion. Long before the time of digital technology, and how much more effective. Then there is the incredible makeup for the Beast, played admirably by Jean Marais. With the technical skills of such greats of the French Cinema as Henri Aleken (Photography) Assistant Director Rene Clement, Christian Berard, and George Auric (Music). This is truly an enchanting masterpiece, a textbook example of the finest black and white cinematography, and a timeless return to childhood.
Review of Beauty and the Beast
