Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête (1946)

 Figure 1. La Belle et la Bête Poster

 La Belle et la Bête is a fantastical retelling of the popular fairytale ‘Beauty and the Beast’. As Crowther states in his review it’s “telling a familiar fairy-tale with pure imagery and enchantment through the sensuous devices of the screen” (Crowther, unknown). Aided well by it’s design it certainly seems magical and much like a fairytale.

Figure 2. Dining Hall Still

What’s magical about La Belle et la Bête is the way the special effects are done as Harley says “The simple and surreal effects bind the spell: by using the tangible magic of hands through walls, moving statues, steamy paws and the rest, Cocteau makes rapt believers of us all – adults and children alike.” (Harley, 2013). Though this is not realistic the effects instead look dreamlike and fit in well with the fairytale setting of the film. This films effects instead appeal to the children within us rather than the realistic thoughts of an adult. 

Figure 3. Castle Still

The film also has a very elegant set design especially within the beasts’ castle. In his article Caldwell mentions that “the gorgeous production design and magical special effects go a long way in making it palatable” (Caldwell, 2011). The production design in the film has been deeply considered, with small elements making the elegance and beauty shine through. For example as shown in Figure 3 the soft net curtains that drape as Belle explores the castle add to the overall look of glamour in the castle. There are also the objects in her room which add to the grandness of this fairytale remake.

La Belle et la Bête is an inspiration to production designers and an example of making your props and set feel as if it is part of the same world.

Illustration List

Cocteau , J (1946) Figure 1. La Belle et la Bête Poster https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38jb17aYFes_V7Ll8c_wK9uqT_MOC6RbhYUqAhiA1zZXD_MYmAlDs8cL8fmEXPOiabjjEV0JvRM_fUEWZ7pN7h7EmYg6d0-3HwltLQ7A_2WDm1dNXmUQuV7KClUNxuO5a0dIpi3tM1bQ/s1600/full.labelleetlabete+47x63+9347+.jpg (Accessed on 4/11/14)

Cocteau , J  (1946) Figure 2. Dining Hall Still http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/b/e/l/belle-et-la-bete-1946-28-g.jpg (Accessed on 4/11/14)

Cocteau , J  (1946) Figure 3. Castle Still http://thepandorian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/pdvd_022.jpg (Accessed on 4/11/14)

Bibliography

Caldwell, T (2011) http://blog.cinemaautopsy.com/2011/07/24/miff-2011-blog-a-thon-part-3/#beautyandthebeast (Accessed on 4/11/14)

Crowther, B (unknown) http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B03EFD71E3EEE3BBC4C51DFB467838C659EDE&partner=Rotten%2520Tomatoes (accessed 4/11/14) 

Harley, K (2013) http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/la-belle-et-la-bete (Accessed on 4/11/14)