La Belle et la Bete, 1946

Jean Cocteau's 'La Belle et la Bete' (1946) is a French fantasy film based on Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's classic fairy tale 'La Belle et la Bete' (1756). Cocteau approached fashion illustrator Christian Berard for costume and set designs for the film and the work Berard produced had a profound impact on the look and mood of the film. Shooting began in August 1945 and the film was first shown in its final version almost a year later in June 1946. (Cocteau, 1972:6)

Fig. 1 Poster

The film follows the story of Belle and her family and their encounters with the Beast. Belle's father loses his fortune and his luck turns worse when he is caught stealing a rose from the Beast to give to Belle. The Beast gives the man the option to have one of his daughter's replace him in his punishment and Belle becomes a prisoner in the Beast's strange castle. Over time Belle falls for the Beast as the Beast falls for Belle. The plot includes Belle's father falling ill and her sisters betraying her, before finally the spell upon the Beast is broken and he transforms back into the human Prince he once was.

Fig. 2 A drawing by Berard

Berard's work on the film really helps to sell the magic of the story; his chalk illustrations on black paper can be seen to have heavily influenced the look of the film. Looking at Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, similarities can be seen in the way darkness is used as the base of the set and focus being drawn to important parts of the image with light. Also, the flowing materials of Belle's dress are kept from Berard's concept and the dark and mystical feel of the drawings are emulated in the film. Berard worked closely with Cocteau and his hands on work as the film was shot also produced stunning visuals. The costumes were described as 'exquisite affairs, glittering and imaginative' (Crowther, 1947). Indeed, they were stunning, and worked well to accentuate the fairy tale vibe of the film.

Fig. 3 Belle in the Beast's Castle

Fig. 4 Berard's drawing

There are definitely elements of surrealism in the film; Roger Ebert wrote in 1999 that 'The Beast's dwelling is one of the strangest ever put on film--Xanadu crossed with Dali.' (Ebert, 1999). The castle has many strange features, in particular, the candelabra held by moving arms protruding from the walls (as seen in Fig. 5) and the gates and doors that open and close without being touched. The careful camera work, and the more realistic sets that are used for the rest of the places in the film, such as the family home, work to further emphasise the dreamlike quality of the Beast's lair.

Fig. 5 Belle in the corridor of candelabras 

Cocteau recruited 'gifted cameraman Henri Alekan to handle the tricky changes between outdoor realism and indoor fantasy' (Ebert, 1999). The film was produced in the aftermath of World War II and money was in short supply in many industries in France. The special effects in the film are very limited and practical, but the fantastical nature of the film and the work put in by Cocteau, Alekan, and the rest of the film's team with camera tricks and lighting effects makes the film appear incredibly magical. The final scene (as seen in Fig. 6) was achieved with these simple camera tricks and limited special effects, and is strange but does produce a sense of wonder.

Fig. 6 Belle and the Prince Floating Away

Bibliography:

Ebert, R. (1999). Great Movie Beauty and the Beast. At:

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-beauty-and-the-beast-1946 (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Crowther, B. (1947). The Screen In Review. At: 

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B03EFD71E3EEE3BBC4C51DFB467838C659EDE (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Cocteau, J. (1972). Beauty and the Beast: Diary of a Film. New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. [Online] At:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ud366-srrBAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=beauty+and+the+beast+1946&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv-qb13_vPAhVdGsAKHc6dAaYQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=beauty%20and%20the%20beast%201946&f=false (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Illustration List:

Fig. 1 Poster
Cocteau, J. (1946) La Belle et la Bete. [Poster] At:
http://cineclap.free.fr/la-belle-et-la-bete-1946/la-belle-et-la-bete-1946-a04.jpg?lzv1sf

Fig. 2 A drawing by Berard

Berard, C. (s.d.) Drawing for 'La Belle et la Bete' [Chalk] Online At:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/eb/7c/03/eb7c03b45cc093272b4c7b148c0e9873.jpg (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Fig. 3 Belle in the Beast's Castle
Cocteau, J. (1946) La Belle et la Bete. [Film Still] Online At:

http://www.thehunchblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BelleBete-5.jpg (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Fig. 4 Berard's drawing
Berard, C. (s.d.) Drawing for 'La Belle et la Bete' [Chalk] Online At:

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00072lld6O5GFgyOeR3CfDrCWvaHBOcOUDE/christian-b%C3%A9rard-%C3%A9tude-recto-verso-pour-une-sc%C3%A8ne-du-film-la-belle-et-la-b%C3%AAte-de-jean-cocteau-de-1946.jpg (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Fig. 5 Belle in the corridor of candelabras 
Cocteau, J. (1946) La Belle et la Bete. [Film Still] Online At:

https://mediartinnovation.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1946_cocteau_belle-in-corridor_c.jpg (Accessed on 7.11.16)

Fig. 6 Belle and the Prince Floating Away
Cocteau, J. (1946) La Belle et la Bete. [Film Still] Online At:

https://sensorialdaily.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/belle-et-la-bete-end.jpg (Accessed on 7.11.16)