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Beauty and the Beast

Original title: La Belle et la Bête
  • 1946
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
29K
YOUR RATING
Beauty and the Beast (1946)
Trailer for Beauty and the Beast
Play trailer1:11
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Costume DramaDark FantasyDark RomanceFairy TaleDramaFantasyRomance

A beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.A beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.A beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.

  • Directors
    • Jean Cocteau
    • René Clément
  • Writers
    • Jean Cocteau
    • Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
  • Stars
    • Jean Marais
    • Josette Day
    • Mila Parély
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Jean Cocteau
      • René Clément
    • Writers
      • Jean Cocteau
      • Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
    • Stars
      • Jean Marais
      • Josette Day
      • Mila Parély
    • 161User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Beauty and the Beast
    Trailer 1:11
    Watch Beauty and the Beast
    Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman Find Hope in Powerful, Eclectic Films
    Clip 8:43
    Watch Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman Find Hope in Powerful, Eclectic Films

    Photos101

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Jean Marais
    Jean Marais
    • La Bête…
    Josette Day
    Josette Day
    • Belle
    Mila Parély
    • Félicie
    Nane Germon
    • Adélaïde
    Michel Auclair
    Michel Auclair
    • Ludovic
    Raoul Marco
    Raoul Marco
    • Merchant
    • (scenes deleted)
    • (credit only)
    Marcel André
    • Belle's Father
    Janice Felty
    • La Belle (1995 opera version)
    • (singing voice)
    John Kuether
    • The Father
    • (singing voice)
    • …
    Jacques Marbeuf
    Ana María Martinez
    • Félicie (1995 opera version)
    • (singing voice)
    Hallie Neill
    • Adélaïde (1995 opera version)
    • (singing voice)
    Gregory Purnhagen
    • La Bête
    • (singing voice)
    • …
    Zhengzhong Zhou
    • Ludovic (1995 opera version)
    • (singing voice)
    Noël Blin
    • Footman
    • (uncredited)
    Jean Cocteau
    Jean Cocteau
    • Voice of Magic
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Christian Marquand
    Christian Marquand
    • Footman
    • (uncredited)
    Gilles Watteaux
    • Footman
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Jean Cocteau
      • René Clément
    • Writers
      • Jean Cocteau
      • Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The effect of the candles lighting themselves as the merchant passes them was achieved by blowing them out and then running the film in reverse as he walked backward past them. The entire sequence was done in one long take and reversed - a quick glimpse of the fireplace shows the flames appearing to move downward.
    • Goofs
      As Belle and The Beast walk in the garden, a comparatively modernly dressed boy in short pants is visible for a few seconds to the top right behind them.
    • Quotes

      Opening Title: Children believe what we tell them. They have complete faith in us. They believe that a rose plucked from a garden can plunge a family into conflict. They believe that the hands of a human beast will smoke when he slays a victim, and that this will cause the beast shame when a young maiden takes up residence in his home. They believe a thousand other simple things. I ask of you a little of this childlike simplicity, and, to bring us luck, let me speak four truly magic words, childhood's "Open Sesame": "Once upon a time..." Jean Cocteau

    • Crazy credits
      The title and some of the opening credits are written with chalk on a blackboard, and then erased.
    • Alternate versions
      The 1946 American release of the film had an entirely different set of opening credits, and is the one available on VHS. In that release, these credits were presented straightforwardly, with nothing unusual about them, and with the title in English. In the film's original release, available on DVD, the credits were written on a blackboard, in what is known as cursive handwriting, the same type of writing in which the opening prologue appears. After every credit, Jean Cocteau's hand would erase it and write the next credit with what appeared to be chalk. Then, after the credits ended, a film clapboard was seen, it was slammed together, as they always are just before a film director yells "Action!", and then the film's written prologue was seen.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      La belle et la bête
      an opera by Philip Glass
      (Not part of the original soundtrack, and not heard in the film's first two releases)
      © 1995 Nonesuch Records for the US and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States

    User reviews161

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    A truly wondrous film

    This is what true movie-making is about. There is no CGI, no pop culture jokes, no stupid sex scenes. This IS what love stories are made of.

    The classic fairy tale is given remarkable treatment by Jean Cocteau as he tells the tale of a beautiful girl who falls in the love with a tortured but charming Beast (played by Jean Maris in a stunning performance). This movie just seems to have it all: it's visuals are very impressive, the romance is very charming and not at all phoned in, the story is engaging and surprisingly tense, and the acting is just superb. Although there are no big movie names, you won't care for a second as this talented group will win you completely over.

    Not only is this fantasy at it's very best, it often comes off more as a poem rather than a movie but you won't care. It's one of the most visually dazzling poems ever put on film.
    • Herbest8
    • Oct 4, 2009
    • Permalink

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    FAQ22

    • How long is Beauty and the Beast?Powered by Alexa
    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • Can the original fairy tale be read online?
    • Why was the same actor cast as both the Beast and as Avenant?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • La bella y la bestia
    • Filming locations
      • Château de Raray, Senlis, Oise, France
    • Production company
      • Les Films André Paulvé
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $298,718
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,708
      • Jun 23, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $298,718
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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