This film came into a time when the country of France was under German rule, a time of strife, uncertainty and fear that
the French people needed something to lift them beyond the ravages of war and into something more light-hearted while yet displaying a moralistic thought. Jean Cocteau had to be granted permission to due the film which he began in 1945 but the film was not actually released until 1946. Under circumstances where filming anything was difficult, Cocteau overcame obstacles of vision and background that stand out today as one of the major works of art in films of this type. A fantasy film was a whole new genre and he found that very exciting and stimulating.
Cocteau made several variances from the original story written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de
Beaumont that in a way made this screenplay almost a completely different work than the original story. In the story, Beaumont had given Beauty two sisters and three brothers but in the film, she only had two sisters and one brother. Also Cocteau included another prince or secondary suitor for Beauty other than the Beast. A third one is that in the story, Beauty had a ring to transport herself between her father’s home and in the film, it was done with the Beast’s glove and a key to his treasure to transport her.
It would appear that Cocteau made these changes in his screenplay that differed from Beaumont’s story to increase the dramatic effect of the film and therefore, bring the
audience into a more aware state of what was occurring. The movie was intended for a more mature adult audience than just the child audience that Beaumont targeted her story for. A film must use sight and sound to replace the description of the written form.
“Cocteau creates simple but gorgeous – and unforgettable – tableaux, from a corridor of disembodied human arms grasping candelabra that burst into flame as you pass by, to Beauty's tear drops turning into diamonds as she weeps over the Beast's fate (and which revive her destitute family's fortune), to the final ascension of Beauty and Prince Ardent.”(Beauty and the Beast Review 1)
A wonderful use of cinematic photography of shadow and light leaving a span of room for the viewer to use their own imagination to fill in the hidden gaps, the film was done without the modern enhancements of today or the use of color as it was a black and white film but so creatively presented that it left nothing amiss for the viewer to be able to see the clear path of the story. Also the dramatic use of music to heighten or soften the scene has an amazing effect to aid the viewer to understand each moment and each action. An unusual use of slow motion within a scene adds to the ability to carry across the impact of the scene to the viewing audience. All these elements produced a remarkable and outstanding piece of visual filming art.
As mentioned earlier in the opening statement, Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast were done in a very highly charged and precarious political time with the occupation of France by Nazi Germany. Subtle references were disbursed throughout the film by the act of evil by the character of Avenant and the two jealous sisters had they all envied and despised Beauty’s gentle nature and sought only to destroy her happiness. In the dramatic conclusion where Avenant died and became the Beast himself while yet the Merchant father appeared to represent France itself as a once happy and prosperous country that soon stripped of its prosperity and security by the invasion of Germany and the treasures that the Nazis stole from the French people.
To me the most interesting aspect of the film was the beautiful way that the romance was handled and how it went on to show the truth of the right kind of love comes from within and not from without. A love based not on monetary value but upon heart, intelligence and faith. A fine example of it was Beauty’s choice of the Beast’s company over a meal and how she responded to his kindness and gentleness by showing her pleasure in his company. Another enjoyable factor was Cocteau’s direction and the actor’s ability to put across the inner turmoil of the Beast to retain his humanness while still yet displaying the desires and needs of the Beast.
I would give my recommendation to anyone who has seen or not seen the film that it is well worth their time to view the film. It is a classic masterpiece as well as being thoroughly entertaining. It is fantasy and human drama at its best and wonderfully done for its time period.