La Belle et la Bête (1946)

by Jean Cocteau.

With so much entrancing visual poetry, this is a charming romantic fantasy. In this movie, Belle's family is similar to Cinderella's, which also includes two mean step-sisters.  

The director Cocteau blended magical themes with elements of everyday reality in order to create something "not to admire, but to believe." Giving nourishment to images both realistic and defiantly antirealistic, La Belle et la Bête draws inspiration from a universal reservoir.

It is impossible to overlook the extraordinary design of the Beast's house. In the labyrinth garden, arms serve as candle holders, men serve as fireplace pillars, and men stand in for men on the fire place. This creates the impression that the house is alive, just as its cursed man has a similar amount of magic behind him. Belle's fear of the Beast is intensified by this incredible setting, which increases Belle's mystery about the Beast and her fear of meeting him for the first time. A number of fairy tale films have been influenced by this magical set piece, especially Disney's adaptation. With out the magic of the house, the film wouldn't have been so unique, and could have just been regarded as another story about romance, and perhaps wouldn't have led to the many adaptations that it has.