La Belle et la Bête

+ pre-recorded intro by Chloë Cassens, author of Sacred Monster and representative of the Severin Wunderman Collection

Cocteau’s take on Beauty and the Beast is a magical, elegant classic.

  • Director

    Jean Cocteau

  • With

    Jean Marais, Josette Day, Marcel André

  • France 1946. 93min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    PG

  • English subtitles

When Belle’s father becomes beholden to a monstrous beast, she takes his place, staying in the enchanted castle where the beast resides and gradually falling under his spell. It’s difficult to imagine a more magical cinematic experience than Cocteau’s take on the fairy tale. The meticulous production design, the spectacle of the costumes and a fable rich in symbolism and metaphor – it’s a dream you never want to wake from.

See other screenings of La Belle et la Bête.

Also available on BFI Player