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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Blu-ray Edition
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars:
Jean Marais, Josette Day
Director: Jean Cocteau
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono, DTS HD 5.1 (opera score)
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Studio: Criterion
Features: See Review
Length: 93 Minutes
Release Date: July 19, 2011
“Once
upon a time…”
I must confess...I held off on switching to Blu-ray until the day I learned Criterion was entering the market.
How could a cineaste not be excited by the prospect?
Just thinking of all the masters at their high definition command...Kurosawa, B
Fans
of the original DVD release will no doubt recall Criterion’s restoration efforts,
bringing a somewhat dirty and ravaged negative up to speed for modern digital
audiences. But with the recent
discovery of an even better working print, and an even more intense restoration
effort, the new final product was more glorious to look at than ever before.
But not content to merely re-release their title with a better picture
and transfer, Criterion also opened their vaults and found plenty of new
features to go along with it, making it a disc that fans will happily snatch up
with both hands…more on that further down.
Beauty
and the Beast was
Jean Cocteau’s second film effort after The Blood of a Poet.
In his first film, he experimented with Melies-styled camera tricks
that made simple bits of enchantment possible.
Beauty was a much more ambitious effort in both technical prowess
and cinematic scope. Made in France during 1945-1946, when the war had ravaged the
economy, nothing could be taken for granted.
Even a deer carcass for a single shot proved difficult to come by!
The
fairy tale by Madame Leprince de Beaumont was very well known, and Cocteau
approached her text with the eye of both a filmmaker and a poet.
He translated her story into startling cinematic imagery that, for my
money, makes Beauty still one of the most magical of all films, even in
our day and age of endless computer effects possibilities.
The
castle of the Beast (the magnificent Marais) is alive with magic and atmosphere.
Candles seem to light themselves as a humble merchant strolls past.
Human arms in walls and tables act as silent servants.
The statues’ eyes follow those who walk past with passivity.
Gates open and close by themselves.
The great halls and rooms are like a cross breed between Xanadu and the
House of Usher.
Belle
(the luminous Day) lives in a world that’s quite the opposite:
normal. She has a father she
loves dearly, two vain and selfish sisters, a foolish brother and a would-be
suitor (Marais again) who ends up with designs for his own fortune.
When her father learns of his lost ship coming to port, meaning the end
of their family’s struggles, the sisters heap material demands on him as he
goes off to meet it. Belle’s
request? Only a rose.
But
when he starts back home penniless again because creditors have seized his ship,
he ends up in the strange castle of the Beast, and meeting its master when he
plucks the rose from his garden. The
penalty is death, he is informed, unless one of his three daughters returns
within three days to die in his place.
Not
wanting her father to die, Belle sets off in secret for the lair of the Beast.
There, she is surprised to find him a magnanimous and courteous host,
despite his fearful appearance. He
falls for her…can she learn to love him as well?
The
story proceeds along familiar lines, but with an innovative twist or two from
Cocteau himself. We don’t learn
the true nature of the Beast until the end (though those who know the story
won’t be surprised by it). Returned
to his princely form, Belle confesses she misses the Beast. So did most audience members, including Greta Garbo, who is
reported to have shouted at the screen, “Give me back my Beast!”.
There are many fans of the modern Disney animated version of this story, including myself, but I always make an effort to point those fans toward this original telling of the tale by Cocteau. It replaces cute singing and dancing housewares with a feeling of real magic and enchantment. Disney’s Beast may live in a children’s dream of an enchanted castle, but Cocteau’s vision is the one that produces the most surreal and atmospheric version.
Like
David Lynch would many years later, Cocteau seemed in tune with the world of
dreams, and had the uncanny ability to photograph the strange look and behavior
of the subconscious world.
Video
****
It gets better and better...Beauty and the Beast delivers on all the beauty, magic and majesty I had hoped for with a stunningly restored black and white offering. The images are crisper and have more gorgeous contrast than before, and the print has never looked lovelier. Yes, there are occasional aging artifacts noticeable here and there, but come on...this is a masterpiece restored to full glory, and you couldn't ask for better.
Audio:
Original ***1/2, Opera ****
The original soundtrack is better than ever with an uncompressed offering. The music, soft dialogue and dramatic atmosphere come through cleaner and more dynamic than ever before. Those who have heard this mono soundtrack before are definitely in for a treat.
The
real treat is the DTS HD 5.1 presentation of Philip Glass’ opera, which he composed
specifically to play alongside Cocteau’s film perfectly.
You can leave the English subtitles on and listen to the operatic version
without missing anything in the movie. It’s
an extraordinary piece of music, well reflecting the imagery on screen, and with
a full, rich, dynamic sound you’ve come to expect from 5.1 capabilities.
Enjoy the film both ways; each one is a rewarding experience in its own
right.
Features
****
Wow…where
to begin? I’ll do my best not to
miss anything. In addition to the
Philip Glass score, which begins on screen with a few of his own notes, there
are two terrific full length commentary tracks.
The first is a repeat of the original 1991 by film historian Arthur
Knight, and the second one is a new 2001 offering by writer and cultural
historian Sir Christopher Frayling. Both
are terrific supplements to the viewing experience, and cinema students
especially will enjoy them.
A
1995 documentary Screening at the Majestic features some modern crew and
cast interviews, including the late great Jean Marais and cinematographer Henri
Alekan, who is also the subject of his own feature interview on the disc.
There are also galleries of publicity stills and rare behind-the-scenes
photos, Cocteau’s original theatrical trailer, the 1995 trailer for the
restored version, and another of Criterion’s excellent DVD booklets.
It contains a reprint of the original fable translated into English,
essays and notes by both Cocteau and his biographer, photos, technical notes and
more.
Oh,
yes, there is a short piece on the film’s restoration as well…it’s a
little different from Criterion’s usual offering (or the one included on the
previous disc release), but definitely worth a look.
My
only regret overall is that this version doesn’t include the interesting
“Cinematic Eye” documentary piece that was offered on the original DVD.
That note aside, this is still one amazing features package.
Summary:
A classic is reborn using modern technology. Jean Cocteau's vision has never looked nor sounded so beautiful. This is a treat no film lover should miss.
