jean cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1946)

this work of strange beauty was the other film i was privileged enough to see on a fresh 35mm print at the Janus retrospective, and it was an utter marvel. Cocteau's control of his craft gives the film a distinct stylistic panache, but the heavy lifting of its visual wonderment is done by the production designers, who produce a mysterious magical castle that is overwhelming even today. (i can hardly imagine how dazzled the audience must have been fifty years ago.) candelabras held by sentient human arms line the corridors, doors open by themselves, and, in one marvelous display of visual wit, a bust sits on its pedestal and watches Belle back and forth as she paces. (one of the other striking things about the film is that it's remarkably biting in its humor.) the beast, too, is amazing to look at, clearly evocative of the two extremes of humanity and beastliness central to the character. most of all, the film is as dark and unsettling as fairy tales ought to be for maximum impact, though it sadly loses its tonal nerve in the ending, which wraps up too quickly and hits insincere emotional notes. still...beautiful.