Jean Cocteau, La Belle et Le Bete
The Original Film by the great French Director
Recently I watched the Jean Cocteau version of Beauty and The Beast. A 1946 French film classic that starred Jene Marais as the Beast and Josette Day as the beauty. Directed by Jean Cocteau of course. Available at your local library too, of course.
What I enjoyed about this older version was the special effects or lack of special effects. Not trying to compare the modern version of this film and whine about how films don’t have storylines anymore. But focus on the special effects used in this film. It is obvious to our learned eye what is going on with arms sticking out of the wall holding candle holders, or the film being run backward to make smoke appear from seemingly nowhere. The story is the same just the effects are different.
I find something soothing or comforting about early-style films when the focus is not so much on special effects to make a scene happen. Special effects are used to supplement the story not detract from the story. And I find that is just as satisfying to watch as it adds I believe a sense of mystery to the film when you may not know exactly how they created a scene or effect in a scene. And that is the difference. The effect enhances the scene not make the scene or situation.
Now with CGI all over in films, the sense of wonder for me is mostly gone from watching a film. There are really only so many times you can watch buildings fall on someone or watch characters thrown through the air in ways that would seriously injure a mere mortal.
The film kept me involved in the story and engaged in the film itself. I could hardly look away from the screen. Maybe it was not the older style with quaint special effects, so maybe it was the actors who had more charisma in some other films I had watched. I certainly did feel a sense of wonder while I watched and appreciated the effort it took to be an early discoverer of these techniques.
Keep in mind early films did not have legions working a set, or in the back somewhere tinkering away. With newer films more is possible. Just simply watch the credits at the end of Lord Of the Rings or any Marvel/DC film. More work is involved in creating the effects than used to be involved in an entire film. So a salute to minimalist filmmaking too.
This has all been said before and more eloquently by others than me. but next time you consider checking out that 1940’s film and see how auteur’s created the early cinema. It will be worth your time. I hope you give it a chance.
Here is a link to my story on Lynn Shelton
