Jean Cocteau directs Jean Marias, Josette Day and Jean Marias in this earlier, opulently fantastic take of the fairy tale romance. 

A disclaimer: After years of wanting to catch this version on the big screen, a late work night meant I did annoyingly doze off occasionally in the dark of the matinee. No value judgement on the movie that – it is a gorgeously arch magical treat. I’m ashamed of the few scenes I missed due to involuntary conking out. Of what I did catch, bright eyed and bushy tailed, there was one little sequence that struck me away from all the beautiful design and pretty faces. Belle is nagging the beast in his garden, he gets distracted by a passing deer, gets told off for not listening, wiggles his ears and gruffly apologises… but he is still thinking about that deer, the furry faced fool. It rang home on the landline. All men are beasts, we can’t help ourselves. Next time I enjoy this, I’ll give it my full, lucid attention. It deserves it.

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