One element that I found interesting from Cocteau’s “La Belle et La Bête” was the ending of the story when the Beast transforms into the prince, revealing a more sophisticated and chiseled version of Avenant, Belle’s original suitor. What I also found interesting was when Avenant was shot by the statue Diana, he himself turned into the Beast. One reason for this subtle change could have been to showcase the fact that although Belle loved Avenant (as well as the Beast), she could not live with him, therefore transforming the Beast into a Prince Charming hybrid of the Beast’s character with Avenant’s good looks.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Cocteau seems to have gotten "Beautiful" and "Creepy" confused
The element that interested me most when comparing Cocteau's film and Madame de Beaumont's version of Beauty and the Beast is how the castle is portrayed. Beaumont's description of the castle, although sparse, seems like a precursor to the Disney version of the castle. When Beauty's father arrives the first time, there is no one to be seen, but the castle seems very inviting, with a "warm fire and a table laden with food, with just a single place setting." I almost expected to read about enchanted teapot servants next. In contrast, when the father arrives at the castle in the film, the castle seems to have been inspired by a horror film. Creepy floating arms hold candelabras that magically light. There is a hand in the middle of the table that scares dinner guests before pouring drinks. The statues in the wall are obviously alive. Terrifying. Very different images from the ones Beaumont presents.
This creepy/beautiful theme also carries over to when Beauty sees the castle for the first time. In Beaumont's version, "She could not help but admire the castle's beauty, and...was dazzled by the radiant beauty of that (her) room. She was especially impressed by a huge bookcase, a harpsichord, and various music books." The castle is beautiful and entertaining to Beauty. Cocteau again portrays a castle with body parts sticking out of the walls holding candles. The changes to Beauty's room are also substantial. In the film, there are vines growing everywhere, which to me adds to the "wild v. civilized" influences in the film. There is also a lack of the bookshelf and musical instruments, removing the air of culture from both Beauty and Beast.
Cocteau obviously had to pay much more attention to the setting of the castle because he was making a film, something incredibly visual. However, I am boggled as to why he decided to portray a castle that is beautiful in the story as something so much more sinister.
Song of the Blog: "Cemeteries of London" by Coldplay
This creepy/beautiful theme also carries over to when Beauty sees the castle for the first time. In Beaumont's version, "She could not help but admire the castle's beauty, and...was dazzled by the radiant beauty of that (her) room. She was especially impressed by a huge bookcase, a harpsichord, and various music books." The castle is beautiful and entertaining to Beauty. Cocteau again portrays a castle with body parts sticking out of the walls holding candles. The changes to Beauty's room are also substantial. In the film, there are vines growing everywhere, which to me adds to the "wild v. civilized" influences in the film. There is also a lack of the bookshelf and musical instruments, removing the air of culture from both Beauty and Beast.
Cocteau obviously had to pay much more attention to the setting of the castle because he was making a film, something incredibly visual. However, I am boggled as to why he decided to portray a castle that is beautiful in the story as something so much more sinister.
Song of the Blog: "Cemeteries of London" by Coldplay
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Beauty and the Beast ending
One thing I found particularly interesting between the story and the film were their endings. In Beaumont’s version, the Beast is saved because Belle says she will marry him. Yet in Cocteau’s film, the Beast says that Belle saved him because she gave him a look of love. In the beginning of the film the Beast says that Belle should not look into his eyes. I don’t believe this was evident in the text and the film seemed to include a lot more aspects of looking and was preoccupied with the component of the gaze. Finally in the film, when Belle is able to look the Beast in the eyes with true tenderness and love, he becomes a man again. In the text it is the contract of marriage that releases the Beast from his spell. I enjoyed Cocteau’s version because the whole aspect of the look seemed more romantic and was carried throughout the film. I’m not sure if this is correct or not but it appeared that when Belle gazed upon the beast, smoke came from his body. This seemed most evident in the scene when she stands behind the statue and is staring at the Beast and you can see smoke coming from his paws. I wondered if this foreshadowed the whole idea of the look of love being able to save the Beast.
One thing I found particularly interesting between the story and the film were their endings. In Beaumont’s version, the Beast is saved because Belle says she will marry him. Yet in Cocteau’s film, the Beast says that Belle saved him because she gave him a look of love. In the beginning of the film the Beast says that Belle should not look into his eyes. I don’t believe this was evident in the text and the film seemed to include a lot more aspects of looking and was preoccupied with the component of the gaze. Finally in the film, when Belle is able to look the Beast in the eyes with true tenderness and love, he becomes a man again. In the text it is the contract of marriage that releases the Beast from his spell. I enjoyed Cocteau’s version because the whole aspect of the look seemed more romantic and was carried throughout the film. I’m not sure if this is correct or not but it appeared that when Belle gazed upon the beast, smoke came from his body. This seemed most evident in the scene when she stands behind the statue and is staring at the Beast and you can see smoke coming from his paws. I wondered if this foreshadowed the whole idea of the look of love being able to save the Beast.
Assignment: 10 March 2009
Since many of you still need to watch the Cocteau film, posts will be due at midnight on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
Pick one scene or element from Cocteau's "La Belle et La Bête" and compare it or contrast it with de Beaumont's version. You might pick something that interests you, that seems odd, or something that you missed in one version or the other, for example.
Pick one scene or element from Cocteau's "La Belle et La Bête" and compare it or contrast it with de Beaumont's version. You might pick something that interests you, that seems odd, or something that you missed in one version or the other, for example.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
