My heavens, how quickly those communists seem to stray from their ideals. My first reaction to DEFA's film is to cringe at the physical comedy-I hate that crap. The role it took in the film, the focus in my opinion, obviously moves the audience to kids. That is really no surprise, given DEFA's historical background, but seems much more "kid only" focused than the Grimm's edition. I enjoyed reading the Grimm's version of the story. I did not enjoy watching this film.
But back to the Communists burying their high ideals for the proletariat under a pile of balsa-wood cars and hats with furry ears. Look at DEFA's version of Snow White. We talked about how it stresses the traits that bright, individualistic children need to become cogs in the machine. There was that scene working in the kitchen, showing children how important inane work really is. The social elite are portrayed as pigs in Snow White. By the time DEFA made The Devil and his Three Golden Hairs it looks like they were pretty much out of the brainwashing business and looking to be the next Disney. Sure, the king is still a pig, but that is about it. The change I was least pleased with in the story line was how they made Jacob just a stupid boy as opposed to marked by fate. I understand that Marx hated fate because it turned down his offer to escort her to the communist prom. However, DEFA freely switches between two very distinct male hero story archetypes. They make no attempt to explain why it is good to be stupid. All it does is make the implicit point that fate should not be considered a guiding force in life.
The major change, or rather subtraction, of fate in the movie, coupled with the cinematics obviously designed for children make the DEFA version of the story really not worth telling in my opinion. I feel like they should have either done their job better and properly brainwashed the soft minds viewing it to be better cogs in a better machine or found a more interesting story to tell. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Grimm's version of the tale. I just wish DEFA had given me what I wanted.
Song of the blog: "Nobody's Perfect" by Hannah Montana. Just like DEFA.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I found this movie very silly and really meant for a main audience of children. The character of the boy is ridiculous and I can see kids thinking that his idiotic actions are funny. Also there are a lot of visual gags like the hammers flying in the air or the king’s hut catching on fire. I rolled my eyes at most of them, but I could see myself laughing hysterically as a kid. The evil aspects of the film were also played down a lot. The devil was not mysteriously dark or scary but rather funny and simply portrayed as a glutton and children would not be afraid of him.
The whole idea of gluttony and overindulgence played a big role in this film and it reminded me of aspects of the DEFA Snow White. In Snow White you have the scene of the court eating disgustingly at the table, and they appear fat and lazy, somewhat like pigs. In The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs, the King is seen as a drunk and constantly abuses alcohol. Then the devil eats everything that is at the wedding feast. Clearly overindulgence and excess in food and liquor is looked down upon as it is associated with the villains of the film, the King and the Devil. Rather commoners, like Jacob and the “robbers” are the heroes of the story which ties into the political views of Eastern Germany.
The whole idea of gluttony and overindulgence played a big role in this film and it reminded me of aspects of the DEFA Snow White. In Snow White you have the scene of the court eating disgustingly at the table, and they appear fat and lazy, somewhat like pigs. In The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs, the King is seen as a drunk and constantly abuses alcohol. Then the devil eats everything that is at the wedding feast. Clearly overindulgence and excess in food and liquor is looked down upon as it is associated with the villains of the film, the King and the Devil. Rather commoners, like Jacob and the “robbers” are the heroes of the story which ties into the political views of Eastern Germany.
Assignment: 17 March 2009
This week we are going by the normal schedule, so please post by Tuesday at midnight and leave two comments by Wednesday night.
Prompt: Respond to the film “The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs” (DEFA). You may wish to consider one (or more) of the following:
Prompt: Respond to the film “The Devil’s Three Golden Hairs” (DEFA). You may wish to consider one (or more) of the following:
- Target audience
- How it uses the medium specifically in order to tell its version of the story
- Comparison to the DEFA version of “Snow White”
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Prince/Beast/Avenant
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.
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.
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