I will endeavor to answer what the themes are as they pertain to the fairytale by Charles Perrault’s, French version of Beauty and the Beast and the 1946 film by director Jean Cocteau’s, La Belle et la Bete. I will cover the use of magic in both the film and the fairytale. I will discuss the social-culture time period in which each was completed. The theme of both the fairytale by Charles Perrault’s, French version of Beauty and the Beast and the 1946 film by director Jean Cocteau’s, La Belle et la Bete shows us that kindness, love, and compassion, when given of freewill is rewarded. Another major theme and message in both the film and story is that, love is blind. In Charles Perrault’s, French version of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty dreams
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Jean Cocteau shows magic in many different forms in his film version of La Belle et la Bete. The fantasy of the film starts as soon as Beauty’s father comes upon the castle after being lost in the forest, doors to the stable open by themselves relieving him of his horse for the night. The castle’s front door opens by an unseen force and beckons him in. Upon entering he is confronted with candelabras held by disembodied arms. The table is set with food and wine, as if his arrival had been expected. The fireplace holds a roaring fire and the mantle busts are awake eyes open with smoke coming out their nostrils. As the fire dies away the heads on the mantel go to sleep as if by magic. Charles Perrault’s Beauty and the Beast also starts the use of unexplainable occurrences as Beauty’s father finds Beast’s castle in the woods for the road he was traveling had been slippery and snow covered now “It seemed to the merchant very strange that no snow had fallen in the avenue, which was entirely composed of orange trees, covered with flowers and fruit.” (Cole, 10) We are told that he cared for his own horse in Perrault’s version even though he was weary from his travels.
The 1946 film by director Jean Cocteau’s, La Belle et la Bete, shows Belle as a good hardworking maid of good moral character that cares for her family. Belle is shown that rebuking her suitor advances. Saving oneself for marriage is indicative of
Jean Cocteau shows magic in many different forms in his film version of La Belle et la Bete. The fantasy of the film starts as soon as Beauty’s father comes upon the castle after being lost in the forest, doors to the stable open by themselves relieving him of his horse for the night. The castle’s front door opens by an unseen force and beckons him in. Upon entering he is confronted with candelabras held by disembodied arms. The table is set with food and wine, as if his arrival had been expected. The fireplace holds a roaring fire and the mantle busts are awake eyes open with smoke coming out their nostrils. As the fire dies away the heads on the mantel go to sleep as if by magic. Charles Perrault’s Beauty and the Beast also starts the use of unexplainable occurrences as Beauty’s father finds Beast’s castle in the woods for the road he was traveling had been slippery and snow covered now “It seemed to the merchant very strange that no snow had fallen in the avenue, which was entirely composed of orange trees, covered with flowers and fruit.” (Cole, 10) We are told that he cared for his own horse in Perrault’s version even though he was weary from his travels.
The 1946 film by director Jean Cocteau’s, La Belle et la Bete, shows Belle as a good hardworking maid of good moral character that cares for her family. Belle is shown that rebuking her suitor advances. Saving oneself for marriage is indicative of