Post by klep on Feb 25, 2019 9:30:24 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 2/25: Beauty and the Beast
GOTHIC ROMANCE WEEK!
For most of us our first exposure to the tale of Beauty and the Beast was Disney's 1991 animated masterpiece. But long before Disney finally got around to making it, Jean Cocteau crafted his own adaptation of the centuries-old fairy tale.
Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast is a magical vision. The palace of the Beast (Jean Marais) is a world of surreal enchantment. Candelabras are held by arms coming out of the walls, the graven busts turn their heads to follow you, and the various objects whisper to you to lead or instruct you. When Belle (Josette Day) is captive there, it is like she is in a dream - upon her first arrival she seems to even float through the halls. It's completely separated from the dirtier, hardscrabble world from which she comes, and feels like another realm entirely. It's a fantasy of luxury, but one with a dark undercurrent. She is still held there against her will, after all, even if the Beast is himself under an enchantment.
Cocteau's film was made before the days of computers and more sophisticated modern costuming and makeup techniques, but you can hardly tell. The Beast is a magnificent creation; it's near impossible to tell where the man ends and the costume begins. And Marais carries him with such nobility that when the Beast becomes the Prince (still Marais) we are as skeptical as Belle. But having just seen the stunning transformation of the greedy Avenant (also Marais) into a beast himself, we are ready to accept it. It's the least we can do after Cocteau's humble opening plea, to lose ourselves in the possibility of "Once upon a time..."
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/5: Ninotchka
WOMEN OF OLD HOLLYWOOD WEEK!
Our month focusing on women in film kicks off next week with this collaboration between the legendary Greta Garbo and the similarly legendary Ernst Lubitsch. Join us next week for what is sure to be a delightful screwball. Ninotchka is available for rent on most places besides Amazon, including YouTube and Google Play.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 2/26: Velvet Buzzsaw
This week the podcast crew finishes their look at the art world in film with the new Netflix feature Velvet Buzzsaw. We'll have a thread on Wednesday to discuss it!
GOTHIC ROMANCE WEEK!
For most of us our first exposure to the tale of Beauty and the Beast was Disney's 1991 animated masterpiece. But long before Disney finally got around to making it, Jean Cocteau crafted his own adaptation of the centuries-old fairy tale.
Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast is a magical vision. The palace of the Beast (Jean Marais) is a world of surreal enchantment. Candelabras are held by arms coming out of the walls, the graven busts turn their heads to follow you, and the various objects whisper to you to lead or instruct you. When Belle (Josette Day) is captive there, it is like she is in a dream - upon her first arrival she seems to even float through the halls. It's completely separated from the dirtier, hardscrabble world from which she comes, and feels like another realm entirely. It's a fantasy of luxury, but one with a dark undercurrent. She is still held there against her will, after all, even if the Beast is himself under an enchantment.
Cocteau's film was made before the days of computers and more sophisticated modern costuming and makeup techniques, but you can hardly tell. The Beast is a magnificent creation; it's near impossible to tell where the man ends and the costume begins. And Marais carries him with such nobility that when the Beast becomes the Prince (still Marais) we are as skeptical as Belle. But having just seen the stunning transformation of the greedy Avenant (also Marais) into a beast himself, we are ready to accept it. It's the least we can do after Cocteau's humble opening plea, to lose ourselves in the possibility of "Once upon a time..."
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 3/5: Ninotchka
WOMEN OF OLD HOLLYWOOD WEEK!
Our month focusing on women in film kicks off next week with this collaboration between the legendary Greta Garbo and the similarly legendary Ernst Lubitsch. Join us next week for what is sure to be a delightful screwball. Ninotchka is available for rent on most places besides Amazon, including YouTube and Google Play.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 2/26: Velvet Buzzsaw
This week the podcast crew finishes their look at the art world in film with the new Netflix feature Velvet Buzzsaw. We'll have a thread on Wednesday to discuss it!