La Belle et la Bete [1946]

As poet, artist and film-maker, Jean Cocteau was completely at home in the world illusion. In his 1945 version of the classic fairytale, elaborate tricks of staging and camerawork create an atmosphere which has all the extravagance of a dream. In this land of faery, trees part to let travellers through, the Beast's sinister castle is lit by thousand torches brandished by living arms, and the caryatids of stone fireplaces follow with their eyes the movements of those in the room. Exquisitely designed by Christian Bérard, La Belle et La Bête enchants from the first frame to last, weaving a binding spell of mystery and magic.