A tale as old as time...

I think this film is the perfect stepping stone for anyone who's interested in classic films, but doesn't know where to start, because it's such a familiar story.

La Belle et La Bete
1946

Translated, "The Beauty and The Beast" was directed by Jean Cocteau, and was the first film adaptation of the famous French fairytale. The film was not released in the United States until 1947. Even though the entire film was foreign, from the setting and the actors, to the French subtitles, it was accepted and highly praised by the fickle crowd accustomed to Hollywood Royalty.

For those of you who don't already know it...
PLOT

The story centers around Belle (Josette Day), a.k.a. "the beauty." Belle's father (Marcel Andre) is a merchant. He takes a little business trip to collect some money. Due to unforseen circumstances, he feels the need to travel through an unfamiliar patch of woods during the night. Naturally, he gets lost. He finally stumbles upon a castle, who's gates magically open to him. Once inside the castle, he appears to be all alone, and falls asleep. Sometime later, he is awoken by a roar. He decides he has stayed long enough, and makes his way back outside, into a courtyard. He sees a beautiful rose bush there, and decides to clip off a bloom to take to his daughter. This makes "the Beast" (Jean Marais) appear. At first, the Beast is angry and threatens to kill him for being a thief. He makes a deal with the old man. The Beast will not kill him if he offers his daughter's life instead. Belle's father frantically agrees and is sent home.
Once she is told, Belle is glad to take her father's place because she loves him so much. She goes back, and finds the Beast's palace. Even though the Beast had said he was going to kill Belle, he is very kind to her. He gives her a beautiful room to stay in, and beautiful clothes, and a magical mirror that will show her anything she wishes to see. Despite the hospitality that is shown to her, Belle is disgusted by the Beast, and afraid of him.
Everyday, the Beast tells Belle that he loves her and asks for her hand in marriage. Belle becomes less wary of him with each passing day, but she still refuses him. Once, while using her mirror to look at her father, Belle sees that he is deathly ill. Panicking, she goes to the Beast and begs him to let her see her father, even just for a short time. He grants her one week. Before giving her this temporary freedom, he gives her a glove that will take her anywhere she wants to go, and a key to Diana's Pavilion, which is where his most sacred riches are kept.
Once she has nursed her father back to health, Belle intends to keep her promise and return to the Beast. Her siblings devise a plan to keep her away from him. Belle's sisters trick her into staying past her seven day limit. Her brother steals the golden key and goes off to find the castle with his friend,Avenant. Belle looks into her mirror, and sees the Beast in pain. She realizes that she is also missing the key to Diana's Pavilion, and the mirror cracks.
Belle hurries back to the Beasts castle and finds the Beast dying of a broken heart. While he slowly dies in her arms, her brother and Avenant find Diana's Pavilion. Rather than use the key, they scale the walls, and Avenant climbs inside where he is shot by a statue of the Roman goddess, Diana. As this happens, the Beast transforms into a prince. Belle finally accepts his offer of marriage, and they fly away to a distant kingdom.

This movie is such a treat to watch.The cinematography and the costumes are beautiful. And the makeup used to create the Beast is actually fairly impressive for that time period.