La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Moderator: MichaelB
- Caligula
- Carthago delenda est
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:32 am
- Location: George, South Africa
La Belle et la Bête (1946)
La Belle et la Bête (Blu-ray)
Directed by Jean Cocteau
La Belle et la bête is a landmark feat of cinematic fantasy in which master filmmaker Jean Cocteau conjures spectacular visions of enchantment, desire and death that have never been equalled.
Josette Day is luminous yet feisty as Beauty, and Jean Marais gives one of his best performances as the Beast, at once brutal and gentle, rapacious and vulnerable, shamed and repelled by his own bloodlust. Henri Alekan's subtle black and white cinematography combine with Christian Bérard's masterly costumes and set designs to create a magical piece of cinema, a children's fairy tale refashioned into a stylised and highly sophisticated dream.
The BFI is proud to present this world cinema classic in High Definition for the first time in the UK.
Special features
Presented in High Definition
Audio commentary with cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling
Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film, and full film credits
Other extras TBC
1946 | black & white | 94 minutes | 1 x BD50 / Region B | Cert PG
Release date 26 March 2018, according to Amazon
Directed by Jean Cocteau
La Belle et la bête is a landmark feat of cinematic fantasy in which master filmmaker Jean Cocteau conjures spectacular visions of enchantment, desire and death that have never been equalled.
Josette Day is luminous yet feisty as Beauty, and Jean Marais gives one of his best performances as the Beast, at once brutal and gentle, rapacious and vulnerable, shamed and repelled by his own bloodlust. Henri Alekan's subtle black and white cinematography combine with Christian Bérard's masterly costumes and set designs to create a magical piece of cinema, a children's fairy tale refashioned into a stylised and highly sophisticated dream.
The BFI is proud to present this world cinema classic in High Definition for the first time in the UK.
Special features
Presented in High Definition
Audio commentary with cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling
Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film, and full film credits
Other extras TBC
1946 | black & white | 94 minutes | 1 x BD50 / Region B | Cert PG
Release date 26 March 2018, according to Amazon
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: La Belle et la Bete (Jean Cocteau)
Thought this was a safe Criterion import. At least the Criterion is stacked.
- L.A.
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: La Belle et la Bete (Jean Cocteau)
Was expecting BFI will put a Blu-ray out eventually. I’m confident the extras won’t disappoint when they are announced, hopefully something from both Criterion and Gaumont’s discs are included.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: La Belle et la Bete (Jean Cocteau)
The Criterion disc is based on their older restoration. M6 / SND had it restored in 4K in 2013. I suppose the BFI will use the newer restoration (even if it's not specified).
-
- Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:10 pm
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
I really wanted to love this (Disney's Beauty and the beast is my favourite animation film of all time), but I didn't.
Maybe i'll watch it again to re-evaulate.
From caps-a-holic comparisons though I've seen this new restoration is too dark.
Maybe i'll watch it again to re-evaulate.
From caps-a-holic comparisons though I've seen this new restoration is too dark.
-
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:29 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Out of pendantry, the Criterion BD transfer lacks an authentic "FIN" end title card, instead using a new one crediting the restorers. Did other home video versions have an original end title card, or did the film fade to black?
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: La Belle et la Bete (Jean Cocteau)
The press release says Other extras TBCTMDaines wrote:Thought this was a safe Criterion import. At least the Criterion is stacked.
- Aunt Peg
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:30 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Delayed until 23 July 2018....
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Confirmed as a Blu-ray release on July 23rd:
La Belle et la Bête
Directed by Jean Cocteau
La Belle et la bête is a landmark feat of cinematic fantasy in which master filmmaker Jean Cocteau conjures spectacular visions of enchantment, desire and death that have never been equalled.
Josette Day is luminous yet feisty as Beauty, and Jean Marais gives one of his best performances as the Beast, at once brutal and gentle, rapacious and vulnerable, shamed and repelled by his own bloodlust. Henri Alekan's subtle black and white cinematography combine with Christian Bérard's masterly costumes and set designs to create a magical piece of cinema, a children's fairy tale refashioned into a stylised and highly sophisticated dream.
The BFI is proud to present this world cinema classic in High Definition for the first time in the UK.
Special features
• High Definition transfer from the 4K restoration of the film which was premiered at Cannes
• Audio commentary with cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Dreams of Cocteau: The adventure of Beauty and the Beast (2013, 49 mins): documentary featuring interviews with author Dominique Marny, Prof. David Gullentops, Serge Toubiana, and Ellen Schafer
• Deleted scene and alternate audio clips (7 mins)
• Christian Bernard and Jean Cocteau, two magicians (2013, 27 mins): documentary film focusing on the production history of La Belle et la Bête
• Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film, and full film credits
1946 | black & white | 94 minutes | 1 x BD50 / Region B | Cert PG
- L.A.
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: La Belle et la Bete (Jean Cocteau)
This seems to be the case for the upcoming July release. Will be getting this of course.L.A. wrote:I’m confident the extras won’t disappoint when they are announced, hopefully something from both Criterion and Gaumont’s discs are included.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Full specs announced:
La Belle et la bête
Written and directed by Jean Cocteau
Blu-ray release on 6 August 2018
See the trailer here
La Belle et la bête is a landmark feat of cinematic fantasy in which master filmmaker Jean Cocteau conjures spectacular visions of enchantment, desire and death. The BFI proudly presents the original film version of this fairy-tale masterpiece in High Definition for the first time in the UK, released on Blu-ray on 6 August 2018.
Special features include a commentary by Sir Christopher Frayling, an animated short, documentaries, trailers and deleted scenes, along with an illustrated booklet.
Josette Day is luminous yet feisty as Beauty and Jean Marais gives one of his best performances as the Beast, at once brutal and gentle, rapacious and vulnerable, shamed and repelled by his own bloodlust.
Henri Alekan’s cinematography combines with Christian Bérard’s masterly costumes and set designs to create a magical piece of cinema: a children’s tale refashioned as a stylised, highly sophisticated dream.
Special features
• Newly presented in High Definition from the French 4K restoration (by SNC and the Cinémathèque française);
• Feature commentary by cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling;
• Des Réves de Cocteau en numerérique, l’aventure de la Belle et la bête (2013, 51 mins);
• Christian Bérard et Jean Cocteau, deux magiciens du spectacle (2013, 24 mins);
• Deleted scenes (6 mins): film and audio clips from scenes that were not included in the final film;
• Barbe Bleue (René Bertrand, 1938, 13 mins): an animated version of Perrault's Bluebeard;
• Original theatrical trailer;
• BFI trailer (2013);
• Stills gallery;
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Dr Deborah Allison, Marina Warner and George E Turner, and full film credits
Product details
RRP: £19.99/ Cat. no. BFIB1308 / Cert PG
France / 1946 / black and white / 90 mins / French language, with optional English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 / BD50: 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)
- Lowry_Sam
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:35 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
No Philip Glass alternate soundtrack? Guess I'll be keeping my Criterion.
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
I also noticed they're touring Orphée theatrically in October, so perhaps they'll upgrade that soon as well...
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
According to our very own peerpee (on Twitter), the film/disc suffers from a bad encode - so despite this boasting a brand new restoration, there is heavy macroblocking afoot.
What a disappointment...I've been forced to cancel my pre-order. May pick it up at a later date but that'll happen sooner if they fix the encode and issue replacement discs (unlikely).
What a disappointment...I've been forced to cancel my pre-order. May pick it up at a later date but that'll happen sooner if they fix the encode and issue replacement discs (unlikely).
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Fuck sake BFI. Emailed HMV to get this part of mty order cancelled, Black Peter and After the Storm had already been shipped.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
All these delays to deliver this. That's really unfortunate.
I suppose though that the issues are made visible because of the poor black levels of the restoration itself.
I suppose though that the issues are made visible because of the poor black levels of the restoration itself.
- Caligula
- Carthago delenda est
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:32 am
- Location: George, South Africa
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Just saw this. Managed to cancel my pre-order. A pity, hope they decide to rectify (I seem to recall them doing that with one of the Ozu-discs which was overly compressed)rapta wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 3:56 amAccording to our very own peerpee (on Twitter), the film/disc suffers from a bad encode - so despite this boasting a brand new restoration, there is heavy macroblocking afoot.
What a disappointment...I've been forced to cancel my pre-order. May pick it up at a later date but that'll happen sooner if they fix the encode and issue replacement discs (unlikely).
- Drucker
- Your Future our Drucker
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 9:37 am
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
I really need to stop selling my Criterions before seeing a review first, this is Belle De Jour all over again...
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
I've been wary about selling older StudioCanal discs before (I was lucky and still have their digibook edition of Belle de jour) but will now have to watch out for BFI as well! I sold my DVD copy of La Belle et la Bête to make way for this 4K restored Blu-ray...oh dear.perkizitore wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 10:21 amI really need to stop selling my Criterions before seeing a review first, this is Belle De Jour all over again...
I guess if there's enough of a fuss they might consider correcting it and doing a disc replacement programme (like that Ozu disc before).
- Drucker
- Your Future our Drucker
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 9:37 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
I believe Zedz called out that this restorations was definitely all wrong years ago. The elevated black levels definitely look weird, and given how much of a mess so many restorations coming out of France seem to be I wasn't planning on getting this at all. Also, the old Criterion may be a little dated but I think it looks right.
- EddieLarkin
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:25 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
But the blacks are deeper on this restoration, as seen here.
If macroblocking is visible then the BFI must have really messed up the encode, rather than it having anything to do with blacks being elevated.
If macroblocking is visible then the BFI must have really messed up the encode, rather than it having anything to do with blacks being elevated.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
The issues arent so much about the French restorations but the fact that most of them are performed through Eclair and Ritrovata, while others are able to rely on Deluxe, MPI or other labs whose results are often less debated.
Eddie, IIRC, the newer restoration can have more contrasted shots but in many cases, blacks aren't 0 0 0 but are elevated. However, I cant say if the BFI disc is even worse or just the same.
Eddie, IIRC, the newer restoration can have more contrasted shots but in many cases, blacks aren't 0 0 0 but are elevated. However, I cant say if the BFI disc is even worse or just the same.
- Drucker
- Your Future our Drucker
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 9:37 am
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
But couldn't that be...wrong?EddieLarkin wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:31 pmBut the blacks are deeper on this restoration, as seen here.
If macroblocking is visible then the BFI must have really messed up the encode, rather than it having anything to do with blacks being elevated.
- jsteffe
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:00 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: La Belle et la Bête (1946)
And yet on the French Blu-ray it looks as if they didn't properly blank out the black side bars when they rendered the output. Those blacks look elevated compared to the black bars on the Criterion disc, which looks correct. Still, the French disc does have more contrast overall and perhaps better reflects the gleaming black-and-white image that I recall seeing on projected prints.EddieLarkin wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 12:31 pmBut the blacks are deeper on this restoration, as seen here.
If macroblocking is visible then the BFI must have really messed up the encode, rather than it having anything to do with blacks being elevated.