Beauty and the Beast
“Once upon a time…”
The story of a gentle-hearted beast in love with a simple and beautiful girl. She is drawn to the repellent but strangely fascinating Beast, who tests her fidelity by giving her a key, telling her that if she doesn't return it to him by a specific time, he will die of grief. She is unable to return the key on time, but it is revealed that the Beast is the genuinely handsome one. A simple tale of tragic love that turns into a surreal vision of death, desire, and beauty.
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Cast
11 people
Jean Marais
La Bête / Le Prince / Avenant
Known for
Fantomas
Orpheus
Josette Day
Belle
Also in
The Well-Digger's Daughter
The Storm Within
Marcel André
Belle's Father
Known for
Hôtel du Nord
Thérèse Raquin
Mila Parély
Félicie
Known for
The Rules of the Game
Le Plaisir
Nane Germon
Adélaïde
Known for
Les Biches
The Red Inn
Michel Auclair
Ludovic
Known for
The Day of the Jackal
Funny Face
Raoul Marco
The Insurer
Known for
The President
Jean Cocteau
The Voice of Magic (uncredited)
Known for
Testament of Orpheus
Noël Blin
Footman (uncredited)
Also in
Her Last Part
Le Bateau à soupe
Christian Marquand
Footman (uncredited)
Known for
Senso
The Flight of the Phoenix
Gilles Watteaux
Footman (uncredited)
Also in
The Eagle with Two Heads
Sextette
Jean Cocteau Director · Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont Author Georges Auric Composer
United States release December 23, 1947 · Produced in France · Production Discina
Production
Andre Paulve Film
Production
Discina
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
La Belle et la Bête
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · September 25, 1946
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
France · October 29, 1946
Theatrical
United States · December 23, 1947
Theatrical
United States
June 23, 2002 · Theatrical · Re-release
Argentina
August 26, 1947 · Theatrical
Australia
January 1, 1952 · Premiere · Melbourne International Film Festival
Austria
September 12, 1947 · Theatrical
Denmark
April 17, 1947 · Theatrical
Finland
January 16, 1948 · Theatrical
France
September 25, 2013 · Theatrical · Re-release
Germany
April 7, 1947 · Theatrical
June 12, 1961 · TV · West Germany
Greece
September 17, 2003 · Premiere · Athens Film Festival
Hong Kong SAR China
April 14, 1949 · Theatrical
Italy
July 11, 1947 · Theatrical
Japan
January 27, 1948 · Theatrical
August 5, 2000 · Theatrical · Re-release
Mexico
July 1, 1948 · Theatrical
Netherlands
November 1, 1946 · Theatrical
New Zealand
July 27, 2014 · Premiere · New Zealand International Film Festival
Portugal
May 17, 1948 · Theatrical
Spain
January 1, 2005 · TV
Sweden
January 20, 1947 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
October 31, 1947 · Theatrical
December 15, 1995 · Theatrical · Re-release
Uruguay
June 23, 1949 · Theatrical
XC
March 14, 1947 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.