The 18th-century fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” has been made into movies or TV shows more than a dozen times. The most critically beloved version will be shown this weekend in Bristol. And no, it’s not the 1991 Disney adaptation.
“La Belle et La Bete” was made in 1946 by surrealist filmmaker Jean Cocteau. The film is legendary for its spooky visuals, including eerily lifelike sculptures and disembodied arms. The costumes were made by the House of Lanvin, with Pierre Cardin supervising the men’s costumes, and the film’s visuals were inspired by Jan Vermeer and Gustave Dore.
It will be shown Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27, at 1 and 7 pm. at Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer St. The movie is in French with subtitles. The program also includes vintage cartoons. Admission is $3. A life-size figure of Jean Marais as The Beast will be on exhibit.
