Movies
TV Shows
People
29/10/1946 Drama, Fantasy, Romance 1h 36m
75
User score

Once upon a time…

Overview

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.

  1. Jean Cocteau

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Jean Marais

    La Bête / Le Prince / Avenant

  2. Josette Day

    Belle

  3. Marcel André

    Belle's Father

  4. Mila Parély

    Félicie

  5. Nane Germon

    Adélaïde

  6. Michel Auclair

    Ludovic

  7. Raoul Marco

    The Insurer

  8. Jean Cocteau

    The Voice of Magic (uncredited)

  9. Noël Blin

    Footman (uncredited)

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2025-12-06
Cocteau’s adaptation of this timeless fairy tale spends a little more on the characterisations than many as it regales us with the misfortunes of a merchant (John Kuether) and his four children. All are used to the finer things in life, but when rough seas rob him of his merchandise and two of his daughters continue to spend as if there were no tomorrow, he is reduced to near bankruptcy and forced to travel the woods in the dark where he is caught up in a storm. Desperate for shelter, he happens upon a ruined castle and there spends the night. Rather than leave as he came, though, he helps h...read the rest
Read All Reviews

Recommendations

  1. Winter's Tale63%
  2. Love Everlasting73%
  3. The Best of Me74%
  4. Untamed Heart68%
  5. The Secret: Dare to Dream73%
  6. Edward Scissorhands77%
  7. Not Easily Broken62%
  8. Beastly63%
  9. Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between61%
  10. Life in a Year82%
  11. Mr. K64%
  12. Beauty and the Beast77%
  13. Les Amours d'Astrée et de Céladon59%
  14. César et Rosalie72%
  15. Lovely, Still65%
  16. Boy Meets Girl67%
  17. Where the Wild Things Are65%
  18. The Secret of Moonacre65%
  19. Endless Love69%
  20. The Magic of Ordinary Days73%

Status
Released

Original Language
French

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords