La belle et la bête (1946)
Greetings from Susan Marlowe CPA! I am going to be reviewing the 1946 French version of Beauty and the Beast.
One of the first things that struck me when watching this film is how heavily the Disney cartoon was influenced by it. The look, the feel, even the appearance of some characters… This is a great movie to start a discussion with older kids about artistic influence and inspiration. It also means that the familiar look and feel will make it easier for them to relate to the characters.
Because of some darker scenes and because of the subtitles, I would say that the minimum age for enjoying this film is about 10. Of course, if you are willing to help younger children read off the subtitles, the minimum age would be less. The beast in this tale is fairly beastly but the creepiest elements are the living statues in the beast’s castle. These may be disturbing to some children.
All in all, I would say that this is an excellent film. I think that even though it is a fairy tale, it is interesting enough even for boys and tomboys to enjoy. It is certainly worth renting for your family movie nights.
Thanks from Susan Marlowe CPA!
Susan Marlowe CPA 