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Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête): The Criterion Collection
Jean Cocteau's remarkable 1946 adaptation of the French fairy tale gets the royal upgrade treatment courtesy of Criterion. The painstakingly restored new print is gorgeous, making this familiar story — virtuous Belle (Josette Day) overcomes revulsion to see the love-worthy heart within the monstrous Beast (Jean Marais) — one of the great DVD editions of classic, yet accessible, Euro art-house fare. Loads of extras include two fine commentary tracks, French TV documentaries on the 1995 restoration, the original and restoration trailers, and an opera by Philip Glass that plays as its own audio track synched with the visuals. Keep-case.
—Mark Bourne
