Beauty and the Beast (1946 film)

Beauty and the Beast French La Belle et la Bte is a 1946 French romantic fantasy film adaptation of the traditional fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, written by JeanneMarie Leprince de Beaumont and published in 1757 as part of a fairy tale anthology Le Magasin des Enfants, ou Dialogues entre une sage gouvernante et ses lves, London 1757 . Directed by French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, the film stars Josette Day as Belle and Jean Marais.

While scrubbing the floor at home, Belle Josette Day is interrupted by her brothers friend Avenant Jean Marais who tells her she deserves better and suggests they get married. Belle rejects Avenant, as she wishes to stay home and take care of her father, who has suffered much since his ships were lost at sea and the family fortune along with them. Belles father Marcel Andr arrives home announcing he has come into a great fortune that he will pick up the next day, along with gifts for his daughters, Belles shrewish sisters Adelaide and Felicie. Belles roguish brother Ludovic Michel Auclair signs a contract from a moneylender Raoul Marco allowing him the ability to sue Ludovics father if he cant pay.Later, Belles father finds on his arrival that his fortune has been seized to clear his debts and he is forced to return home through a forest at night. Belles father gets lost in the forest and finds himself at a large castle whose gates and doors magically open themselves. On entering the castle, he is guided by an enchanted candelabra that leads him to a laden dinner table where he falls asleep. Awakened by a loud roar, he wanders the castles grounds. Remembering that Belle asked for a rose, he plucks a rose from a tree which makes the Beast Jean Marais appear. The Beast threatens to kill him for theft but then suggests that one of his daughters can take his place. The Beast offers his horse Magnificent to guide him through the forest home. ........

Source: Wikipedia