Beauty and the Beast

12/6/2025

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 himself to one of the roses growing near the wall and that causes his hitherto absent host to emerge with a menacing ultimatum. Prepare to become compost or get one of your daughters to voluntarily come