Beauty and the Beast: Diary of a Film (Paperback)

~ Jean Cocteau (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Personalities of actors, technical problems and their surmounting, daily events, much more. 38 photographs.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

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Product Details Paperback: 142 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1972) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486227766 ISBN-13: 978-0486227764 Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews 5 star:  (8) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Making Beauty from Beastly Conditions, May 25, 2000 By  K. Garner "233rdc" (the midwest) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)       Cocteau's diary on the making of his most famous film - "La Belle et la Bête" (1946) - recounts an almost endless series of obstacles that he encountered during its production. From illnesses (everyone involved seemed to suffer some significant ailment or injury during production) to production problems (bad film stock, unworkable cameras) to union disputes, the film was almost plagued from the start. At times this litany of woe and frustration can be quite tedious - when Cocteau goes into a detailed discussion of his ezcema and other physical maladies, I tuned out. But it's still a fascinating look at not only how he pulled all the elements together (although his entries for the editing process are rather short) but also what filmmaking was like during a difficult time in French history. His depictions of his stars, Jean Marais and Josette Day, are quite interesting too. And the book shows perhaps better than many textbooks how the different talents on a film set contribute to the final result. The book probably won't be enjoyable to those who haven't seen the movie (at least a few times) but for those who really admire this film, this behind-the-scenes look is a real treat. 5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars This Diary is great for anyone who is intrested in Films, April 5, 1999 By A Customer Jean Cocteau was a genius. A genius who created works that enchant you when you witness them and confound you when you attempt to understand how they were executed. They give the appearance of such straight foward fluidity of thought and motion that they conceal all of Cocteau's struggle to create them. But beneath that glaze of facility is an infinite clockwork of tedious difficulty and boundless determination. This diary is the biography of one such clockwork. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Suffering for his Art, January 7, 2006 By  Richard Patocchi (Stockton, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Some have found Cocteau's litany of illnesses that he and others suffered while filming "Beauty and the Beast" tedious and skipped over them as seemingly irrelevant. Unfortunately, those who do so may miss the entire point of Cocteau's masochistic esthetic, namely, the necessity for the artist to suffer and triumph over all adversity for the sake of his art. That suffering is part and parcel of his art, suffering is art, just as "Beauty and the Beast" suffered during the filming and triumphed as a lasting work of art. Cocteau's suffering at the time mirrored the enormous technical difficulties encountered while making the film. The entire surreal struggle of Cocteau and of others involved in the film is wonderfully captured in his journal and any serious student of either Cocteau or the film will profit by reading it.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter Loves This Film I bought this as a Christmas present for my daughter. She loves French and wanted this movie badly. She has watched it several times and seems to love it. Published 8 months ago by A. M. Herrera 5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!!! I purchased this not too long ago. I have the movie and adore it, so when I saw this book I was extremely excited. I was not let down. Read more Published 13 months ago by Nik 5.0 out of 5 stars Belle et la Bête Absolutely fasinating. So many of my French teacher colleagues show this movie. They would find this "making of" so interesting. Read more Published 17 months ago by A. Guillet 5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating book The book provides insights into the making of Cocteau's classic film. The incredible film obviously stands alone, but knowledge of the period and the various aspects and... Read more Published 22 months ago by C. Graf 5.0 out of 5 stars A great book! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has seen Jean Cocteau's fil version of "Beauty and the Beast" The book is the diary of the film. Read more Published on December 8, 2001 by Rosella Ann Myles 5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic value for money A wonderful book. "Diary..." details Cocteau's seemingly insurmountable obstacles in creating one of the greatest-ever fantasy films. Read more Published on January 14, 2000 by Curmudgeon Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486227766
• ISBN-13: 978-0486227764
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making Beauty from Beastly Conditions, May 25, 2000

By	K. Garner "233rdc" (the midwest) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cocteau's diary on the making of his most famous film - "La Belle et la Bête" (1946) - recounts an almost endless series of obstacles that he encountered during its production. From illnesses (everyone involved seemed to suffer some significant ailment or injury during production) to production problems (bad film stock, unworkable cameras) to union disputes, the film was almost plagued from the start.

At times this litany of woe and frustration can be quite tedious - when Cocteau goes into a detailed discussion of his ezcema and other physical maladies, I tuned out. But it's still a fascinating look at not only how he pulled all the elements together (although his entries for the editing process are rather short) but also what filmmaking was like during a difficult time in French history. His depictions of his stars, Jean Marais and Josette Day, are quite interesting too. And the book shows perhaps better than many textbooks how the different talents on a film set contribute to the final result.

The book probably won't be enjoyable to those who haven't seen the movie (at least a few times) but for those who really admire this film, this behind-the-scenes look is a real treat.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Diary is great for anyone who is intrested in Films, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

Jean Cocteau was a genius. A genius who created works that enchant you when you witness them and confound you when you attempt to understand how they were executed. They give the appearance of such straight foward fluidity of thought and motion that they conceal all of Cocteau's struggle to create them. But beneath that glaze of facility is an infinite clockwork of tedious difficulty and boundless determination. This diary is the biography of one such clockwork.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suffering for his Art, January 7, 2006

By	Richard Patocchi (Stockton, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Some have found Cocteau's litany of illnesses that he and others suffered while filming "Beauty and the Beast" tedious and skipped over them as seemingly irrelevant. Unfortunately, those who do so may miss the entire point of Cocteau's masochistic esthetic, namely, the necessity for the artist to suffer and triumph over all adversity for the sake of his art. That suffering is part and parcel of his art, suffering is art, just as "Beauty and the Beast" suffered during the filming and triumphed as a lasting work of art. Cocteau's suffering at the time mirrored the enormous technical difficulties encountered while making the film. The entire surreal struggle of Cocteau and of others involved in the film is wonderfully captured in his journal and any serious student of either Cocteau or the film will profit by reading it.