La Belle et la Bête (1946) (Draft)

Jean Cocteau's telling of the fairy tale has splendidly theatrical acting, some creepy effects (live arms holding swivelling candelabras, statues that come to life) and a sympathetic Beast with expressive teddy bear ears. Surely Neil Jordan was inspired by this when he made Company of Wolves. The sets are not expansive, but sufficiently exotic to convey a magical atmosphere, and the costumes of Belle and the Beast are wonderful.

Shame about the weedy fangs, but I love how when there is magic around, things smoke, especially the Beast.

Alas, the transformation at the end is slightly anti-climactic. Avenant, the hunk in the village who'd asked Belle to marry him, breaks into the Beast's lair, and is shot by a statue of Diana. He then turns into the Beast, while Beast turns into...Avenant (only not) - which we knew was going to happen all along as they were of course played by the same actor. In fact, the newly transfigured Beast even asks Belle if she's disappointed that he now looks like Avenant.