The story of a gentle-hearted beast in love with a simple and beautiful girl. She is drawn to the repellent but strangely fascinating Beast, who tests her fidelity by giving her a key, telling her that if she doesn't return it to him by a specific time, he will die of grief. She is unable to return the key on time, but it is revealed that the Beast is the genuinely handsome one. A simple tale of tragic love that turns into a surreal vision of death, desire, and beauty.

Jean Marais
as La Bête / Le Prince / Avenant

Josette Day
as Belle

Marcel André
as Belle's Father

Mila Parély
as Félicie

Nane Germon
as Adélaïde

Michel Auclair
as Ludovic

Raoul Marco
as The Insurer

Jean Cocteau
as The Voice of Magic (uncredited)

Noël Blin
as Footman (uncredited)

Christian Marquand
as Footman (uncredited)
CinemaSerf
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 d...