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The Beast
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Licensor Information
Argos Films
Directed by: Walerian Borowczyk
Walerian Borowczyk's most notorious and controversial film wildly re-works the classic Beauty and the Beast story into a fairy tale strictly for adults.
Bestial dreams interrupt the venal plans of a French aristocrat attempting to save a crumbling mansion by marrying off his deformed son, Mathurin, to a insatiable American heiress, Lucy. Yet Mathurin seems more interested in his horses than in his bride-to-be, and when Lucy finds out about the story of his 18th-century ancestor Romilda's (Sirpa Lane) relationship with the titular beast it sparks to life one of the most outrageous dream sequences in cinema history.
A huge hit in France that was extensively censored and banned elsewhere, The Beast broke new ground in explicitness and remains a truly startling experience even today.
Bestial dreams interrupt the venal plans of a French aristocrat attempting to save a crumbling mansion by marrying off his deformed son, Mathurin, to a insatiable American heiress, Lucy. Yet Mathurin seems more interested in his horses than in his bride-to-be, and when Lucy finds out about the story of his 18th-century ancestor Romilda's (Sirpa Lane) relationship with the titular beast it sparks to life one of the most outrageous dream sequences in cinema history.
A huge hit in France that was extensively censored and banned elsewhere, The Beast broke new ground in explicitness and remains a truly startling experience even today.
Release Information:
Technical Specifications
Format:
Blu-ray
DVD
Discs:
BD-50 (1 Disc)
DVD-9 (1 Disc)
Total: 2 Discs
Regions:
A (Blu-ray)
2 (DVD)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66:1
Audio Options:
French Dolby Digital Mono 1.0
French PCM Mono 1.0
Resolution:
1080p/24
480p/29.97
Subtitles:
English
Supplements
Types of Supplements Included: Introduction, Documentary, Video Essay, Theatrical Trailer, Packaging, Interview, Commercials, Booklet
- Introduction by film critic Peter Bradshaw
- The Making of ‘The Beast’: camera operator Noël Véry provides a commentary on footage shot during the film’s production
- Frenzy of Ecstasy, a new visual essay on the evolution of Borowczyk’s beast and the sequel that never was, Motherhood
- The Profligate Door, a documentary about Borowczyk's sound sculptures featuring curator Maurice Corbet
- Boro Brunch, a reunion meal recorded in February 2014 reuniting members of Borowczyk's crew
- Commercials by Borowczyk: Holy Smoke (1963), The Museum (1964) and Tom Thumb (1966)
- Gunpoint, a documentary short by Peter Graham produced and edited by Borowczyk (11:04)
- Behind Enemy Lines - The Making of Gunpoint (5:16)
- Theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original poster design
- Illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film by Daniel Bird and an archive piece by David Thompson, illustrated with original stills
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