Our reviews of both follow after the jump.
Then the war kept Cocteau from the camera for years, until he returned with this effort.
The film starts with the director apologizing for his flights of fancy.
It would be hilarious to see someone like Michael Bay attempt the same thing.
The family has lost their fortune, which makes the elder sisters that much more terrible.
Dad (Marcel Andre) goes for a ride, stumbles across the beasts lair and steals a rose.
This thievery is a hanging offense.
But Cocteau is about creating a tone of escapism, likely reinforced by having survived the war.
Its gorgeous, a little erotic, and the definition of a visual treat.
Both are well worth sitting through.
Screening at the Majestic (27 min.)
is a making of from 1997 with interviews with Mila Parely, Jean Marias, and DP Henry Alekan.
Its followed by an interview with Alekan (9 min.)
made for the films 1995 re-release.
The make-up of the film gets the focus in Secrets Professionnels: Tete-A-Tete (9 min.)
and a still gallery.
Leon Morin, Priestbegins in a completely different place.
But one of the lovers may or may not be fighting their feelings.
And that tension is partly why Melville is considered a genius.
Theres a lot to digest here, and Melvilles text is dense and yet straightforward.
Its a smart film about loneliness and desire, and Melvilles touch here is immaculate.
The Criterion Blu-ray presents the film in widescreen (1.66:1) and in uncompressed Monaural sound.
Supplements include an interview from 1961 with Melville and Belmondo (5 min.
), selected scene commentary by Ginette Vincendeau (35 min.
), two deleted scenes (4 min.
), and the films theatrical trailer.
AS most everyone involved is dead, this is as good as it gets.
