La Bête
1975, X, 93 min. Directed by Walerian Borowczyk. Starring Roland Armontel, Pierre Benedetti, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kahson, Sirpa Lane, Guy Tréjan.
REVIEWED By Marjorie Baumgarten, Tue., Oct. 22, 2002
Controversy has dogged this frankly erotic work by the Polish former animator-turned-live-action director Walerian Borowczyk. The movie is a blatantly sexy reworking of The Beauty and the Beast story and involves lots of decaying artistocrats, randy animals with large phalluses, and wanton women disrobing constantly. Recently released in uncensored form, La Bête should not be confused with the Disney take on the old fable.
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La Bête, Walerian Borowczyk, Roland Armontel, Pierre Benedetti, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kahson, Sirpa Lane, Guy Tréjan