La Bête

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.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Walerian Borowczyk Films
Goto, Island of Love
...

June 1, 2025

More by Marjorie Baumgarten
SXSW Film Review: <i>On Swift Horses</i>
SXSW Film Review: On Swift Horses
In 1950s America, identity is imposed rather than discovered

March 15, 2025

Opus
Maybe don't accept the invite to the remote compound teeming with cultlike vibes?

March 14, 2025

KEYWORDS FOR THIS FILM

La Bête, Walerian Borowczyk, Roland Armontel, Pierre Benedetti, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kahson, Sirpa Lane, Guy Tréjan

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle