Disney’s 1991 cartoon version of this classic French tale doesn’t concern itself with the darker aspects, but Jean Cocteau’s surreal 1946 adaptation is a lushly sensual tableau replete with Freudian imagery and impressive practical effects. In 1999, Roger Ebert recommended this big-screen fairy tale interpretation for adults more than children, despite its visual splendor, as it deals with the core of most fairy tales: dread and desire. – Lina Fisher
