NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (July 2021): Second Run have transferred Juraj Herz's Beauty and the Beast (aka "Panna a netvor") to Blu-ray. It is cited as "presented complete and uncut from a new HD transfer from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive". The 1080P, 1.37:1, image is housed on a single-layered Blu-ray disc with a supportive bitrate. It has plenty of damage marks in the opening and less prevalent thereafter (see samples below.) It also has some green -infiltration but it entirely watchable. It has frame-specific speckles and some obvious warts but I image this is the best the film will get in this format. I wasn't deterred by the compromised visuals. 

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Second Run use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Czech language. Panna a netvor has aggression, screams and a gunshot but most of the conflicts don't transpire and are a build up of suspense. There is a score by Petr Hapka (Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmaster), sounding reasonable with similar inconsistencies to the video. Dialogue is audible and Second Run offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Projection Booth audio commentary with Mike White, Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger and they talk about many of the dark fairy tales, often horror influenced, made in Czech cinema. They talk about the Cocteau film, La belle et la bête, - the surrealism, dream sequences. They discuss the artwork and set decor by Josef Pavlík and the subtle eroticism of Beauty and the Beast. It's a very revealing discussion talking about the State-funded and political hints within the Czech film of this era, the unique beast, the economics of the story, and the film's very dark qualities. Second Run also include František Hrubín a 9-minute, 1964 short film on the Czech writer and poet, and co-screenwriter of Beauty and the Beast. The package has a 20-page liner notes booklet with new writing on the film by author Jonathan Owen.     

Juraj Herz's Beauty and the Beast is quite a surprise being very horror-oriented, Gothic, atmospheric and dark. I really enjoyed it especially after the commentary highlighted themes that I wasn't aware of. Wow. It can certainly be creepy at times. The Second Run Blu-ray has plenty of value as they continue to expose these highly remarkable gems on Blu-ray. Fans of Czech cinema and those curious as to this suspenseful, unique, fairy tale adaptation should consider indulging.

Gary Tooze