Beauty and the Beast (film)
"Beauty and the Beast" is a renowned animated film produced by Disney, first released in 1991. It is notable for being Disney's thirtieth animated feature and the first full-length animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The story follows Belle, a bookish young woman living in a provincial French town, who offers to take her father's place as a prisoner in an enchanted castle ruled by a Beast—a prince cursed by an enchantress. The film features a rich assortment of characters, including animated household objects like Lumière and Mrs. Potts, which contribute to its charm and appeal.
Utilizing innovative Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) technology, the film is celebrated for its vibrant visuals and memorable musical score, composed by Alan Menken. "Beauty and the Beast" garnered critical acclaim, winning two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Its success led to various adaptations, including a Broadway musical and a live-action remake in 2017, featuring Emma Watson as Belle. Overall, the film continues to resonate with audiences globally, making it a timeless classic in animated cinema.
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Subject Terms
Beauty and the Beast (film)
Identification Animated film
Directors Gary Trousdale (1960– ) and Kirk Wise (1958– )
Date Released on November 13, 1991
The eighteenth-century romantic French fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” is a familiar story that has been shared in many different languages throughout the world. In 1991, Walt Disney Pictures released a magnificently created and carefully marketed animated film based on the tale, the first full-length animated feature ever to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
Disney’s thirtieth animated movie, and the fifth one based on a classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast was one of the company’s first animated features to be produced with Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) software, which allowed artistic drawings to be scanned into computers and then electronically painted and enhanced with background scenery. This technique helped create colorful characters and lush background that appealed to the visual senses. In this film, Disney brought these fantastic illustrations to life with wonderful songs and excellent casting that have amazed audiences.
As the movie opens, the Beauty, Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), runs through the streets while reading a book. Her heart is anywhere but in the French town where she resides with her father, Maurice (Rex Everhart), an inventor. The smart, strong-minded, yet childlike girl has a modern spirit that rejects the advances of Gaston (Richard White), a self-centered, vain man who cannot believe that Belle does not swoon over him. After Maurice loses his way in the forest and finds shelter in a castle, he is taken captive by the Beast (Robby Benson), a prince under the spell of an angered enchantress because of his stubborn pride. Belle bargains for her father’s release from imprisonment in the enchanted castle in exchange for her own captivity.
Disney’s portrayal of the castle’s inhabitants, including Lumiere (Jerry Orbach), a talking candelabra; Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers), a chatting British clock; Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury), a warm and friendly teapot; and her son, Chip (Bradley Michael Pierce), a cracked teacup, are charming inspirations that show Disney at its finest. Beauty and the Beast appealed to people of all ages, drawn to the lively characters, rich imagery, and captivating music that made the film an instant classic.
Impact
Beauty and the Beast drew large audiences, earned numerous awards, created demand for keepsake merchandise and games, and was the first full-length animated feature ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture (losing to The Silence of the Lambs). The film won two Academy Awards, for Best Music, Original Score (Alan Menken), and Best Music, Original Song (Menken and Howard Ashman). Lansbury sang the Oscar-winning song for the ballroom dance scene. On April 18, 1994, the Palace Theatre in New York City opened the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It played there until September 5, 1999, and then moved to Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. From 1995 to 1999, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) ran a children’s series titled Sing Me a Story with Belle. In 1997–98, Disney released two short children’s videos with the Beauty and the Beast premise. In 2017, a much-anticipated live-action version of the film, starring Emma Watson as Belle, was released to overall critical and commercial acclaim. The romantic Disney series continues to enchant audiences around the world.
Bibliography
Barnes, Brooks. "Beauty and the Beast: Disney's $300 Million Gamble." The New York Times, 2 Oct. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-disneys-300-million-gamble.html. Accessed 2 Oct. 2018.
Beck, Jerry. The Animated Movie Guide. Chicago Review P, 2005.
Finch, Christopher. The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdom. Rev. ed., Harry N. Abrams, 2004.
Frantz, Donald, and Sue Heinemann. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Hyperion, 1995.
Miller, Michael. "Beauty and the Beast Proves Its Staying Power." Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2014, www.latimes.com/tn-dpt-et-0110-disney-beauty-and-the-beast-segerst-20140109-story.html. Accessed 2 Oct. 2018.