Beauty and the Beast is among the most cherished and popular fairy tales. The fairy tale was written in 1740 by a French author called Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. Since then, various authors have retold the fairy tale in different ways. A version by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756 is the most popular. This classic fairy tale has inspired many movies, television serials, stage musicals and even video games. The 1991 movie, Beauty and the Beast by Walt Disney Pictures is perhaps the most famous and popular adaptation of the fairy tale.
The Walt Disney movie was released on 22 November, 1991 in the United States and on 9 October, 1992 in the United Kingdom. This movie was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise and produced by Don Hahn. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman composed the musical score. Famous actors including Paige O’Hara, Angela Lansbury, Richard White, Jerry Orbach and Robby Benson provided voiceovers for the characters, and the film was narrated by David Ogden Stiers. The animated movie received rave reviews from audiences and critics all over the world and is considered one of the best musicals and Walt Disney films of all time.
The plot of the movie revolves around the relationship between Belle and the Beast. A handsome prince is cursed by an enchantress and transformed into a beast when he refuses to help her in need. His castle is also turned into a dark and gloomy place and the servants are changed to anthropomorphic household items. The curse will only be broken if a girl falls in love with the Beast before the enchanted rose given by the Enchantress withers away. Maurice, an inventor, loses his way and enters the Beast’s castle for shelter, but the Beast keeps him imprisoned there. Maurice’s daughter, Belle, starts searching for her father and finds him in the Beast’s castle. She offers to stay in her father’s place. The Beast readily agrees as he hopes the spell may finally be broken. Over a period of time, Belle and the Beast become friends and fall in love with each other. However, Gaston, a village hero, wants to marry Belle so decides to fight the Beast. In the battle between the two, the Beast is seriously wounded. Belle tells him that she is in love with him just before the last petal of the enchanted rose withers away. The Beast is transformed into a prince as the spell is broken and Belle and the prince live happily ever after.
The movie was nominated for a series of awards. It is the only animated movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The movie won Academy Awards for the Best Original Score and the Best Original Song. The success of the movie led to a Broadway musical, which was staged from 1994 to 2007. DVDs of Beauty and the Beast are available featuring extra songs and scenes.
Buy on Dealtime:
