The Tale as Old as 1991: A Movie Review of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"

2012 3D release poster

Original 1991 poster

How can anyone learn to love a hideous monster? Is it even possible? In Disney's
Academy Award-winning Beauty and the Beast, it certainly is! The movie won two academy awards, which is impressive considering it is hard for animated pictures to win more than one (and even then they have other contenders for the "Best Animated Film" award). It was also the very first Disney movie to be adapted as a Broadway musical.
The film stars the voices of Paige O'Hara as Belle (the "Beauty" of the movie), Robby Benson as the Beast, and Richard White as the hunter Gaston. I should also mention that Angela Lansbury is the voice of the castle cook Mrs. Potts, and she does a marvelous job.

SUMMARY

 Belle and her inventing father live in the countryside, just outside of a small village. She has no friends except for her books, which she borrows from a bookkeeper constantly. Although she is quite "strange" (according to the townsfolk), she has at least one quality: she is definitely the most beautiful person in the village. And she has caught the eye of the self-consumed hunter Gaston.

   Belle's "papa" Maurice says that his new invention will make a new life for them. That day, he is off to take his invention to the fair, where Belle believes he will win first place.

   However, Maurice's horse Philippe is spooked by wolves and runs off. Maurice is chased by wolves and only can find refuge in a large, dark castle. Inside the castle, Maurice finds an open chair by a warm fire. Oh, by the way, he also meets talking objects (such as a talking clock, candlestick, and teapot). As he warms up by the fire, with a cup of warm drink, he is confronted by a hideous monster, who drags him away.

   Back at home, Belle rejects the proposal of Gaston, much to his frustration. A little while later, the horse Philippe returns to her, and she realizes that her father must be in some sort of danger.

   The horse takes her to the dark castle. The talking candlestick Lumière secretly leads Belle to the prison tower in which her father is being held captive. The Beast enters the scene, and she takes her father's place, setting Maurice free.

   As Belle explores her new home and the enchanted occupants, her father tells everyone back in the village tavern that his daughter has been captured by a vicious creature (causing the townsfolk to think he is even more crazy). 

   While the ending is good, it is also quite tense for a Disney cartoon.

CONTENT

   Like many of Disney's animated features of the 1990's, the G-rated Beauty and the Beast has a borderline amount of violence for the film (perhaps that is even being a bit generous). Some younger children might possibly find the Beast to be frightening. Gaston fires shots from his rifle at the beginning of the film, but the gun is not shot at any people. At the end of the film, there is a "battle" between the enchanted servants and townsmen. This includes weapons such as scissors, hot water, and an oven. Afterwards, there is a tense confrontation between the Beast and Gaston. The hunter fires an arrow into the Beast's arm. Also, a person is stabbed with a knife (though we don't see any blood, if I recall correctly) and a man falls down an abyss, shouting the whole time.

   There is just a little sensual content in the movie. In the village tavern, Gaston is admired by three women who wear strapless gowns. Lumière is sometimes seen flirting with a female duster, and one scene shows the Beast in the bath (but there is nothing sexual about this, and we see no intimate parts). There is, however, only one kiss in the film. Apart from this, there is some very mild crude humor (i.e. scissors poke a man's behind).

   There is no foul language in the movie.

   Beauty and the Beast is completely based on a magical spell cast by an enchantress. This spell can only be broken by true love. There is no other use of magic in the film.

   Disney's cartoon really is a wonderful movie for mostly all ages. Apart from the violence, which could scare young children, there are a lot of positive things about the movie: loving others despite their outward appearance, loyalty, bravery, and true strength. Gaston represents a strong, yet cruel man, while the Beast shows a strong and kind soul. 

   I also would like to make a special note of the songs by Alan Menken. Some of the most popular Disney songs come from this film, including Be Our Guest, Human Again, and Beauty and the Beast. All of the songs are great, but Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury do marvelous jobs in their respective songs Be Our Guest and Beauty and the Beast.

   With both positive and negative aspects, this is a good family movie for anybody. It is one of my personal favorite Disney pictures and continues to be a favorite of our whole family.

   (Please note that this is a review of the Special Edition, including a few more minutes of film and some new music, though the storyline is the same regardless)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 84 minutes (Original edition), 91 minutes (2002 Special edition)

Rating: G

Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Producer: Don Hahn

Music: Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman (lyrics), Tim Rice (additional lyrics)

Year of release: 1991

Primary audience: Children, family