Beauty and the Beast (1991)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Directors:

Gary Trousdale
Kirk Wise

Writers:

Linda Woolverton (animation screenplay)
Roger Allers (story)

Release Date:

22 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The most beautiful love story ever told.

Plot:

Belle, whose father Maurice is imprisoned by the Beast (really an enchanted Prince), offers herself instead and finds the prince inside the Beast.

Plot Keywords:

Beast | Love | Prince | Castle | Village

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Paige O'Hara	...	Belle (voice)
Robby Benson	...	Beast (voice)
Richard White	...	Gaston (voice)
Jerry Orbach	...	Lumiere (voice)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Cogsworth / Narrator (voice)
Angela Lansbury	...	Mrs. Potts (voice)
Bradley Pierce	...	Chip (voice) (as Bradley Michael Pierce)
Rex Everhart	...	Maurice (voice)
Jesse Corti	...	Lefou (voice)
Hal Smith	...	Philippe (voice)
Jo Anne Worley	...	Wardrobe (voice)
Mary Kay Bergman	...	Babette (voice)
Brian Cummings	...	Stove (voice)
Alvin Epstein	...	Bookseller (voice)
Tony Jay	...	Monsieur D'Arque (voice)

Also Known As:

Beauty and the Beast 3-D (USA) (promotional title)
Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (USA) (longer version)

Runtime:

84 min | 91 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | Sonics-DDP (IMAX version)

Certification:

South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Ireland:G | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Feature Animation - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

Many of paintings on the walls of the castle are undetailed versions of famous paintings by such artists as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Goya.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Beast transforms back to his human form, we see the camera focus to his feet being transformed back to a human foot, then for a split-second we can see the beast's hands still on their 'beast' form. This was considered a mistake because his hands transformed first.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Batman Returns (1992)

Soundtrack:

Human Again

the story ever told

a great movie story done with wondrous animation and lovely music. the pacing was perfect, the music blended extremely well with the action, and each character was developed charmingly. the contrast between the mean but insecure beast plays very well against the lovely but bright and secure belle. the animation was top notch: even now, after disney has had time to develop better computer animation techniques, it still has beautiful color and flow. except for pinocchio, I don't know any disney movie more lovely. It's a movie that appeals to children of all ages, especially adults : )

enough of the "technical stuff" let's get on to my emotional attachment to the movie.

I remember the first time I saw B&tB so vividly; I was completely enthralled by the movie that all I could do on the way home was smile and cry. I've seen it many, many times, yet the ballroom scene still gives me goose bumps. Angela Landsbury as Mrs. Potts sings the title song with so much feeling that every time I hear the song, I'm swept away back to that ballroom.

I was also moved by Belle's strength of self worth and generosity. She is a heroine I'd love girls to emulate. She knows what she wants, but yet is sensitive to others in trying to achieve that goal. She also learns to apologize and to forgive, no small task.

I've loved this movie from the start, and it has grown into an obsession. I collect everything I can now, and watch it when I need a lift. So I know my opinion is strongly biased : ) but I hope you get a chance to see this film and judge for yourself. I realize it is difficult to get access to the videos or laser discs (check out the spanish version cover imdb is using in B&tB's page) but it is well worth the search. The first time is most magical. I envy you.