Beauty and the Beast (Disney)

The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best Disney films ever!
I'm an adult and I cried at the end of this movie, it touched me so deeply. I'm not ordinarily an emotional person when watching make believe stories, but, this one touched my heart.
--2006-12-07

Fantastic!!
Beauty and the Beast is total family entertainment. The music is awesome and clever- great voices wonderful to watch. Teaches upstanding morals.
Other classics not to forget about are:
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Wizard of Oz
Chitty Chitty Bang Band
The first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Sound of Music
Oliver
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Singing in the Rain
The Wiz
Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Grease
The King and I
Oklahoma
The Music Man
South Pacific

My Voice Students are always asking me for recommendations so I though I'd post it for all! We can't forget about these great musicals!
--2006-11-06

One of my Top Favorite Films Ever !!!
I'm a Disney nut anyway but this film along with The Lion King and The Little Mermaid are there greatest masterpieces!The score is breathtaking,the songs a mixture of fun(Belle,Be Our Guest,etc.),malice(The Mob Song),and grand emotion (Beauty and the Beast).This wonderful score quality has disappeared in recent years at Disney and sadly will probably never be seen again.But then,this type of movie,the Disney Musical,will probably never be seen again.Along with the spectacular score is the exquisite animation.This so-called "outdated"style,the 2-D style,is infinitely superior to the cold,unimaginative,3-D style that is now the rage.With the exception of the Pixar films and the first shrek,these movies are generally atrocious.They have none of the warmth and astounding emotional quality that this film posseses in abundance.Also,the voices in this film are perfect,and being a M*A*S*H fan,I get quite a kick out of hearing David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth,the stuffy clock.This movie is a true classic from start to finish,and with this spectacular 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD,the film can be viewed in all it's glory.The extras are perfect and should not be missed.Also,the picture is restored to crystal clear perfection,and there is a new song incorporated to complete the experience!Get this along with the special edition soundtrack.You wont regret it!
--2006-10-26

A Tale As Old As Time Done Right
Beauty and the Beast may well be the very best animated film Disney ever produced. The characterizations of the leads are great as we have the sweet book loving Belle and the the flawed but totally redeemable "Beast". Gaston and Belle's father are also well drawn and memorable as are the comic relief bearing "enchanted" servants at the castle. There's something for everyone as the story is so romantic it leaves a lot of grown up ladies sighing, the bad guys are not too scary for the little ones and for the rest it is just a great tale. Plus Beauty and the Beast has some of the best songs ever written for a Disney production. No wonder the Broadway musical has been such a hit as well.
--2006-10-14

Tied for first for best Disney feature
I must've been about 10 when I first saw the Lion King and I was practically floored. Those catchy-for-their-own-good songs, the animation(well, me now talking) and that wildebeast stampede. The other one is Beauty and the Beast which for the life of me I can't remember seeing when I was young yet loved every minute of it. Revisiting it now I still love it and on one hand seeing it as a landmark in Disney's catalogue but also one in a series of films that marked a brief creative comeback.

Belle is a beautiful bookworm girl living in a small village. Nose deep in books while having a kooky inventor for a father, many find her odd. However, she does attract the attention of seriously full of himself Gaston, a hunter who can probably single-handedly take women back a few hundred years. Meanwhile, in a distant castle, a Beast lurks; transformed because of a spell unless he gets true love before a magical rose loses its last petal. Eventually these 2 will meet but can they fall in love?

After a decidedly less than perfect 80's period, the Little Mermaid brought the House of Mouse back and showed they can still pull it off. Then came this which was extremely successful and even garnered a Best Picture nod, the only animated film to do so. Also it's one of the few it seems that seems entirely built on a love story and character development. Unlike Ariel who instantly fell in love just by looking at the guy, Belle in fact hates him then grows to love him. This focus allows the film a different atmosphere than others.

The one problem, a really minor nitpick, is that the songs aren't as fantastic. Yes we have Be Our Guest or the hilarious Gaston but I'm not the biggest fan of There May Be Something...and Angela Lansbury's rendition of the title track ruins what's a great cinematic moment. I do have a particular liking for the opening track Belle though. Where the film also excels is the animation. Certain scenes aren't as eye-popping but the opening title has a beautiful background, Belle is a gorgeous design and Beast is a great animated character.

Thanks to Disney, the film has been put back into the Vault so you can't find it now unless you're willing to drain your paycheck on Ebay. If you can even find it, it's definately worth a recommendation.
--2006-10-10

- Walt Disney Video