BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
This is the age-old fascinating tale of the beautiful girl and an ugly beast. The story is brought to life in this, the 30th animated full-length Disney film and only the fifth classic fairy tale of Disney films, (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs <1937>, Cinderella <1956>, Sleeping Beauty <1959>, The Little Mermaid, <1989>, a Hans Christian Anderson story, which became the most successful of all animated films ever released.) Only through animation, it would seem, could the story reach new heights of imagination. Add to it some inspired voice casting and clever songs and here is a film for both children and adults to enjoy. The music is by Alan Menken and the songs are by the team of Menken and Howard Ashman.
It is the 1800s. Belle (Beauty) lives in a French village where she enjoys reading books. There she is pursued by, a good-looking egotist named Gaston who is always admiring himself but he is not at all what Belle is looking for. Richard White is Gaston's voice.
Her father, an inventor, wanders into a castle where he is taken prisoner by a horrible-looking beast. Belle offers herself as hostage so that her father can be released. Aided by the castle's staff she discovers that even an ugly beast can have a heart of gold unlike Gaston who is more of a beast than the one in the castle. This is further revealed when he leads a crowd to the castle in the films climactic denouement.
There's just enough growling and blustering by the Beast to give little kids a thrill. . . and just enough pathos and personality to make them love him. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is full of the kind of humor one associates with Disney films. From the broad brush given Gaston's egotism, to the antics of the mantel clock, the teapot, candelabra and wardrobe, the film is a happy romp.
Beauty's loyalty to her father and self-sacrifice will not be lost on the viewers. While the film is primarily for children, adults will be happy to find they, too, are enjoying it.
Easily recognizable voices are those of the Narrator, Donald Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, the castle's housekeeper, and Jo Anne Worley as the Wardrobe and Jerry Ohrbach doing the candelabra voice.
Beautifully animated, with lifelike scenery, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will entertain you and your children.
Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise.
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Ben Hoffman
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