When it comes to my favorite of Disney’s animated offerings,
the majority of them stem from my childhood experiences of watching them as a
kid. Movies like “Aladdin”, “Pocahontas”,
"The Lion King" and especially “Hercules” were some of
my absolute favorites that I watched all the time, and they left such a special
impact on my youth, that I still adore them as an adult.
Watching them take’s
me back to a cherished time of my life that will never come again, and the
majority of them still hold up as really good movies regardless. Then on the
opposite side of that coin, we have the 1991 Disney classic “Beauty and the
Beast”, which was a film that I rarely ever watched as a kid. For whatever
reason, “Beauty and the Beast” never appealed to me as a kid, and thus,
it’s not a movie I have any nostalgic tie-in’s with. Yet, watching this movie
as an adult, I realized … it not only earns its status as one of the studio’s
greatest animated movies, but it surpasses just about everyone that I grew-up
with. This isn’t a movie I’m looking at through nostalgia goggles, it’s
something I’m viewing as a mature adult, and seeing it as a near flawless
masterpiece. I know there’s no such thing as a perfect movie, but for my money
… "Beauty and the Beast" is about as perfect
as animated Disney movies get.
Everything from the main lead, to the romance,
to the villain, to the songs, to the design, to the pacing, to the moral
subtext is all just perfect ... and it took me to my adult years to really
notice. Everyone else at the time fell in love with this film, and even though
it’s over 20 years old, it’s still regarded as one of the greatest animated
movies of all time. This was the 30th animated motion picture from the studio,
and It was the first animated movie in history to be nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Picture, which was completely unheard of at the time. This is no small
accomplishment, as only two other animated movies ... “Toy Story 3” and “Up” ... have gotten the best picture nomination. Despite losing the best picture Oscar
to “Silence of the Lambs”, “Beauty and the Beast” left its mark
as more than just another hit animated Disney movie ... it’s something truly
special in it's own right.
The movie begins with arguably my
favorite animated cold-opening, leading into a film’s title card.
We’re told the
backstory of our titular Beast, which is brilliantly displayed through stain
glass windows, and we learn that he was once a prince … spoiled, heartless and
only jugged people through their outward appearances. After dismissing an ugly
old woman, he was cursed by an enchantress to take on the likeness of a
monster, and would remain that way until someone could find beauty hidden deep
within. Everything from the narration, to the visuals, to the subtle music cues
are all rich with atmosphere, and it perfectly set’s the tone of the film
without anything grand or operatic. We then meet our lead heroine Bell, who’s
everything kind, loving, adventurous, and completely at odds with a rather
gossipy town. One good looking hunter named Gaston sees her as nothing but a
good-looking prize, and is desperate to win her hand. Bell however has
no-interest in being someone’s prize, and has greater ambitions of something
grander than she can even imagine. Meanwhile, her father Maurice has stumbled
across the castle of the Beast, and is taken prisoner. Shortly after, Bell
offers her own life in exchange for her father, which presents an opportunity
for the Beast. At first, the Beast views her as a means to an end, but through
a series of well-placed events, the two begin to look past their differences,
their faults, and the two see more in each other than either of their
outward appearances would suggest. Thus, an unlikely, yet genuine romance
begins to blossom between the two.
Walt
Disney originally had ambitions to do an animated adaption of “Beauty and
the Beast”, but dropped the idea thinking he could never compete with the live-action 1946 movie classic, which prior to the animated movie was universally considered
the definitive movie adaption of “Beauty and the Beast”.
Over the years,
the studio found the discarded plans, and aimed to make an animated adaption
that the late Walt Disney would have been proud of. It may surprise some of you
that many of the fairy-tales adapted into animated Disney movies weren’t always the
most kid friendly. The original sources for stories like “Pinocchio”, “The
Fox and the Hound” and even “The Little Mermaid” were a lot darker,
and intensely more dramatic than what their Disney animated counterparts would
lead you to think. “Beauty and the Beast” was no exception, as the
original fairy tale was a relatively dark, and cold story about how this
fearsome monster held a beautiful woman captive in a castle, and would try to
force her hand in marriage every night over dinner.
The Disney version however
took the basic outline of the story and added some new elements to balance out
the tone, and even expanded the story. Characters like the enchanted objects,
and the villain Gaston were never part of the original source material, yet
they added more layers to both the story and the experience. Regardless, the
spirit of its source remains, as it’s a story of redemption, discovering
a beautiful soul hidden deep within a repulsive monster, and through the kind
actions of a woman, it makes for one of cinema’s most compelling romantic
tales. It’s a winning formula that’s been told throughout the ages, and can
be traced back to countless other works of literature, including “The Phantom
of the Opera”, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, and even contemporary
films like “Edward Scissorhands” and “King Kong”.
The titular Beast in this film has one of the strongest character arcs of any Disney lead, as we see the
gradual transition between a savage monster, to a loving person.
While we never
really learn anything more of his prince identity, or even his real name, the
film still gets us to connect with him regardless of his mysterious background.
This puts us squarely in Bells frame of mind, as she never once asks him what
he was like before his transformation, or who he was, yet still makes a genuine
connection with him. Conveying a believable romance between two people, while
one is kept shrouded in mystery is no small feat, but the film nails all the
important details. For example, when Beast confesses, he’s never felt this way
about anyone he chooses to give her something special, which comes in the form
of his giant library, that she’s awestruck by. This makes a great contrast to
Gaston, who proposed that Bell go over to his place to look at all his hunting
trophies. When Bell is attacked by a pack of wolves, it makes for an exciting
action highlight, but it also shows the compassion between the two, as Bell
chooses to aid the Beast after his rescue, despite having the opportunity to
run away. As a side note, I think the Beast is a much funnier character than
most viewers realize. Seeing him juggle between his temper and his attempts at
being patience leads to some hilarious reactions. I especially love the beasts
design, almost like an amalgamation of a lion, an ox, a Werewolf, and a yeti.
On the opposite side of the Beasts story of
redemption is our lead heroin Belle, who is hands down one of my all-time
favorite animated characters … ever.
I'll admit that as a kid, Belle never
stood out to me as a memorable Disney princess, but looking at her as an adult,
I think she’s one of the greatest female characters to ever come from the
studio. While other Princesses have been drawn beautiful, Belle is the first
who genuinely feels beautiful. It’s as if everything kind, charming, playful,
adventurous, and admirable you can find in a person are in this character. Maybe
she’s a little too perfect, but she’s also very innocent, and doesn’t always
make the right choices … namely wandering off into a forbidden part of the
castle, and getting into a great deal of trouble for it. So, she still has a
lot to learn, as well as a lot to adapt to. Part of the reason she feels so
beautiful is just through the simple connection we make while watching her
journey unfold. Because of this, when she steps-out in the iconic yellow dress,
it goes beyond someone simply looking pretty in a fancy outfit … she is
downright radiating beauty. Also, while every Disney Princess has had their own
wants and desires, Belle almost stands apart from them, and has a need to
discover something greater than herself … something impact-full, something she
can't even comprehend. That's kind of a deep, and an inspiring character trait.
Plus, it all pays off, as what she was looking for comes from the last place
she’d ever expect.
I’ve also developed similar feelings for the
films lead villain Gaston, who I didn’t like at all when I was a kid, as I just
found him very one-note and boring. Now as an adult … I think he earns his
status as one of the absolute greatest Disney villains.
He’s more of a realistic
villain that doesn’t hatch any grand plans of conquest, he's just a small-town
jerk that wants nothing more than the best prizes he can get for himself. He
also makes for a poignant … if admittedly obvious … counterpoint to the Beast,
as this guy really is a monster under a handsome and appealing form. The thing I
love most about Gaston is that he’s so blissfully in-love with himself. There’s
a real charm that comes from this guy’s self-absorbed ego, how he sings about
himself, how he assumes that everything will automatically go his way, and it just
makes him a lot of fun to hate. My favorite Gaston moment of the whole film is when
he gets a wedding fully prepared with a cake, speaker, decorations, guests,
everything … and he hasn't even proposed yet … he’s just so overly confident that
a woman would except a proposal from him and get married right on the spot …
that is hilariously ignorant. Also, over the years, Disney has gotten into a
really bad habit of relying on “surprise villains”, and I feel someone like
Gaston makes for a terrific counter point to that cliché. While he’s living
among the good guys, the character remains the same through the film, it’s just
that his actions get more desperate near the end, to a point where he actually
becomes a threat. That’s a great template for a villain, and one I’d love to see
utilized in other animated offerings.
Before I go any further with the
characters, I need to address one of the most important names to be associated
with Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” … one Howard Ashman. Along with his
partner Alan Menken, the two were responsible for writing the songs for “The
Little Mermaid”, which obviously added a lot to that film’s strengths.
They
were both brought in to write the songs for “Beauty and the Beast”, but
ended up putting a great deal of influence on the development of the story, to
the point where the finished project didn’t even resemble the original
story-boards. Howard Ashman was incredibly passionate about making sure this
version of “Beauty and the Beast” was more then a cut and paste of its
source material, and wanted it to stand apart as something unique. Thus, we
have him to thank for the creation of all the enchanted objects, which added so
much flavor to the films appeal and presentation. For as great as the story is,
I personally couldn’t imagine what this film would be like without the charm of
characters like Lumiere, Chip, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts. I feel these
characters represent something lacking in the majority of animated Disney
pictures, which is lovable characters that aren’t straight forward comedic
relief. While all the enchanted objects have a great deal of personality and
chemistry, they aren’t going for big laughs the same way most other Disney
side-kicks do.
Still, even without providing big laughs, they still bring so
much warmth and joy to the film, and each with their own distinct character
traits. Lumiere is the contagiously cheerful optimist who’s adamant about
making things better, which perfectly balances off Cogsworth, who’s the more
grounded realist endeavoring to make sure that things don’t get any worse. Then
we have the motherly warmth of Mrs. Potts who’s acting as the middle continence
between the two extremes, and voiced with loving charisma by the great Angela
Lansbury. Finally, we have Chip, who’s the innocent observer of all the events,
and the one kids can connect with the most.
I also found Belle’s father Maurice a
lovable presence, as he’s obviously got a few screws loose, but still a big
heart underneath. Although, this brings me to a minor announce that applies to
just about every Disney girl from the 90’s renaissance. Belle has a sweet
connection with her father, and yet there isn’t a single mention of her mother.
Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” has relationship problems with her dad,
and once again there’s never any mention of her mother. Jasmine from “Aladdin”
has a father, but there’s no sign of her mother. Pocahontas has a nice relation
with her father, and while there’s mention of a mother, she’s still absent from
the film. It wasn’t until “Mulan” that we finally saw both a mother and
father together in one film, and for me it begs the question … what was up with
that, why was there such a lack of mother characters? Actually, even though I
found the live action remake of “Beauty and the Beast” to be okay at
best, I at least admired the attempt to make the memories of Belles mother
relevant in the characters journey.
If there was any one character I found
kind of disposable, it would probably be Gaston’s faithful admirer LeFou, who’s
really just there to give the villain a side-kick. It’s not that he annoyed me,
I just never felt that he added much to Gaston’s character.
Just to give a
quick example in contrast, for as great a villain as Captain Hook is, he
wouldn’t be complete without Mr. Smee at his side, as their contrasting
personalities added a lot to the films overall enjoyment and hummer. Also,
there’s already another factor in the film that adds to a running theme in the
movie, which I definitely want to put the spotlight on next. While there is
physically a Beast in the movie, there’s also a metaphorical Beast in the film
… and I’m not talking about Gaston either. Thematically, the real Best in this
movie is that whole stinking town of villagers. The one thing worse than the
Gaston’s of our world are the ones who encourage and influence them.
At face
value, “Gaston’s Song” just seems like a
fun excuse for the bad guy to steal the spot light, but it’s more then a musical
number for Gaston … it’s also a villain song for these villagers. Every
horrible thing about Gaston is addressed in this number, the people are fully
aware of what kind of man he is, and yet he still remains their town hero, and
the one everybody rallies behind. Even when Gaston set’s up Belle’s father to
be taken by the Asylum, it’s made perfectly clear that people know he’s
harmless, but they’re all on board with Gaston’s scheme. Even when the rug is
pulled out from under Gaston, and the truth of Maurice's story of the Beast
validated, not a single person is calling Gaston out on this … in fact they
continue to rally behind him. Because of this, I find “The Mob Song” to be one of the greatest of all
Disney villain songs. Not just for it’s catchy beat, and memorable lyrics, but
because it goes beyond the people’s blind fear of an unknow creature, and
instead focuses on the blind devotion and admiration to a villain that these
people continue to idolize.
While on the subject … lets finally talk
about the iconic songs in this film. It’s no wonder that this movie was adapted
into a Broadway musical, because unlike the previous Disney pictures that
contained memorable songs, this movie really followed the template of a classic
musical, and it helped fill a void, as the movie musical general was all but
dead at the time.
In fact, “Beauty and the Beast” would be the last
movie musical to receive Oscar recognition for a whole decade, until the
release of my personal favorite theatrical musical in 2001 titled “Moulin
Rouge!”. The opening number of “Belle’s Song”
is a perfect example of how the film is shot and presented like a classic stage
production, as this number goes beyond focusing on what the character simply
wants, and instead highlights what kind of person she is, how the villagers
view her, what the villain aims for, and there’s even subtle foreshadowing in
the lyrics of where Belles journey will go … like discovering her figurative
“prince charming” in the third act of the story. This is what you call
"telling a story in musical form", while at the same time making for
a very fun musical number, with lots of energy, and a lively environment. In
fact, it did its job so well, it was the first of three songs from this movie
to receive an Oscar nomination for best original song.
Even straight forward
songs like “Be our Guest” add
substance to the story, and go a step beyond being a dazzling spectacle. Like
the Beast, the enchanted objects all have a personal stake in the story, but
rather then view Belle as a means to an end, the song "Be out Guest" highlights
just how much they adore Belle as a person, and how much joy she’s bringing
into their lonely lives. Aside from that, it’s just a wonderful sequence, with
dazzling visuals, unforgettable lyrics, and naturally this song was also
nominated at the Oscars for best original song. My personal favorite song is
actually a number called “Human Again”,
which was a new song added to the special extended addition of the film. This
song gave the enchanted objects a chance to simply speak for themselves on
their own wants and desires, and while it’s very simple in concept, it’s presented
in this grand, beautiful and up-beat musical number, with an especially lively
environment, and a melody that will be stuck in your head for hours after your
done listening to it. The song also provides a much-needed break-up between two
romantic musical numbers.
The song “There may be something there that wasn’t there before” is very sweet and serves its place in the narrative, but before the extended addition, it always felt a little repetitive to have one romantic number set right before an even bigger romantic musical number. This of course leads me to the big one … the show stopper … the musical number that won the Academy Award for best original song. There’s no avoiding it, the “Beauty and the Best song” has earned its place as a staple among iconic Disney songs. With its soothing melody, and rich build-up that’s followed by that unforgettable ballroom scene, this is the romantic animated musical number to beat them all ... but it still doesn’t even stop there. The final version of the song performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson was a smashing hit, and became the launching pad for Celine Dion’s success. Even contemporary versions of the song, such as the one performed by Jordan Sparks has its place as a great rendition of a Disney classic. Of course, I can’t dismiss the films incredible instrumental score composed by Alan Menken, which also won the Academy Award for best original music score. It may seem like an odd detail to focus on, but few other animated movies begin with instrumental music notes that instantly put me in a state of joy and wonder then the subtle notes heard in the opening of this film.
As if there weren’t enough things to
praise about this movie, I think the animation on display is some of the
absolute best … if not the best of any Disney picture.
The character animation
alone adds so many layers to their development, and I think it goes
underappreciated. Seriously, there are a lot of mature and quiet moments
in-which the simple expressions and reactions on the characters faces speak
more than words ever could. Of course, the film is rich with vibrant colors,
and atmospheric locations, but what I love most are the details in the
backdrops. The design of the castle is exploding with details in every frame, with
all these big statues, gargoyles and tapestries everywhere you look. You could
honestly lose yourself just looking at all the artistry on display here.
On
that note, the setting of this film is perhaps the most confined I've ever seen
in an animated picture, as it all takes place in this single castle. However,
the setting never comes off as claustrophobic, as the castle itself is so lively, magical,
and is presented on a tremendous scale, to the point where it becomes a
character in of itself. Seeing Belle walk around this environment kind of
hearkens a contemporary feel of “Alice in Wonderland”, with a female lead
in blue attire who’s trapped in a dark and mysterious, yet magical and lively
setting. The animation was also innovative for the time by incorporating
sweeping camera movements in a virtual setting, namely the ballroom dance,
which may look a touch dated, but for its time broke new ground as something
innovative that had never been captured in an animated picture.
The
movie also builds to one of my favorite climaxes of any Disney picture, as it
gives us a perfect mix of both comedy and intensity.
When Gaston and his
invaders lay siege to the castle, it leads to an exceptionally fun brawl, with a
lot of hummer, and no shortage of fun visual gags. Honestly, I think the
animators were having the time of their lives putting this sequence together,
and that sense of fun is felt in every frame. After the enchanted objects scare
off the goons, we segue into the thrilling final rooftop showdown between the
Beast and Gaston. It’s hard to explain why, but of all the final Disney hero
and villain duel's, nothing ever felt quiet as satisfying or as awesome as this
showdown. With all the statues, rain fall and levels to cover, it makes for a
perfect setting for a final battle. Once again, the details during this scene
are fantastic … like Gaston shouting “Do you honestly think Belle would want something
like you, when she has someone like me”, or Beast discovering compassion
when he chooses to spare his attacker. Finally, I always loved this little hidden-detail, in which if you look closely … upon falling to his death, you can see
two skulls reflected in Gaston’s eyes as he drops from the castle.
Something you may have noticed is that I gave
a lot attention to some of the smallest details in this film, as I feel even
the little things presented in this film deserve the admiration. Heck, even at
the Oscars, this film was nominated for something as simple as best sound
design … which is extremely rare for an animated picture.
Seriously, the people
in this movie put so much love and care into every detail and every frame of
this picture. Yet, even with all that, “Beauty and the Beast” didn’t
receive it's coveted Oscar nomination for best picture simply for its detailed
animation, or it’s wonderful songs, but for being a genuinely beautiful love
story, layered with meaningful subtext. It’s a classic story about discovering
the ugliness of one's life, and finding the true beauty hidden deep within. Of
how beauty was able to unlock the heart of a monster, while still making this
story feel fresh and original at the same time. Going back to the late producer Howard Ashman, it
really was his contributions to the story that fully fleshed out the beauty of
this films experience ... and its heart breaking that he didn’t live to see the
final product. It was only months before the films premier that he sadly passed
away.
While on his death bed (and wearing a Beauty and the Beast
T-Shirt), many of the filmmakers visited him, said their final respects, and
before their departure, Howard said to them … I think we made something truly
special with “Beauty and the Beast”. At the very end of the credits,
there’s a caption that reads “To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her
voice, and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful.” Howard Ashman:
1950-1991. In essence, “Beauty and the Beast” was a hit because it was
made by people who poured their whole hearts and soul into the final outcome.
Even before it was finished, there was a screening of the movie with unfinished
animation, and it still received a standing ovation at the New York film
festival. Adapting timeless tales to the big screen has always been the legacy
of film, and I feel Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” remains a very
important part of that legacy. I may not have given this film much attention
when I was a kid, but it absolutely made an impression on me years later. It’s one
of the studios best … like top three easily … as well as a benchmark in the
history of animated movies. “Beauty and the Beast” further proves that a
great film can come from anywhere, from any medium, and that an animated Disney
movie can go beyond just a fun experience … it can be a truly great film in its
own right.
Thanks for reading my review of Disney's 1991 animated classic “Beauty and
the Beast” … and continue to enjoy the movies you love!
The End
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