Review Beauty and the Beast (1991)

[Doctor Omega]

Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 30th Disney animated feature film and the third in the Disney Renaissance period, it is based on the French fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, who was also credited in the English version as well as in the French version, and ideas from the 1946 French film directed by Jean Cocteau. Beauty and the Beast focuses on the relationship between the Beast (Robby Benson), a prince who is magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance, and Belle (Paige O'Hara), a beautiful young woman whom he imprisons in his castle. To become a prince again, Beast must win her love in return. Otherwise, he remains a monster forever. The film also features the voices of Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, and Angela Lansbury.

Walt Disney first attempted unsuccessfully to adapt Beauty and the Beast into an animated feature film during the 1930s and 1950s. Following the success of The Little Mermaid (1989), Disney decided to adapt the fairy tale, which Richard Purdum originally conceived as a non-musical. Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg eventually discontinued the idea and ordered that the film be a musical similar to The Little Mermaid instead. Beauty and the Beast was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, with a screenplay by Linda Woolverton story first credited to Roger Allers. Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken wrote the film's songs. Ashman, who additionally served as the film's executive producer, died of AIDS-related complications eight months before the film's release, and the film was dedicated to his memory.

Beauty and the Beast premiered as an unfinished film at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991, followed by its theatrical release as a completed film at the El Capitan Theatre on November 22. The film was a box office success, grossing $425 million worldwide. Beauty and the Beast received positive reviews; it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for its title song. In 2002, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

 

[duzit]

~Thanks to Dr. O. for the wonderful info~

Ahhh, what to say about this one. It is dear to my heart, but I am going to see the new one. Already have tickets reserved. I have to talk about the tickets because I'm so amazed @ technology. I paid for them at a site called Fandango,reserved 2 seats. I thought the tickets would be at the box office to be picked up.
No, that's not the case, I have to take my tablet @ they scan the image that is on my tablet.
I'm just amazed.
Sorry about getting off topic but I'll get right down to business, no one cannot possibly not fall in love with this film. The songs, the visuals have so much to take in, the costumes, (yes, animations can have costumes), the story line and of course the beauty and the beast love story.
This was Disney's crowning fairytale picture for me. I saw it as an adult, but I was once again a little girl sitting in the dark theater being entertained as only Disney could. Swept away into an unforgettable tale of forgiveness, compassion and love. The new one has some big shoes to fill, we'll see...