Beauty and the Beast (1991 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beauty and the Beast |
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by |
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| Produced by | Don Hahn |
| Screenplay by | Linda Woolverton |
| Story by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Alan Menken |
| Editing by | John Carnochan |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. |
| Release date(s) | September 29, 1991 (NYFF) November 22, 1991 (United States) |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million |
| Money made | $424 million |
Beauty and the Beast is a famous animated musical fantasy film from 1991. It was made by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. This movie is the 30th animated film from Disney. It is also the third film released during the exciting Disney Renaissance period.
The story is based on a classic fairy tale called "Beauty and the Beast" by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The film also took some ideas from a French movie made in 1946. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise directed the film. Don Hahn produced it, and Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.
Beauty and the Beast tells the story of the Beast. He is a prince who was turned into a monster. His servants also became household objects. This happened because he was arrogant and selfish. The film also features Belle, a young woman who loves books. The Beast traps her in his castle to free her father. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love Belle. He also needs her to love him back. This must happen before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. If not, he will stay a monster forever. The movie features the voices of Paige O'Hara as Belle and Robby Benson as the Beast. Other voices include Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, and Angela Lansbury.
Walt Disney tried to make an animated Beauty and the Beast film in the 1930s and 1950s. But he was not successful. After the big success of The Little Mermaid (1989), Disney decided to try again. The first idea was a non-musical drama. But Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted a musical, just like The Little Mermaid. Songwriter Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken wrote all the film's songs. Ashman, who was also an executive producer, sadly passed away before the movie was released. The film is dedicated to his memory.
Beauty and the Beast was first shown as an unfinished film. This happened at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991. The completed film was released in theaters on November 13. The movie earned $331 million worldwide. Its budget was only $25 million. People loved the film for its romantic story, amazing animation, characters, and songs. It won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. This was the first animated film to win that award! It was also the first animated film ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won two other Academy Awards for its music.
In 1994, Beauty and the Beast became Disney's first animated film to be turned into a Broadway musical. This show ran for many years. An IMAX version of the film was released in 2002. It included a new song called "Human Again". The film was chosen to be kept in the United States National Film Registry. This means it is considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In 2012, the film was re-released in 3D. Time magazine called Beauty and the Beast the greatest film of the Disney Renaissance. They also said it was one of the greatest animated films of all time.
Other works inspired by the film include a live-action remake in 2017. There was also a musical TV special in 2022.
Contents
Plot Summary
An enchantress visits a castle disguised as a beggar. She offers a magical rose to a selfish prince for shelter. When he refuses, she turns him into a beast. His servants also become household objects. The spell will break only if he learns to love another. He must also be loved in return before the last petal falls. If not, he will stay a beast forever.
Years later, in a nearby village, lives Belle. She loves books and dreams of adventure. She often avoids Gaston, a hunter who wants to marry her. Belle's father, Maurice, is an inventor. On his way to a fair, he gets lost and finds the Beast's castle. The Beast imprisons Maurice for trespassing. When Maurice's horse returns alone, Belle searches for him. She finds him in the castle dungeon. Belle agrees to become the Beast's prisoner instead of her father.
Belle soon makes friends with the castle's enchanted servants. These include Lumière the candelabra, Cogsworth the clock, Mrs. Potts the teapot, and her son Chip. They serve her a wonderful dinner with a song. Belle then explores the forbidden west wing. She finds the enchanted rose. The Beast catches her and angrily tells her to leave. Outside, wolves attack Belle. The Beast rescues her, getting hurt in the process. As Belle helps him heal, they start to become friends. Over time, they begin to fall in love.
Meanwhile, Maurice returns to the village. He tries to tell everyone about the Beast, but they do not believe him. Gaston hears Maurice's story. He plans to have Maurice locked up in an insane asylum. Gaston will then force Belle to marry him to save her father. But Maurice leaves for the castle to try and rescue Belle himself.
After a romantic dance with the Beast, Belle uses his magic mirror. She sees her father collapsing in the woods. The Beast lets her go to save Maurice. He gives her the mirror as a gift. Belle takes her father back to the village. Gaston and other villagers arrive to take Maurice away. Belle uses the mirror to show the Beast to the townsfolk. This proves her father is not crazy. Gaston realizes Belle loves the Beast. In a jealous rage, he locks Belle and Maurice in the cellar. He then leads the villagers to kill the Beast. Chip, who hid in Maurice's cart, activates Maurice's wood-chopping machine. This frees Belle and her father.
The villagers attack the castle. The Beast's servants fight them off. Gaston attacks the Beast. The Beast is sad because Belle left, so he does not fight back at first. But he regains his strength when he sees Belle return. He defeats Gaston but spares his life. Belle and the Beast reunite. However, Gaston fatally wounds the Beast before falling to his death. The Beast dies in Belle's arms. Belle tearfully tells him she loves him. The spell is then broken. The Beast comes back to life and turns into a human prince. His servants and the castle also return to normal. The Prince and Belle host a grand ball. They dance happily ever after.
Voice Cast
- Paige O'Hara as Belle: A young woman who loves to read. She trades her freedom to save her father. The filmmakers wanted Belle to be "unaware" of her own beauty. They also made her "a little odd" to make her more interesting. Paige O'Hara was chosen because her voice had a special "unique tone."
- Robby Benson as the Beast: A prince turned into a monster because he was selfish. Animators designed him using parts from different animals. He has the head of a bison, the body of a bear, and the mane of a lion. Robby Benson's voice showed both the Beast's anger and his warm, gentle side.
- Richard White as Gaston: A very proud hunter who wants to marry Belle. He is the opposite of the Beast, who used to be as proud as Gaston. Gaston starts as a narcissist. But he becomes a true villain when he tries to harm Maurice and kill the Beast.
- Jerry Orbach as Lumière: The kind but rebellious head butler of the castle. He was turned into a candelabra. Lumière often disobeys the Beast's rules. He is also very charming and flirty.
- David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth: The Beast's strict head butler. He was turned into a mantel clock. Cogsworth is very loyal to the Beast. He often tries to keep Lumière out of trouble. Stiers also tells the story at the beginning of the film.
- Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts: The castle cook, turned into a teapot. She acts like a mother to Belle. Angela Lansbury's voice was perfect for this caring character.
- Bradley Pierce as Chip: Mrs. Potts's son, turned into a teacup. He was originally meant to have only one line. But the filmmakers liked Bradley Pierce's performance so much they gave Chip a bigger role.
- Rex Everhart as Maurice: Belle's inventor father. Villagers think he is strange. But Belle believes his inventions will make him famous.
- Jesse Corti as LeFou: Gaston's loyal but clumsy sidekick. He looks up to Gaston. His name means "The Madman" or "The Fool" in French.
- Jo Anne Worley as the Wardrobe: The castle's fashion expert. She was a former opera singer, now a wardrobe. She was added to the story to bring more female characters to the enchanted objects.
- Hal Smith as Philippe: Belle's horse.
- Mary Kay Bergman and Kath Soucie as the Bimbettes: Three village girls who admire Gaston.
- Brian Cummings as the Stove: The castle's chef, turned into a stove.
- Alvin Epstein as the Bookseller: The owner of the book shop in Belle's village.
- Tony Jay as Monsieur D'Arque: The warden of the asylum. Gaston tries to bribe him.
- Kimmy Robertson as the Featherduster: A maid and Lumière's girlfriend, turned into a feather duster.
- Frank Welker as Sultan: The castle's pet dog, turned into a footstool.
Making the Movie
Early Ideas
After the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, Walt Disney wanted to adapt more fairy tales. Beauty and the Beast was one of them. But it was too difficult for the story team back then. Later, in the 1980s, Disney tried again. They started with a non-musical version set in 19th-century France. Linda Woolverton wrote the first script. This was unusual for an animated film, which usually starts with drawings.
Becoming a Musical
In 1989, Jeffrey Katzenberg, the head of Walt Disney Studios, saw the early drawings. He was not happy with the non-musical idea. He ordered the film to be completely restarted. He wanted it to be a musical, just like The Little Mermaid. Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale became the new directors.
Katzenberg asked Howard Ashman and Alan Menken to write the songs. They had created the music for The Little Mermaid. Ashman was very ill at the time. But he agreed to help the team. To make it easier for Ashman, the team moved closer to his home in New York. There, they worked on the script. The original fairy tale only had two main characters. So, the filmmakers added new characters like the enchanted household objects. These characters added fun and warmth to the story. They also created a clear villain, Gaston.
Voice Actors and Recording
Disney first thought about Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel) for Belle. But they chose Broadway actress Paige O'Hara. They wanted Belle to sound "more like a woman than a girl." Kirk Wise said O'Hara had a "unique quality" in her voice. Robby Benson was chosen to voice the Beast. David Ogden Stiers became Cogsworth. Angela Lansbury was cast as Mrs. Potts.
Animation Magic
The film had to be finished in two years, much faster than usual. Most of the work was done at the main Disney studio in California. A smaller team in Florida also helped.
Beauty and the Beast was one of the first films to use a new digital system called CAPS. This system helped with scanning, coloring, and combining animation. It allowed for more colors and soft shading. It also made it easier to combine hand-drawn art with computer-generated imagery (CGI).
This CGI was used in the famous ballroom dance scene. Belle and the Beast dance in a computer-generated ballroom. The camera seems to move around them in 3D. This scene was a big success. It helped convince Disney to use more computer animation in future films.
The Music
Ashman and Menken wrote all the songs for Beauty and the Beast. Their first song was the opening, "Belle". Other songs included "Be Our Guest", "Gaston", and the beautiful love song "Beauty and the Beast (Tale as Old as Time)". Most of the songs were recorded live. The orchestra and voice actors performed together. This gave the songs a lively, energetic feel.
Some songs changed during production. "Be Our Guest" was originally for Maurice. But a story artist suggested it should be for Belle. The famous title song, "Beauty and the Beast," was first a rock song. But it was changed to a slow, romantic ballad. Angela Lansbury, who voiced Mrs. Potts, sang it. She thought her voice wasn't right for it. But she sang it perfectly in just one take, making everyone cry. This version won an Oscar!
Another song, "Human Again," was removed from the film at first. It caused problems with the story's timeline. So, Ashman and Menken wrote a new song, "Something There". This song showed Belle and the Beast falling in love. "Human Again" was later added back into the film for a special re-release in 2002.
Howard Ashman passed away before the film was released. The movie is dedicated to him. A pop version of the "Beauty and the Beast" song was recorded by Céline Dion and Peabo Bryson. It became a huge international hit.
Release and Re-releases
First Showings
For the first time ever, an unfinished version of Beauty and the Beast was shown. This happened at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991. About 70% of the animation was done. The rest was shown using storyboards and rough drawings. After the screening, the audience gave the film a ten-minute standing ovation! The completed film premiered in Hollywood on November 13, 1991. It was then widely released on November 22.
Later Versions
The film was cleaned up and improved for a special re-release in 2002. This version was shown in IMAX theaters. It included the song "Human Again" that was cut from the original film.
In 2010, a sing-along version was released in some theaters. Fans could sing along to their favorite songs. After the success of The Lion King in 3D, Beauty and the Beast was also re-released in 3D in 2012. This allowed audiences to experience the film with more depth. The film was also re-released in 2023 for Disney's 100th anniversary.
Watching at Home
Beauty and the Beast was first released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1992. In 2002, a "Platinum Edition" DVD was released. This set included three versions of the film: the extended IMAX version, the original theatrical version, and the unfinished "work-in-progress" version.
In 2010, the film was released on Blu-ray Disc for the first time. This high-definition version included even more features. It was one of the best-selling Blu-rays of that year. A 25th-anniversary edition was released in 2016. In 2020, the film became available in 4K for an even clearer picture.
Other Versions and Inspired Works
Broadway Musical
Beauty and the Beast became a Broadway musical in 1994. It was Disney's first animated film to be turned into a stage show. The musical was a huge success. It ran for over a decade and won a Tony Award. Many famous actors and singers performed in the show over the years. It is one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.
Live-Action Movie
In 2014, Walt Disney Pictures announced a live-action film adaptation. Bill Condon directed it. Emma Watson starred as Belle. Dan Stevens played the Beast. Other famous actors like Luke Evans (Gaston) and Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts) also joined. Composer Alan Menken returned to create the music. The film was released on March 17, 2017.
Concerts and TV Specials
In 2018, a live concert of Beauty and the Beast took place at the Hollywood Bowl. Many stars performed the songs from the film. In 2022, ABC aired Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. This special mixed live-action and animation. It featured new musical performances. The original voice actors, Paige O'Hara and Richard White, also made special appearances.
Merchandise and Games
Beauty and the Beast has inspired many products. These include storybooks, comic books, toys, and costumes. Belle is also part of the popular "Disney Princess" line. There was even a children's TV series called Sing Me a Story with Belle.
Two animated sequels were made directly for video. They were Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) and Belle's Magical World (1998). These stories take place during the original film's timeline. There was also a popular Disney on Ice show based on the movie.
Video Games
Several video games have been made based on Beauty and the Beast.
- Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest (1993) for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Players control Belle as she solves puzzles and avoids enemies to reach the Beast's castle.
- Beauty and the Beast: Roar of the Beast (also for Genesis). Players control the Beast to protect his castle and rescue Belle.
- Two action platformers for the NES and SNES (1994). In these, players control the Beast. He must make Belle fall in love to break the curse.
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast: A Board Game Adventure (1999) for the Game Boy Color.
Characters from the film also appear in the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Players can visit "Beast's Castle" and interact with Belle, the Beast, Lumiere, and other characters.
Sequels
The film's success led to three direct-to-video sequels:
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
- Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World (1998)
- Belle's Tales of Friendship (1999)
These stories all happen during the time of the original movie. A live-action TV series called Sing Me a Story with Belle also followed.
Theme Park Ride
A dark ride based on the film, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, opened at Tokyo Disneyland in 2020.
Images for kids
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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Jeffrey Katzenberg, head of Walt Disney Studios, decided the film should be a musical after seeing early storyboards.
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A scene from the famous ballroom dance. The background was made with computers, making it look like a camera was moving around the characters.
See also
In Spanish: La bella y la bestia (película de 1991) para niños
- List of Disney theatrical animated feature films
- List of Disney animated films based on fairy tales
