It seems appropriate to blog a complimentary post to Beauty and the Beast 2017 version.
The film opens with a beautiful series of stained glass windows while the narrator (voiced by David Ogden Stiers) tells the audience what happened. There was a prince (voiced by Robby Benson) who lived in a castle that was full of servants. He was selfish and unkind. One night during a bad winter storm, an ugly old woman knocks on the door and begs for shelter in exchange for a beautiful rose. When the prince first refuses the woman, she warns him not to be deceived by appearances and asks him again. After he refuses a second time, the woman transforms into a powerful and beautiful enchantress. The prince tries to apologize but she won't hear it. She places the castle under a curse that transforms the prince into a Beast and his servants into objects. The rose will bloom until the prince's 21st year. In the 21st year, the rose will start to die. The Beast has until the last petal falls to "learn to love another and earn her love in return". If he succeeds the spell will be broken. If he fails, he is doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years pass the beast loses hope for "who could ever learn to love a beast?"
Belle (voiced by Paige O'hara) is living just outside of a "poor provincial town" with her father Maurice (voiced by Rex Everhart). Belle is considered strange by the townsfolk because she is beautiful and yet she seems only interested in reading books. She also keeps to herself. Plus her father Maurice is viewed as an eccentric because of his being an inventor. The local town hero named Gaston (voiced by Richard White) pursues Belle because she is considered the most beautiful woman in town and he is considered the most handsome. His loyal friend Lefou (voiced by Jesse Corti) encourages and assists Gaston in his pursuit of Belle. Belle firmly refuses Gaston's advances but Gaston is nothing if not determined.
After successfully finishing his latest invention, Maurice excitedly leaves for the fair with their trusty horse Philippe (voiced by Hal Smith). Maurice gets lost in the woods and ends up at The Beast's castle after Philippe leaves Maurice in the woods after getting spooked and throwing Maurice. Once at The Beast's castle, Maurice is warmly greeted by the servants of the castle. Shortly after settling before the fire, Maurice is confronted by the angry Beast who locks Maurice in the dungeon.
Meanwhile Philippe has returned to Belle and Belle is naturally afraid of what has happened to her father. She rides Philippe back to The Beast's castle and finds her father in the dungeon. As she is talking with her father to try to find out what happened, The Beast comes to the dungeon and tells Belle that Maurice is his prisoner for trespassing. Belle bravely offers herself in place of Maurice and The Beast agrees. After sending Maurice on his way in an enchanted but creepy carriage, The Beast leads a reluctant and sad Belle to her room. The Beast tells Belle that she can go anywhere in the castle except for the west wing. When Belle starts to question why, The Beast gets angry and tells her that it is forbidden.
Once at the room, The Beast tells Belle that the servants will attend her. After some prompting from Lumiere the candelabra (voiced by Jerry Orbach), The Beast invites Belle to dinner but she angrily refuses. The Beast forbids Belle from eating unless she eats with him.
Once The Beast has retired, Belle sneaks down to the kitchen where the servants lead by Lumiere and Mrs. Potts (voiced by Angela Lansbury) happily prepare dinner for Belle. Afterwards Belle is taken on a tour of the castle with Lumiere and Cogsworth the clock (voiced by David Ogden Stiers). After finding out where the west wing is, Belle sneaks away from Lumiere and Cogsworth and finds the west wing. She is then confronted by an enraged Beast who orders her to get out. She panics and flees the castle.
The Beast saves Belle and Philippe from wolves but gets injured in the process. Belle helps tend to the injured Beast which causes Belle and The Beast to warm up to each other, particularly after The Beast shows Belle the treasured library at the castle.
Back at the village, Maurice tells Gaston and the villagers that Belle is being held captive by a monstrous Beast. The villagers mock Maurice and throw him out of the pub. Gaston gets an idea to con Belle into marrying Maurice and goes after Maurice to put his plan into motion. Fortunately for Maurice, Maurice has left his home to try to rescue Belle on his own.
Belle and The Beast seem to be developing feelings for each other but Belle abruptly leaves one night after learning that her father Maurice has become sick on his way to rescue her. Belle leaves with the magic mirror from the Beast. It is at this time that The Beast realizes that he loves Belle. The servants are thrilled that The Beast has learned to love but are saddened that Belle is leaving and doesn't seem to love him in return.
When Belle finds Maurice she takes him home to nurse him back to health. Lefou, who has been secretly hiding on the property while waiting for Belle to return, leaves to let Gaston know that Belle has returned. While Belle is talking with her father, she finds that Mrs. Potts' son Chip (voiced by Bradley Michael Pierce) has slipped into Belle's bag to find out why Belle left and convince her to come back. Gaston shows up to imprison Maurice if Belle won't marry Gaston. Belle reveals that Maurice was telling the truth about The Beast causing Gaston to rile up the townsfolk on a hunt for The Beast. Gaston locks up Maurice and Belle and leaves with the townsfolk to kill The Beast.
At the castle, Lumiere and Cogsworth lead the charge to defend the castle against the townspeople. Gaston sneaks past the defenders and finds The Beast in a mournful state. He attacks The Beast but The Beast seems uninterested in defending himself. Once Belle shows up at the castle, The Beast starts fighting back. The Beast has an opportunity to kill Gaston but doesn't because his new found love for Belle stops him. As The Beast is happily greeting Belle, Gaston sneaks up and stabs The Beast before falling to his death. As The Beast lays dying Belle realizes that she loves The Beast. The Beast is then magically restored to his Prince self while the servants are made human again. Belle and The Prince then live happily ever after.
I loved this movie and Belle in particular because for the first time I found a princess that I felt that I could relate to. I absolutely love books and have loved books for years. The part where she first sees the library is exactly my reaction when I come across excellent, large libraries. I could also relate to not fitting in to the small town that I grew up in because I was different than "the norm" where I lived. I also loved the lesson that anyone can be loved no matter how "beastly" they are, that anyone can find someone who loves them perhaps in spite of how "beastly" or different they are.
In comparison to the 2017 Beauty and The Beast this one has a few actual risque aspects to it. The first that comes to mind is Gaston's suggestive wink coupled with the line "Every last inch of me's covered with hair" during his song in the pub. The second that comes to mind is Lumiere and the feather duster basically fooling around behind a curtain as she says "Oh no" in mock shock and he says "Oh yes!" in his lusty way and she continues with "I've been burned by you before" in her suggestive way. I would also add that Gaston attacking the Beast by viciously stabbing him on screen is somewhat unexpectedly off putting in a Disney film.
My only complaint is shallow at best but I have no excuse for it. I was disappointed by the Prince's appearance because I felt (and still feel) that he is the least attractive of the Disney princes. I was confused as a child because I had a vague sense that he wasn't supposed to be "ugly" at least not considered ugly but I couldn't warm up to him no matter how many times I've seen this movie. I will say that he has beautiful blue eyes at least.
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