'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) Review
Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Original Song "Beauty and the Beast" (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman), Best Original Song "Belle" (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman), Best Original Song "Be Our Guest" (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman), and Best Original Score.
Won: Best Original Song "Beauty and the Beast" (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman) and Best Original Score.
Beauty and the Beast tells of a young prince who dismisses an elderly women for her haggard appearance. The woman then reveals she's an enchantress and to teach the prince a lesson she puts the prince and his castle under a spell, turning the prince into a beast until he can learn to love and be loved in return. In the nearby village a beautiful young maiden Belle doesn't quite fit in, she's ostracized as a peculiarity for reading whilst the handsome narcissistic hunter Gaston pines for her affections. When Belle's father Maurice heads to the fair to present his latest invention, he comes across the beast's castle only to be imprisoned once he discover it's inhabitants are enchanted. Belle ventures to the castle when Maurice doesn't return and offers to take his place as the Beast's prisoner. She then unknowingly starts to bring out the goodnatured characteristics of the Beast and the classic love story begins.
Beauty and the Beast is regarded by many to stand among Disney's greatest animated efforts to this day and considered a classic by just about everyone, it was the first animated film to earn a Best Picture nomination for crying out loud. Beauty and the Beast is co-directed Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise with a screenplay from Linda Woolverton, I won't list out the story credits because there were ten cooks in that kitchen but what a commendable cuisine they made. The story may have a few slight plot holes but the "tale as old as time" remains timeless. The message about true beauty lying within is incredibly valuable to this day.
The animation in Beauty and the Beast remains remarkable and it's amazing how well the hand drawn animation holds up to today's CG-animation. The character design alone is intricately detailed with picturesque portraits filling in the backdrop allowing for a fascinating visual plane. The musical offerings from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are intrinsic to the film's success and stand the test of time. "Be Our Guest" and "Gaston" are outrageously entertaining while quieter, character-driven tunes like "Belle," "Something There," and "Beauty and the Beast"are still awe-inspiring.
But one crucial element to any animated film's success is it's voice talent and the ensemble behind Beauty and the Beast are extraordinary. Paige O'Hara offers a tender, compassionate voice of reason as Belle that matches the character perfectly and brings out all Belle's admirable qualities. Robby Benson does an excellent job captruing the frustration, broken spirit of the Beast while channeling an inner gentleness. Richard White finds the both the gravitas and egocentric mannerisms required for the role of Gaston while Jesse Corti plays the silly stooge LeFou. Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Steers, Angela Lansbury, and Bradley Pierce find the precise personas for the houshold objects as the flamboyant Lumière, rigid Cogsworth, motherly Mrs. Potts, and naive Chip respectively.
In conclusion, Beauty and the Beast hasn't lost it luster; the songs are still spellbinding, the animation's exceptional, the vocal ensemble's splendid, and the central themes remain fundamental to this day.
Won: Best Original Song "Beauty and the Beast" (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman) and Best Original Score.
Beauty and the Beast tells of a young prince who dismisses an elderly women for her haggard appearance. The woman then reveals she's an enchantress and to teach the prince a lesson she puts the prince and his castle under a spell, turning the prince into a beast until he can learn to love and be loved in return. In the nearby village a beautiful young maiden Belle doesn't quite fit in, she's ostracized as a peculiarity for reading whilst the handsome narcissistic hunter Gaston pines for her affections. When Belle's father Maurice heads to the fair to present his latest invention, he comes across the beast's castle only to be imprisoned once he discover it's inhabitants are enchanted. Belle ventures to the castle when Maurice doesn't return and offers to take his place as the Beast's prisoner. She then unknowingly starts to bring out the goodnatured characteristics of the Beast and the classic love story begins.
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