As part of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebrations, the studio is presenting a series of special theatrical engagements for eight classic films, in two-week limited runs. This month, the beloved and Best Picture Oscar-nominated Disney Renaissance favorite Beauty and the Beast (1991) brings magic, romance and exquisite 2D animation back to the big screen.
In a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Belle (voiced by Paige O’Hara), a bright and beautiful young woman, finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast (Robby Benson), while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father (Rex Everhart) stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.
Based on the 18th century fairy tale retelling by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise (who went on to helm The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Atlantis: The Lost Empire for the studio) from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton (The Lion King, Skydance’s upcoming Spellbound), produced by Don Hahn. The voice cast also featured Richard White as Gaston, Jerry Orbach as Lumière, David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts and Jessie Corti as LeFou.
The film debuted to rave reviews from critics and moviegoers, and won numerous accolades — it was the first animated feature to win the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and the first to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy awards (winning for Best Score and Best Original Song, having three tunes nominated in the category). The film and its music (composed by Alan Menken with song lyrics by Howard Ashman) were honored with awards and nominations from the Globes, BAFTAs, Grammys, LA Film Critics and more. Beauty and the Beast was added to the National Film Registry and made several of the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies lists as well as its Top 10 animated films list (at No. 7).
The Disney100 film engagements began in July with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, continuing with Pixar’s Toy Story and Disney’s Frozen. Coming up will be Pixar’s The Incredibles (September 1-14), Coco (September 15-28), Disney’s The Lion King (September 29-October 12) and Moana (October 13-26).
Beauty and the Beast is now running in select theaters nationwide through August 31, tickets available through Fandango.
