BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

US, 2017, 128 minutes, Colour.
Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Hattie Morahan, Emma Thompson, Ewan Mc Gregor, Ian Mc Kellen, Audra Mc Donald, Stanley Tucci, Nathan Mack, Gugu Mbatha Raw.
Directed by Bill Condon.

Lovers of fairytales and, especially, those who love the 1992 animated version of Beauty and the Beast, know the characters and the plot very well indeed. Soon after the release and success of the animated film, Disney included it as part of their live-action entertainment at Disneyland and Disneyworld and adapted it for the Broadway stage. With the success of live-action versions of fairytales, Maleficent, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast is ideal for this kind of cinema treatment.

It looks as though the Disney executives were not wrong with the immediate box office success of this version.

Immediately we are introduced to the Prince (Dan Stevens), living the lavish life, with many courtiers, opera singer and piano accompanist, but arrogant and self-centred. An old woman comes begging hospitality and he sneeringly refuses it, the enchantress then transforming him into the Beast and freezes his castle, warning him that when the last petal falls from a rose, there will be no chance for change or redemption.

Transition to the town of Villeneuve, and the well-known song that welcomes Belle into the story, moving through the markets, the streets, the busy activity of all who are selling, buying, watching – a large ensemble chorus. This really gets us in the mood, especially if the song is familiar from the past. And Emma Watson proves herself charming and lovely.

Then we are introduced to Gaston (Luke Evans) and his assistant, Le Fouo (Josh Gad). At one moment, Gaston is glimpsed gazing at someone with words of love and affection – the audience then seeing it is his reflection in the mirror! Another tone is set. The contrast is with Belle’s father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), sitting at home mending things, going to the market, getting lost, discovering the Beast’s Castle and, rather upset (although they are very comic characters) by the talking candlestick, clock, teapot… He picks a rose to take to his daughter and is taken by the Beast and imprisoned.

When his horse returns home, riderless, Belle mounts it and goes in search of her father, confronting the Beast, putting herself in his prison, having him release her father.

The very nice part of the story is how Belle responds to the Beast, thinking to escape, responding to some courtesy, discovering his library and discussing Shakespeare, drinking her soup from the plate in sympathy with him, taking walks, talking, getting to know each other, building up to a ballroom sequence for two.

In the meantime, we are treated to all kinds of funny dialogue and antics with Cogsworth the clock, Lumière the candles, and Mrs Potts. And they all sing Be our Guest.

When Maurice tries to get the townspeople to go to save his daughter, they mock him with disbelief about his stories of the Beast, Gaston offering to save the day but, feeling thwarted, abandons Maurice to the wolves.

While the townspeople start a vicious siege of the castle, once they get in it is much more farcical as all the crockery and furniture become very involved in getting rid of the attackers. Gaston confronts the Beast – to his great disadvantage! But love overcomes everything, the enchantress reverses her spell, the crockery and furniture all become their real selves again – and the forms of Ian Mc Kellen, Ewan Mc Gregor, Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Audra Mc Donald, Gugu Mbatha Raw.

What else to do but have a dance with Mrs Potts reprising the very popular theme song, a tale as old as time…?



1. The popularity of the story? Appeal to a wide audience? International? The box-office success of this film?

2. A tale as old as time, the variety of versions, serious, the Disney treatment, animation and Oscar nomination?

3. The 21st-century live action version of the story, the performers, the special effects for the animated characters? The musical score, the range of songs, their place during the film? Romantic?

4. The visuals of the period, costumes and decor, the countryside, the old village, the forest, the castle? The importance of the Beast and his make up?

5. The animated characters, the voices, coming to life at the end?

6. Strong characters, Belle, the Beast, Gaston, Le Fou, his assistant, Maurice?

7. The prologue, the prince, his arrogance, the dance and courtiers, the singing and the piano? The enchantress, as a beggar, confronting the prince, his disdain, her transforming him, the courtiers fleeing, the frozen nature of the castle and the surroundings?

8. The contrast with Villeneuve, the 18th century town, the introduction to Belle, the song, the focus on her, moving through the town, the range of people, the workplaces, everybody singing? Books? Gaston and Le Fou? Belle going to the library, her love of reading, Romeo and Juliet?

9. At home, Maurice and his work, Belle and the tools, the back story, in Paris, her mother dying of the plague, her father not telling the story? The father and his daughter, going to the market, promising the rose? His travel, the horse, getting lost, the fierceness of the wolves in the pursuit, taking refuge in the castle, the meal, his being disturbed by the talking crockery, taking the rose, taken as a thief? The Beast imprisoning him? The horse returning home, Belle and her returning to the castle?

10. Belle arriving, the ominous castle, the encounter with the Beast, his keeping her, the characters giving her a room, providing a meal, the cloths and her wanting to escape?

11. The Beast, his life, in isolation, as a person, the influence of his severe father, spoiled as a child? His memories – and his song about his father? The importance of the rose, and the petals falling?

12. The hopes of the staff, Cogsworth and the clock, Lumière and the candles, Mrs Potts and Chip her son, the wardrobe singer, the piano, Plumette, the actors, voice cast, performances, comic, singing, Cogsworth and his primness, Lumière and his exuberance and romance, Mrs Potts and the kitchen, motherly? Hoping that they would not just become antiques? Urging on the prince?

13. Maurice, his appeal to the townspeople, Gaston and his willingness to help, wanting to turn back, not believing the story, tying up Maurice and leaving him to the wolves? The enchantress freeing him? Going back to the town, confronting the crowd, their turning against him, putting him in the wagon for the institution?

14. Belle, life at the castle, talking with the Beast, the meals and drinking the soup, the library and the books, discussing Shakespeare, sharing, walking, building up to the dance and Belle’s gown, his suit? Happiness?

15. Belle, seeing her father in the mirror, the Beast deciding to free her, her riding through the forest, taken by the people, pu in the wagon for the institution, her father and picking the lock, the escape?

16. The townspeople, the viciousness of the siege, the contrast with the comic battle inside the castle and all the crockery and others participating in the melee? Gaston, serious, confronting the Beast, shooting him, the falls and leaping over the roof, Belle and her return, the Beast and his being encouraged by her love?

17. Gaston shooting, falling, Belle and the Beast, love, the kiss, the enchantress and the Beast being transformed to himself? The petal falling?

18. All the characters coming to life, the comic touches with the actors, and the connections with people from the village?

19. The ball, everybody dancing, Maurice painting – happy ever after?