BEAUTY
US, 1998, 90 minutes, Colour.
Janine Turner, Hal Holbrook, Jamey Sheridan, Linda Naspi, Shirley Broderick.
Directed by Jerry London.
Beauty is an updated version of the Beauty and the Beast story, based on a novel by Susan Wilson. It was directed by Jerry London, a veteran of many television movies and big-budget films.
The star is Janine Turner (Cliffhanger, Trip in a Summer Dress as director and star). She is the beauty, Jamey Sheridan (Ice Storm) is a man with a bone disfigurement in his face, the beast. She is commissioned to paint his portrait. She gets to know him, love the real person under the surface. He is gentle, gracious and helps her at the time of her father’s death. Her father is played by veteran actor Hal Holbrook.
The film is very sweet and very romantic – an old-fashioned love story. The film works on the emotions – but, of course, has the perennial message of urging people to look below surfaces into real persons.
1. The popularity of the Beauty and the Beast theme? The many variations on the story? The fairytale aspect – but set in real life (at least telemovie style)?
2. The settings: the Miller household, the art studio? Crompton’s mansion, affluence? The woods, the snow? The art gallery? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Alix? And her relationship with Lee Crompton – the equivalent of the beast?
4. The portrait of Alix, her love for her father, her skill in painting? Her relationship with Mark? His being on tour and taking photos, her support of him? Her taking on the commission, the visit to the Crompton house, the encounter with Mrs Greaves, falling in the snow, helped by Lee? Meeting him, his reticence? His showing her the house, her warming to him as a person? Discovering that he was the mystery writer? The sittings, the effect on her? Her return for Mark’s award? Dancing with him? The distance between them? The break? Her father’s illness, Lee coming to help, his befriending her father? Discussions with the nurse about Lee? Her father’s death? Her return, her love for Lee, his reticence? The rescue of the boy in the snow, his not going to the ceremony, her talking with the priest, covering for Lee, confronting him? The six-months gap, the art exhibition, the sculptor and his friendship, her waiting for Lee, finding the book, his coming to the gallery? A future?
5. Lee, his background, Mrs Greaves explaining his life, his mother, pampered? The disease, Julia and her breaking his heart? His reticence towards other women? Helping Alix in the snow, the sittings, being tired, his writing? The discussions about his character – resembling himself? The portrait? His helping with Alix’s father, sitting with him? Not wanting to see his portrait – the discussions with Alix and his fears of commitment? His coming to the gallery? A future?
6. Mrs Greaves, protective of Lee, wary with Alix, befriending her, their discussions, the photos? Her not wanting Lee to be hurt?
7. Mark, love of photography, his skills, communication, seeing into character? (?) His award, the dancing? His mother wanting Alix to propose? Their break-up and his wanting to be a photographer above all?
8. Love, commitment, beauty, seeing below the surface?
