Beauty and the Beast, the first animated feature nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, released

Beauty and the Beast Released: November 22, 1991 Studio: Disney Genre: animation/musical/romance/fantasy Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 219.00 Worldwide: 451.37 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 425.06 Worldwide: 674.65

Directing: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Screenwriting: Linda Woolverton Starring: voices of Robby Benson, Paige O’Hara, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury Review: Beauty and the Beast was based on a classic fairy tale about “the importance of inner beauty” FS written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince deBeaumont in 1756. It wasn’t the first movie version; it made it to the big screen nearly a dozen times previously, including a 1922 silent version and La Belle et La Bête (1946), a French version by Jean Cocteau. Disney’s animated version, however, became the most successful. It “returned the Disney animation studios to their former glory” FS and became the first animated feature in history to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. It was Disney’s second film (1990’s The Rescuers Down Under was the first) to “combine its famous hand-drawn animation with computer graphics.” FS The story is about a French peasant girl (O’Hara) “trapped in the castle of a hideous beast” (Benson) who used to be a prince. In a somewhat creepy twist on Stockholm syndrome, she “eventually falls for his unusual charm.” A07 “The beautiful artwork and colors were supplemented by a well-written song score” FS from Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman. Highlights included the Oscar-winning title song and “the show-stopping ‘Be Our Guest.’” A07 Sources: A07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Box Office: Oscars: Wins: 2 – Best Song (“Beauty and the Beast”), Best Music Score Nominations: 6 – including Best Picture, Best Song (“Belle”), Best Song (“Be Our Guest”), Best Sound Other Awards: Other Lists/Honors: Critics’ Picks: Roger Ebert First posted 5/29/2023.