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| Figure 1. Beauty and the Beast (1991) and (2017) |
Beauty and the Beast was originally a fairy tale that has been passed down through the ages: "Most fairy tales began as folklore, passed on from generation to generation, until they were eventually written down by collectors such as Giambattista Basile, Charles Perrault or the Brothers Grimm. Unusually, Beauty and the Beast does not appear in the anthologies of any of these authors (although the Grimms do have a reasonably similar version in The Singing Springing Lark)." (Pook Press, n.d)
French author Madame Gabrielle - Suzanne de Villeneuve, later published the story in La Jeune Américaine, et Les Contes Marins in 1740 known as "La Belle et La Bête." Villeneuve story was influenced by female intellectuals such as Charles Parault and Madame d'Aulnoy.
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| Figure 2. Madame De Villeneuve's Original Beauty an the Beast |
The book was re - published in 1975 by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and shortened the story down, naming it Magasin des Enfants (1756). Many people today would be more familiar with Beumont's narrative and structure. "Although similar in the overall plot, Beaumont changed many aspects of Villeneuve’s original, making it more suitable for younger readers." (Pook Press, n.d)
There have been countless versions and re- makes of the Fairytale since then.
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| Figure 3. Beaumont's Beauty and the Beast (1756) |
The story much later was noticed by Disney and inspired their animated classic of Beauty and the Beast (1991). "As a testament to this story’s ability to inspire and entertain generations of readers, the tale of Beauty and the Beast continues to influence popular culture internationally, lending plot elements, allusions and tropes to a wide variety of artistic mediums. It has inspired some of the best fairy tale adaptations in film, from Jean Cocteau’s 1946 masterpiece to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991), a nominee and winner for ‘Best Motion Picture’ by several Hollywood organisations." (Pook Press, n.d)
26 years later Disney made a live action version of the animated film. They cast the famous Harry Potter actress Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey as the Beast.
Although the live action film is very similar to the original animation there were some differences that were evident in the visual effects and story line. There was greater focus on the characters back story and the viewer learnt more about about Belle's and the Beast's past lives.
In the animated film we have no information as to why Belle's mother is absent but in the new version, we learn of her death. "The reveal occurs when the Beast shows Belle a magical book that lets them travel to anywhere in the world, and she wishes to see her childhood home in Paris with fresh eyes. The two then discover a beak-shaped plague mask, and Belle later reassures Maurice about the truth he was never able to discuss." (Lee, 2017)
At the very start of the story we learn about how the selfish and spoiled Prince became a beast, after he had been cursed by an enchantress disguised as an old lady. This is identical to what happens in the animated film. However he is not only cursed for refusing the old lady have shelter.
"It’s not just about refusing an old woman shelter in a storm, which is what happens and triggers the curse, but there’s a lot of behavior leading up to that — there’s something not quite right in his heart, and it needs to be put right," Stevens told THR. "Something Bill, Emma and I wanted to put out is this sense of entitlement and privilege of this spoiled prince who was raised wrong, really, and left to grow into a monster, a hideous man child. It makes for a more interesting journey." (Dan Stevens, who played the Beast)
In both films Maurice is captured and imprisoned by the Beast. However, in the live action version he isn't caught inside the castle but outside the castle instead, picking a rose for his daughter Belle. Interestingly this is similar to the very original fairytale by Villeneuve and Beaumont. "The change in motivation for Maurice's imprisonment is a switch back to the original fairy tale, written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and later slightly changed and released again by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. Plus, intruding is one thing, but trespassing and theft are another." (Lee, 2017)
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| Figure 4. Film Still |
The film also includes a new character named Madame Garderobe: "Maestro Cadenza, a musician who is transformed into a large and ornate harpsichord on the first floor. He is married to Wardrobe — now named Madame Garderobe (pictured above) — who is housed in Belle's room on the second floor." (Lee, 2017) As well as additional characters there were also additional songs added to the film such as "Days in the Sun", "How Does a Moment Last Forever?" and "Evermore."
To include all the films original characters they needed to use visual effects such as Computer Animation and CGI for the Beast's appearance.
Dan Stevens needed to wear a full body suite and bouncy shoes for the hooves, whilst playing the Beast.
"Rather he was encased in an oversized body suit that resembles Wolf from Gladiators if he dressed up as Dwayne Johnson for Halloween. On top of that, Stevens had to walk around on bouncy shoes which were then swapped out for his talon-y hooves in post-production." (White, 2017)
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| Figure 5. Dan Stevens as the Beast |
The producer realised that there would be some limitations when making a live action version of the film."The most difficult part was both honoring the original animated film and also giving it its own identity, but there's also a lot you can get away with in animation that you can't get away with in live-action." (Producer David Hoberman)
Despite this challenge, the film did incredibly well, making 1.264 billion USD at the Box Office. The film kept to the animations authenticity whilst adding more detail and depth to its visual effects and story.
Illustration List
Figure 1. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/beauty-beast-differences-between-animated-live-action-movies-why-they-matter-986622/item/beauty-beast-movie-differences-garderobe-986643
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Figure 2. http://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/beauty-and-the-beast-history/
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Figure 3. http://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/beauty-and-the-beast-history/
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Figure 4. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oO0SJNHJKhM/maxresdefault.jpg
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Figure 5. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/dan-stevens-wears-hilariously-enormous-body-suit-pre-cgi-beauty/
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Bibliography
Beauty and the Beast (1991) [DVD]
Beauty and the Beast (2017) [DVD]
Lee A (2017) 'Beauty and the Beast': 9 Differences Between the Live-Action and Animated Movies — and Why They Matter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/beauty-beast-differences-between-animated-live-action-movies-why-they-matter-986622/item/beauty-beast-movie-differences-garderobe-986643
(Accessed 4.12.17)
White A (2017) Dan Stevens wears hilariously enormous body suit in pre-CGI Beauty and the Beast footage http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/dan-stevens-wears-hilariously-enormous-body-suit-pre-cgi-beauty/
(Accessed 4.12.17)
Pook Press (n.d) The History of Beauty and The Beast http://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/beauty-and-the-beast-history/
(Accessed 4.12.17)
