who plays belle 's father in the beauty and the beast
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were revealed to be in talks to play Gaston and the Beast respectively, and Watson confirmed their casting the following day through tweets. The rest of the principal cast, including Josh Gad, Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, Audra McDonald, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci were announced between March and April to play LeFou, Mrs. Potts, Maurice, Madame de Garderobe, Cogsworth, Plumette, Lumière and Cadenza, respectively. Susan Egan, who originated the role of Belle on Broadway, commented on the casting of Watson as "perfect". Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in the original animated film and its sequels, offered
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Belle (Beauty and the Beast) Belle is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' animated feature film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Originally voiced by American actress and singer Paige O'Hara, Belle is the non-conforming daughter of an inventor who yearns to abandon her predictable village life in return for adventure. When her father Maurice is imprisoned by a cold-hearted beast, Belle offers him her own freedom in exchange for her father's, and eventually learns to love the Beast despite his unsightly outward appearance. Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg commissioned "Beauty and the Beast" as an animated
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Beauty and the Beast (1946 film) Beauty and the Beast ( - also the UK title) is a 1946 French romantic fantasy film directed by French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. Starring Josette Day as Belle and Jean Marais as the Beast, it is an adaptation of the 1757 story "Beauty and the Beast", written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and published as part of a fairy tale anthology. The plot of Cocteau's film revolves around Belle's father who is sentenced to death for picking a rose from Beast's garden. Belle offers to go back to the Beast in her
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Belle's relationship with Gaston. At one point, Belle had a younger sister named Clarice and a cruel aunt named Marguerite, both of whom were discarded – Clarice to emphasize Belle's loneliness, and Marguerite to be replaced by Gaston as the film's villain. Woolverton also eliminated the subplot of Belle asking her father for a rose. Despite constant "regressive" re-writes, Woolverton's overall vision for Belle generally remained intact. "Beauty and the Beast"'s story department was predominantly male, a time during which few women were involved. Woolverton often found herself at odds and disagreeing with the more traditional story artists in regards
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Monsieur D'Arque. They plan to lock Maurice away to blackmail Belle into marrying Gaston ("Maison des Lunes"). In the castle, the Beast and Belle attend a lovely dinner and personal ball, where they dance together in the ballroom ("Beauty and the Beast"). The Beast, who plans to tell Belle he loves her, asks Belle if she is happy here, to which she responds positively but notes that she misses her father. He offers her his Magic Mirror to view him. She sees that Maurice is sick and lost in the woods and fears for his life. But even though the
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song "If I Can't Love Her" in the Broadway musical, identified by Fred Hawson of "ABS-CBN News" as "a grand moving solo" during which the Beast sincerely expresses his undying feelings for Belle. In "Beauty and the Beast", "Evermore" appears as a solo performed by the Beast shortly before "The Mob Song" as the film approaches its dramatic climax. After the Beast and Belle (Emma Watson) share a dance in the castle's ballroom to Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) singing "Beauty and the Beast", the couple has a conversation during which the Beast learns how much Belle actually misses her father,
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to remain unmodified during production. Hoping to write a song that would successfully "portray [Belle] in a world that is so protected and safe", Ashman and Menken drew inspiration from a story-telling style that is often reserved for traditional operettas. As "Beauty and the Beast"s opening number, "Belle", a "pivotal moment...in the narrative", plays a significant role in the film by introducing both the film's heroine, Belle, after whom the song is named, and Gaston, the film's villain. While Belle, a book-loving and intelligent nonconformist who has grown frustrated with her predictable village life, longs for an adventure similar to
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Gaston tries to force Belle to marry him in exchange for her father's release, but she refuses. Belle then proves Maurice's sanity by revealing the Beast to the townsfolk using the magic mirror. Belle angrily confronts Gaston that he is a monster and the Beast is not, enraging Gaston. Realizing that Belle loves the Beast, Gaston has her thrown into the basement with her father and rallies the villagers to follow him to the castle to kill the Beast. Assisted by Chip, who had stowed away in Belle's bag, Maurice and Belle escape and rush back to the castle. The
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rising in the East. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast" as the film's best lyric. "Entertainment Weekly"'s Darren Franich, however, admitted to preferring "Be Our Guest" and "Belle" over "Beauty and the Beast". The ballroom sequence during which Belle and the Beast dance to "Beauty and the Beast" continues to be praised, especially for its use of computer animation. The first time the "Beauty and the Beast" musical sequence was made available to the public, it was in the form of an unfinished scene at the New York Film Festival in September
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protective of Belle, explaining, "[she] was my first-born child, so there’s a little bit of possessiveness, which really I had to let it go". "Beauty and the Beast", Belle performs the film's opening number, "Belle", which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992. In 1998, O'Hara was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production for reprising her role as Belle in the second of "Beauty and the Beast"'s three direct-to-video sequels, "Belle's Magical World". To commemorate
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remember him with leaving him and his servants heartbroken. At Villeneuve, Belle reveals the Beast in the mirror to the townsfolk, proving her father's sanity. Realizing that Belle loves the Beast, a jealous Gaston claims she has been charmed by dark magic, and has her thrown into the asylum carriage with her father. He rallies the villagers to follow him to the castle to slay the Beast before he curses the whole village. Maurice and Belle escape, and Belle rushes back to the castle. During the battle, Gaston abandons his companion LeFou, who then sides with the servants to fend
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Beast" as an arrogant hunter who is determined to marry Belle, whom he considers to be the village's most beautiful woman. However, she refuses his proposal when he throws a wedding party without her prior knowledge. Belle is the only one in town who actually dislikes Gaston for the person he is inside. Thoroughly humiliated, he sulks, but when her father Maurice shows up saying that she has been captured by a hideous Beast, he comes up with the idea of having him thrown into an insane asylum, unless Belle agrees to marry him. His plan fails when Belle proves
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her work on "Beauty and the Beast" and various contributions to Disney, O'Hara was honored with a Disney Legends award on August 19, 2011. Disney hired Spanish actress Penélope Cruz to pose as Belle in photographer Annie Leibovitz's Disney Dream Portrait Series, while actor Jeff Bridges posed as the Beast. The "Daily Mail" described the image as Cruz "wearing Belle's gorgeous yellow gown and being lifted high into the air by her prince," accompanied by the phrase "Where a moment of beauty lasts forever." Belle (Beauty and the Beast) Belle is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures'
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old man named Maurice who accidentally stumbles upon the castle, being allowed inside by the servants for shelter. However, the Beast detains Maurice in the tower as a prisoner for trespassing. Maurice's horse returns back to the village, and then takes Maurice's daughter Belle back to the castle. In the tower Belle confronts Beast and pleads with him to let her father go, offering herself as a prisoner instead, to which the Beast agrees in return for her promise never to leave. Being prodded by his servants into believing that she is the key to breaking the spell, the Beast
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a handsome, narcissistic and arrogant hunter. Lost in the forest while traveling to a fair to present his latest invention, Belle's father Maurice seeks refuge in the Beast's castle. While the castle's servants are sympathetic and welcoming of Maurice, the Beast discovers and imprisons him. Belle ventures out in search for him and finds him locked in the castle's tower. Belle offers to replace her father as the Beast's prisoner, and the Beast accepts. The Beast takes Maurice outside to the horseless carriage. Befriending the castle's servants, Belle is treated to a spectacular dinner. When she wanders into the forbidden
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to be too passive an activity. To resolve this, Woolverton scripted Belle walk while reading, an activity in which Woolverton herself partook as a child. In Beaumont's fairy tale, Belle is essentially forced to replace her father as the Beast's prisoner. To make the character more independent, Woolverton re-wrote her so that she willingly ventures into the woods in search of her father, bravely confronts the Beast and ultimately trades her own freedom in return for Maurice's instead. During Gaston's climactic fight with the Beast, the character's line "Time to die!" was changed to "Belle is mine!" in order to
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Berardinelli of "ReelViews "described "Belle" as "the animated equivalent of Broadway show-stoppers, with all the energy and audacity of something choreographed by Busby Berkeley." Similarly, the "New York Post"s Lou Lumenick also hailed "Belle" as a "show-stopper". Ranking "Beauty and the Beast "Disney's third greatest animated film while hailing it as "the best Disney movie musical," Gregory Ellwood of HitFix wrote, "you can't argue the cinematic joy in numbers such as the opening 'Belle'." Ranking "Beauty and the Beast "the "Best Disney Soundtrack ... of the Past 25 Years", Moviefone's Sandie Angulo Chen highlighted "Belle", commenting, "There's an infectious quality
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Pol would be making her Broadway debut as Belle, in "Beauty and the Beast". Van der Pol was the musical's 17th (and final) Belle. She played the role from April 3, 2007 to July 29, 2007 as the show reached its 5,464th (and final) performance. During her run as Belle, van der Pol also performed at Bryant Park's Broadway in Bryant Park on July 12, 2007 along "Beauty and the Beast" co-stars Chris Hoch and Jeanne Lehmann, performing songs from the show. Prior to "Beauty"'s final show, van der Pol appeared on "Live with Regis and Kelly" for a small
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help them achieve their respective goals." Michelle Munro, writing for Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology, felt that even though Belle shares several traits with her more passive predecessors, the character introduced "new possibilities for princesses." Girls in Capes wrote that Belle pioneered a generation of princesses who taught "about ambition, self-discovery and the pursuit of what we want." Additionally, Belle remains Disney's first and only princess to have hazel eyes. Belle debuted in "Beauty and the Beast "(1991) as a beautiful bibliophile who, although praised by her fellow villagers for her unrivaled beauty, is at the same time
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learned how to love instead would be more suitable due to the film's three-act structure. "Evermore" is a somber Broadway-influenced power ballad; its lyrics explore themes such as true love, heartbreak, loneliness and sacrifice. In "Beauty and the Beast", "Evermore" is performed by the Beast shortly after he releases Belle from the castle so that she may return to the village and aid her father. Despite knowing that freeing her will further jeopardize his chances of becoming human again, the Beast realizes he loves Belle and ultimately sacrifices his own happiness in return for hers. Critical reception towards "Evermore" has
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theft but then suggests that one of his daughters can take his place. The Beast offers his horse Magnificent to guide him through the forest home. Belle's father explains the situation to his family and Avenant. Belle agrees to go and take her father's place. She rides Magnificent to the castle, finding the Beast. Belle faints at the sight of him and is carried to her room in the castle. Belle awakens to find a magic mirror which allows her to see anything. The Beast invites Belle to dinner, where he tells her that she's in equal command to him
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finally established, "Beauty and the Beast"'s storyline began to solidify. However, some filmmakers continued to contest whether or not Gaston was actually a strong enough villain. In addition to eliminating Belle's sisters, screenwriter and creator Linda Woolverton introduced Gaston as a "blockheaded suitor" for the heroine, basing the character on boyfriends she had dated in the past. Several darker elements originally conceived for the film were ultimately written out of the final version, among them the idea of Gaston himself first visiting the insane asylum in which he plans on imprisoning Belle's father Maurice. After Woolverton re-wrote Belle into a
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Beast knows there's only a few hours left till the last petal falls from the rose, he allows Belle to leave in order to save her father; she departs after a tearful goodbye ("If I Can't Love Her (Reprise)"). Belle finds her father and brings him back to their house in the village. After she is able to nurse him back to health, she explains the transformation she seems to have gone through while she was with the Beast ("A Change in Me"). A mob arrives, led by Gaston to take Maurice to the asylum. Belle proves her father's sanity
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father's place. Beast falls in love with her and proposes marriage on a nightly basis which she refuses. Belle eventually becomes more drawn to Beast, who tests her by letting her return home to her family and telling her that if she doesn't return to him within a week, he will die of grief. "Beauty and the Beast" is now recognized as a classic of French cinema. While scrubbing the floor at home, Belle (Josette Day) is interrupted by her brother's friend Avenant (Jean Marais) who tells her she deserves better and suggests they get married. Belle rejects Avenant, as
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a romantic dance with the Beast, Belle mentions that she misses her father. The Beast lets her use his magic mirror to check on her father, and she discovers him lying sick in the woods while attempting to rescue her. The Beast releases her to save Maurice, giving her the mirror to remember him with. Belle rescues Maurice and brings him back to the village where she nurses him back to health. Suddenly, an angry mob led by Gaston comes to Belle's house and attempts to take Maurice away, thinking his claims of the Beast prove that he is insane.
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and that she will be asked every day to marry him. Days pass as Belle grows more accustomed to and fond of the Beast, but she continues to refuse marriage. Using the magic mirror, Belle finds her father deathly ill. The Beast grants her permission to leave for a week. He gives Belle two magical items: a glove that can transport her wherever she wishes and a golden key that unlocks Diana's Pavilion, the source of the Beast's true riches. Belle uses the glove to appear in her bedridden father's room, where her visit restores him to health. Belle finds
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of love is as timeless and ageless as a "tale as old as time". Lansbury's rendition is heard during the famous ballroom sequence between Belle and the Beast, while a shortened chorale version plays in the closing scenes of the film, and the song's motif features frequently in other pieces of Menken's film score. Lansbury was initially hesitant to record "Beauty and the Beast" because she felt that it was not suitable for her aging singing voice, but ultimately completed the song in one take. "Beauty and the Beast" was subsequently recorded as a pop duet by Canadian singer Celine
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fact "feminist enough." Although "Beauty and the Beast "was initially lauded upon release for starring a "forward thinking and feminist" heroine, critics tend to agree that, in spite of Belle's independence and resentment towards Gaston, "Beauty and the Beast" essentially remains a romance about a girl who finally "meets her ideal man." Acknowledging that Belle "represented significant change from [her] sweet, mop-wielding predecessors," "Twilight and History" author Nancy Reagin observed that "the end result of fulfillment through marriage has been maintained." Kathleen Maher of "The Austin Chronicle "cited Belle as an example of "pseudo-feminism" because she rejects one man, Gaston,
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to offer herself in the place of her father. At the castle, Belle is accepted as a substitute for her father. She is given luxurious goods and permission to roam the grounds, but must return every evening for dinner with the Beast warning her not to escape. At night, Belle has a vivid dream, revealing the backstory of the Prince: he enjoys hunting, but often ignores the Princess (Yvonne Catterfeld) who loves him but is lonely. The Prince is after an elusive golden deer, and when the Princess asks him to stop hunting the deer, he promises to do so
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a character having a big dream, then [there's] some obstacle to that quest." "Belle", the film's opening number, is an "orchestra-driven", "snare-tapping" song. Accompanied by a full orchestra, it is considered "Beauty and the Beast"'s "I Want" song. Musically, Menken based "Belle" on the narrative style of a traditional operetta, describing it as "something to portray Belle in a world that is so protected and safe." Menken described the film's following musical number, "Gaston", as a hilarious "drinking song sung by basically a group of Neanderthal level guys in praise of a complete lug-head", referring to Ashman's choice of song
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musical with a strong heroine and hired first-time screenwriter Linda Woolverton to write it. Basing her on the heroine of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", Woolverton adapted Belle into a stronger and less passive character for the film. Inspired by the women's rights movement, Woolverton wanted Belle to be a unique Disney heroine different from "The Little Mermaid"'s popular Ariel, and thus deliberately conceived the character as a feminist in an effort to avoid the criticism Disney had long been receiving due to the studio's reputation of depicting its female characters as victims. Belle's strength
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wasn’t going to be this typical Disney female, they would go to the extreme ... She became bitchy"; the screenwriter argued that Belle would be "too smart" to act this way. A few years older than "The Little Mermaid"'s Ariel, Belles' love of reading makes the character more worldly and mature than her predecessor. Belle is believed by Henn to be "probably" the oldest of Disney's princesses, at 20 years of age. "Beauty and the Beast "became the first animated film to fully credit each animator responsible for animating a specific character during the film's closing credits. Belle's supervising animators
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also he shows her his library and gives it to her which makes her feel a different way towards the Beast unlike before. The Beast shows Belle a gift from the enchantress, a book that transports readers wherever they want. Belle uses the book to visit her childhood home in Paris, where she discovers a plague doctor mask and realizes that she and her father were forced to leave when her mother succumbed to the plague. In Villeneuve, Maurice tries to convince the other villagers of the Beast and Belle's imprisonment but no one believes him. Gaston, seeing rescuing Belle
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on the frozen lake. As Belle is suddenly knocked down and pinned, the Beast attempts to kiss her when suddenly the ice beneath her breaks as she sinks into the frozen lake. The Beast pulls her from the water, and brings her back to the castle. The Beast agrees to let Belle return home, giving her a small vial of healing water. He tells her return to him in one day or he will "die". Belle arrives home, where her father is bedridden, and seems to be dying. She pleaded for him to wake only to fall asleep. Belle's eldest
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characters, particularly the Beast, questioning its morality. Writing for the University of Central Florida, Faith Dickens felt that after Belle's introduction, the character becomes little more than "a vehicle for exploring the Beast's dilemmas," while her initial pining for adventure is replaced by romance. Dickens went on to criticize the fact that while Belle appears to be "perfect the way she is," the Beast "need[s] to be reformed." Anna E. Altmann, author of "Tales, Then and Now: More Folktales as Literary Fictions for Young Adults", disliked the fact that Belle appears to share a motherly relationship with both the Beast
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jealousy drives him to rally the people to storm the castle and kill the Beast, but not before he orders Tom, Dick, and Stanley to lock Belle alongside her father to prevent her from warning the Beast. He confronts the Beast alone and shoots him in the back. Belle appears and the Beast fights back, holding Gaston over a chasm, but Gaston begs for mercy and is spared. Instead of leaving, Gaston stands on a nearby stone bridge and shoots the Beast again, this time fatally. In response to the Beast's life fading, the castle begins to crumble and the
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Gaston (Beauty and the Beast) Gaston is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Voiced by American actor and singer Richard White, Gaston is an arrogant hunter whose unrequited feelings for the intellectual Belle drive him to murder his adversary, the Beast, once he realizes she cares for him instead. Gaston serves as a foil personality to the Beast, who was once as vain as Gaston prior to his transformation. An original character who is not present in the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de
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to all of the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs, like the opening number of 'Belle' (that reveals how different Belle is from the other Disney heroines)." Alongside "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast", "Belle" was one of the three "Beauty and the Beast" songs that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992. "Belle" ultimately lost to the film's title and theme song. According to producer Don Hahn, Disney was actually hoping that the award would go to "Beauty and the Beast" and promoted the song heavily, spending significantly
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Belle (Disney song) "Belle" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman for Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Originally recorded by American actress and singer Paige O'Hara and American actor Richard White, "Belle", a mid-tempo French and classical music-inspired song, incorporates both Broadway and musical theatre elements. The film's first song and opening number, "Belle" appears during "Beauty and the Beast "as a large scale operetta-style production number that introduces the film's heroine Belle, considered a book-loving nonconformist by the townspeople of the village, who has grown weary of
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in celebration of "Beauty and the Beast"s 20th anniversary on stage. The tour opened at the Zorlu Center in Istanbul, Turkey, and closed in January 2016 at Dubai World Trade Centre, having visited Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Italy, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Egypt, Lebanon, Romania, and Qatar. In December 2015, "Beauty and the Beast" came back to the Netherlands for a run at Circustheater in The Hague. In 2016, Disney and Marmelade produced an updated version for the Flemish Region of Belgium. The original cast included Josje Huisman as Belle, Jan Schepens as Beast, Dieter Troubleyn as
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"Beauty and the Beast" at the ceremony, comforted her by telling her, "Paige, if I sang like you I wouldn’t be nervous." In August 2011, O'Hara performed an abridged version of "Belle" live during the Disney Legends awards ceremony, at which O'Hara was also a recipient. The performance was a "Beauty and the Beast" medley, during which O'Hara musically combined "Belle" with "Beauty and the Beast" and "Be Our Guest". In the 2017 live-action adaptation, the song is performed by Emma Watson, Luke Evans, and ensemble. Belle (Disney song) "Belle" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist
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ridiculed for her intelligence and non-conformity. Having grown weary of her uneventful provincial life, in which she is relentlessly romantically pursued by an arrogant hunter named Gaston, Belle longs for adventure. After her father's horse returns without its rider, she willingly ventures into the woods in search of her father. She persuades the Beast that she will trade her own freedom in return for her father's, since her father is ill in the dungeon, promising to remain with the Beast in his castle among his staff of enchanted objects forever. Belle's curiosity leads her to the forbidden west wing where
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Belle realizes her father is in danger and heads into the woods to look for him. She ends up at the castle where she finds her father locked away in a dungeon. She makes a deal with the Beast, Maurice goes free but she remains instead. They agree and Maurice is sent back to town without being allowed to say goodbye. Belle is given a guest room and ordered by the Beast to join him for dinner. She mourns her situation ("Home"), but Mrs. Potts and Madame de la Grande Bouche, an operatic wardrobe, attempt to cheer her up ("Home
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Writing for the "Los Angeles Times", Charles Solomon observed inconsistencies in Belle's appearance, writing, "The prettiest and liveliest Belle waltzes with Beast in his marble ballroom and weeps over his body before he's transformed into the Prince" while "The Belle who receives the library from Beast has wider-set eyes and a more prominent mouth than the noticeably slimmer Belle who sings 'Something There'". Woolverton created Belle as part of "her self-directed mandate to move women and girls forward." "The Express-Times "described the character as an intelligent young woman who "sings songs about reading and wanting to gain knowledge, rather than
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film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Based on the heroine of the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont, Belle was created by screenwriter Linda Woolverton and originally animated by James Baxter and Mark Henn. Originally voiced by Paige O'Hara, Belle is currently voiced by Julie Nathanson. O'Hara did, however, return as the voice of Belle in the 2018 film "Ralph Breaks the Internet". Frustrated with her provincial village life, book-loving Belle longs for adventure. When her father Maurice is imprisoned by a hideous beast, Belle sacrifices her own freedom in return for his. At first frightened by
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the independent, self-assured character of Belle," concluding, "Unlike Disney heroines from Snow White through Ariel, Belle is smart, knows what she wants, and doesn't spend her time pining away for the love of a handsome prince." Marc Bernardin of "Entertainment Weekly "praised Belle's heroism, dubbing her "the hero" of "Beauty and the Beast", while "Entertainment Weekly's" Christian Blauvelt opined, "Unlike previous Disney heroines who needed to be rescued by a prince themselves, Belle not only saves the Beast's life, she saves his soul." TLC's Vicki Arkoff received Belle as a "smart" and "sharp-tongued" heroine, crediting the character for "break[ing] Disney's
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Teen Choice Awards. She also received nominations for the Empire Award for Best Actress, the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for "Favorite Movie Actress" and the Saturn Award for Best Actress. Belle appeared in the Broadway musical adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast". The role was originated by actress Susan Egan, who was initially reluctant to audition for "Beauty and the Beast" because she "thought it was a terrible idea for Disney to put a cartoon on Broadway." However, her agent managed to convince her otherwise, and Egan ultimately turned down callbacks for roles in the musicals "My Fair Lady", "Carousel
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her relationship with the Beast, who also lost his mother as a child. In "Beauty and the Beast", the song is first performed by Maurice (Kline) shortly after the opening act "Belle". Belle (Watson) arrives at their house in the village and peeps on her father crafting a music box. He sings "How Does a Moment Last Forever" and reminisces about his deceased wife and their life together in Paris. After he realizes his daughter is watching him, he quickly finishes the music box, which is modelled after him and his wife and avoids to answer any of Belle's questions
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intelligence and active imagination. Similarly, "Boxoffice"'s Amy Nicholson coined the character "Disney's Smartest Heroine," while Rob Burch of "The Hollywood News "observed that the character "comes across as arrogant at times" because she "spends much of the first act complaining." In her book "Sex, Love and Abuse: Discourses on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault", author Sharon Hayes described Belle as "the quintessential beautiful young ingenue." Comparing Belle's personality to that of the princess in the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale "The Frog Prince", "The Meanings of "Beauty and the Beast": A Handbook "author Jerry Griswold described the character as a similarly
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feminist Disney characters, describing her as an "incredibly intelligent" woman who "doesn't stand for a man who considers her as just a piece of meat ... she wants someone who loves her for her mind too." Acknowledging the character's "feminist longings," Daniel Eagen, author of "America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry", cited Belle as Disney's "modern-day corrective to Snow White." "Beyond Adaptation: Essays on Radical Transformations of Original Works" author Phyllis Frus wrote that, initially, "Beauty and the Beast "does not seem "remotely feminist." However, the author did acknowledge Belle as
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passive-princess mold." About.com's David Nusair described Belle as an "admirable" heroine. AllMovie's Don Kaye and Perry Seibert echoed each other's reviews of the character, with Kaye describing both Belle and the Beast as "three-dimensional ... complex individuals who defy stereotyping and change over the course of the story," and Seibert calling Belle a "strong female character" who "sidesteps most of the clichés surrounding Disney heroines." Common Sense Media hailed Belle as "one of Disney's smartest, most independent heroines." Meanwhile, Belle's relationship with the Beast has also been met with positive reviews. About.com's David Nusair wrote that "the palpable chemistry between
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recording for the new production was released in May 2008, starring Julia Möller as Belle, David Ordinas as Beast, Pablo Puyol as Gaston, Raúl Peña as LeFou, Armando Pita as Lumière, Esteban Oliver as Cogsworth and Angels Jiménez as Mrs. Potts. A "junior" version of the musical for middle and high school students was published by MTI. This version only included a selected number of the songs, including "Belle", "Belle (Reprise)", "Home", "Home (Tag)", "Gaston", "Gaston (Reprise)", "Be Our Guest", "Something There", "Human Again", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Mob Song", "Home (Reprise)", and "Beauty and the Beast (Reprise)". Also
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an arrow by an animated statue of the Roman goddess Diana and is himself turned into a Beast. As this happens, arising from where the Beast lay dead, is Prince Ardent (Jean Marais) who is cured of being the Beast. He explains that because his parents did not believe in spirits, in revenge the spirits turned him into the Beast. Prince Ardent and Belle embrace, then fly away to his kingdom where she will be his Queen, and where her father will stay with them and Belle's sisters will carry the train of her gown. After the opening credits, Cocteau
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way in which women would be depicted in subsequent animated films. According to Kevin Fallon of "The Daily Beast", before Belle "being a Disney princess meant singing songs about how much you love combing your hair with a fork and giving away your voice if it meant you got to marry the guy with that dreamy chiseled jaw". The "Los Angeles Times"' Charles Solomon considers Belle to be among four Disney Princesses responsible for breaking "the bonds of convention." About.com's David Nusair agreed that Belle successfully "updated the princess formula for an entirely new generation." "The Atlantic"'s Lindsay Lowe echoed
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not model healthy romantic relationships for young viewers. Constance Grady of Vox writes that Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's "Beauty and the Beast" was a fairy tale originally written to prepare young girls in 18th-century France for arranged marriages, and that the power disparity is amplified in the Disney version. Anna Menta of "Elite Daily" argued that the Beast does not apologize to Belle for imprisoning, hurting, or manipulating her, and his treatment of Belle is not painted as wrong. Beauty and the Beast (2017 film) Beauty and the Beast is a 2017 American musical romantic fantasy film directed by Bill
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tells her about the curse. All his former subjects reappear along with her family who can now visit her whenever they want. She is also now a princess. Beauty and the Beast (1987 film) Beauty and the Beast (alternatively: Cannon Movie Tales: Beauty and the Beast in United States, Die Schöne und das Biest in West Germany, La Bella e la Bestia in Italy, La Belle et la Bête in France) is a 1987 American/Israeli musical film, part of the 1980 film series Cannon Movie Tales. It is a contemporary version of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast.
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a rose from his garden as a gift to Belle. When Maurice's horse returns without him, Belle ventures out in search for him, and finds him locked in the castle dungeon. The Beast agrees to let her take Maurice's place. Belle befriends the castle's servants, who invite her to a spectacular dinner. When she wanders into the forbidden west wing and finds the rose, the Beast scares her into the woods. She is ambushed by a pack of wolves, but the Beast rescues her, and is injured in the process. As Belle nurses his wounds, a friendship develops between them,
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everything around her." Jennie Punter of "The Globe and Mail "extolled Belle as a "smart, courageous ... 'take-charge kind of gal'," while crowning her the "main attraction of "Beauty and the Beast"." Emma Cochrane of "Empire" hailed Belle as "a feminist heroine who [is] more rounded than previous Disney characters", while "Paste's" Annlee Ellingson similarly enjoyed the character's "feminist kick." Stephen Hunter of "The Baltimore Sun "wrote that "Belle ... is no passive fairy tale princess, but a real live girl, with a spunky personality and her own private agenda." "TV Guide "wrote that "The familiar narrative is strengthened by
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off the villagers. Gaston attacks the Beast in his tower, who is too heartbroken from belle's departure to fight back, but regains his spirit upon seeing Belle return. He defeats Gaston, but spares his life before reuniting with Belle. Ungrateful and unrepentant, Gaston mortally wounds the Beast with a gunshot from a bridge, but it collapses when the castle crumbles, and he falls to his death. The injured Beast tells Belle that he was happy to see her again then he dies in her arms as the last petal falls, and the servants become inanimate. Belle tearfully professes her love
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He explains that everyone understands how Beast feels about the holiday, but giving a gift to another is a way of saying "I care about you". The Beast gets in the mood, and demands Forte to compose a song as a present, who agrees unhappily. When he leaves, Forte puts his plans in motion, and plays beautiful music, attracting Belle to his room. Forte quickly manipulates the situation, telling her that the tree has always been Beast's favorite part of Christmas, and that she would find a much better tree in the Black Forest, the woods outside the castle. Getting
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in particular, there is some connection to the Jean Cocteau's 1946 French film, "La Belle et la Bête". George R.R. Martin, who would later write the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series, was a writer and producer on the show. In 2004 and 2007, "Beauty and the Beast" was ranked #14 and #17, respectively, on "TV Guide"'s Top Cult Shows Ever. Catherine Chandler (played by Linda Hamilton) is abducted, beaten, slashed and left to die in Central Park because she was inadvertently mistaken for somebody else. She is rescued and cared for by Vincent (played by Ron Perlman)
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encounter and defeat Maleficent, who transforms into her dragon form and challenges them once again, only to be defeated once more. The four heroes find Kairi, but the circumstances cause Sora, Donald, Goofy and Kairi to leave Hollow Bastion, and Beast states that he will not leave without Belle. Later on, Beast encounters Sora once again when he returns to Hollow Bastion to lock the Keyhole. During their second search, Beast and Sora find Belle, who embraces Beast and presents Sora with the Divine Rose Keychain. In the "Final Mix" version of the game, Beast allies himself with Sora once
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with warmth, intuition and maturity," while the "Sun-Sentinel's" Candice Russel felt that O'Hara "does a good job of creating Belle as intellectual, wisely feminine and disarmed by the stirrings of her heart." According to the Young Writers Society, Belle remains the best-reviewed Disney Princess to-date. One of the character's few negative reviews was written by Ethan Alter of Television Without Pity, who opined: Emma Watson's portrayal as Belle in the 2017 film was mostly well-received by various critics. A. O. Scott of "The New York Times" wrote that Watson "perfectly embodies Belle’s compassion and intelligence." "The Washington Post"s Ann Hornaday
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behavior. Although the Beast does not seem to have become increasing feral the longer the enchantment runs, in contrast to his animated counterpart from 1991 (reflecting Don Hahn's original intent for the Beast eventually grow wild if he never met Belle), it is his transformed servants who are gradually losing their remaining humanity while the castle deteriorates. The last rose petal falls before the curse is broken; however, upon seeing Belle profess her love for the Beast, the enchantress reveals herself and lifts the spell on the castle and its inhabitants. Afterward, Prince and Belle host a ball for all
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Beauty and the Beast (2009 film) Beauty and the Beast is a 2009 Australian fantasy film directed by David Lister and starring Estella Warren, Rhett Giles, and Victor Parascos, and loosely based upon the fairy tale of the same name. The film was released in 2009 on video under that title and aired in 2010 on Syfy television as "Beauty and the Beasts: A Dark Tale". A series of horrific murders has the Beast being blamed for the crimes. Belle (Estella Warren) and Beast (Victor Parascos) must work together to investigate the crimes and discover who the true murderer is
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"and "Grease" in favor of starring as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" because she had always wanted to originate a Broadway role. Egan had never watched "Beauty and the Beast "prior to her audition, relying solely on "her own creative instincts" instead. Egan's performance earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical at the 48th Tony Awards. A total of seventeen actresses have portrayed Belle in the Broadway musical, among them recording artists Debbie Gibson and Toni Braxton, "The Sopranos"' Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Disney Channel alumnae Christy Carlson Romano and Anneliese van der Pol, the
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castle from invading villagers and forest animals and rescue Belle from Gaston. The third and fourth video games based on the film are action platformers developed by Probe Software and published by Hudson Soft. One, titled "Beauty and the Beast", was released in Europe in 1994 for the NES, while the other, "Disney's Beauty and the Beast", was released in North America in July 1994 and in Europe on February 23 1995 for the SNES. The entire games are played through the perspective of the Beast. As the Beast, the player must get Belle to fall in love so that
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for the truth ... we don't know we're in love until we spend time with someone and unforced adjustments make the pieces fall into place." "The Emperor's Old Groove: Decolonizing Disney's Magic Kingdom" author Brenda Ayres cited the song as an "[indicator] that a reciprocal power relationship has developed between Belle and the Beast ... confirm[ing] 'his transformation, her legitimacy, and their powerful unity." According to the lyricist's website, "Beauty and the Beast" summarizes the way in which "Belle tames the beast and finds the happy ending she has dreamed about." "The Meanings of "Beauty and the Beast": A Handbook"
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bridge where Gaston is standing breaks into pieces, sending Gaston falling to his death. Unlike in the animated movie, Gaston's death is shown onscreen. Gaston appears in Broadway musical adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast", which premiered at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 18, 1994. The role was originated by actor Burke Moses, who received a nomination for a Drama Desk Award and won a Theatre World Award. Besides the songs "Belle", "Gaston", and "Kill the Beast" (which were from the Disney movie), Gaston performs "Me" (in which he self-centeredly proposes to Belle), "Gaston (Reprise)" (which was expanded to have
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musical." According to Broadway actress and singer Paige O'Hara, who both recorded the song and provided the voice of Belle, Ashman and Menken "wanted to leave the pop music sound of "Mermaid" behind and go for something more Jerome Kern/Rodgers & Hammerstein" for "Beauty and the Beast". The film's songs and musical numbers, which were written to both "propel the plot" and offer "character development", were heavily influenced by French, classical and traditional Broadway music. Additionally, Menken described "Belle" and the other "Beauty and the Beast" songs to "The New York Times "as "tangents from 18th-century France". Written in a
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filmmakers. Despite the fact that Disney wanted "Beauty and the Beast" to resemble an old-fashioned film, the filmmakers envisioned Belle as "a woman that was ahead of her time". As the first woman in the history of Disney to write a feature-length animated film, Woolverton decided to explore Belle as an opportunity to create a female character who would ultimately be better received than Disney's previous animated heroines, specifically Ariel from "The Little Mermaid". Woolverton was aware that the task would be particularly challenging due to the previous character's popularity, but fought relentlessly to make sure that she was creating
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The Beast. This production closed in 2003. The third national tour opened in 2001 and closed in 2003. This production starred Jennifer Shraeder as Belle and Roger Befeler as the Beast with Marc G. Dalio as Gaston. Notable replacements on the tours have included Sarah Litzsinger, Erin Dilly and Danyelle Bossardet as Belle. The three touring companies visited 137 venues in 90 North American cities. About 5.5 million people in the United States and Canada saw these tours. The fourth national tour of "Beauty and the Beast" began February 2010, opening in Providence, Rhode Island, starring Liz Shivener as Belle
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retrieve Belle, explains that the household cannot find her, Beast becomes enraged. He goes to Forte to ask for advice, and Forte lies that Belle has abandoned him. Beast manages to find Belle and saves her in time from drowning after she fell through thin ice. Still believing that Belle disobeyed him by breaking her promise not to leave, Beast locks her into the dungeons to rot. But when Forte goads him into destroying the rose to end his suffering, Beast finds Belle's book in the West Wing and reads it, coming to his senses and realizing that all Belle
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is the show's version of the Beast). She is portrayed by Australian actress Emilie de Ravin. Another live-action version of the character appeared in the 2015 television film "Descendants", where she was played by Keegan Connor Tracy and serves as the Queen of the United States of Auradon. The series "Sofia the First" included a cameo by Belle in a 2013 episode. British actress Amy Jackson who portrayed as "Belle" opposite Indian actor Vikram, who being portrayed as "Beast" for sequences in a dreamy song ""Ennodu Nee Irundhal"" in the 2015 Tamil language romantic thriller ""I"". The original prosthetic make-up
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senses thanks to his servants who were released by Sora. Xaldin appears to flee. Later on, during a ball, Xaldin returns and steals the rose, throwing Beast into a depression and causing him to ask Belle and Sora to leave his castle. However a pep talk from Sora spurs him back into action. Xaldin confronts them and sends his Nobodies at them. They fight the Nobodies off, but Xaldin escapes to the castle drawbridge with Belle and the rose. Belle manages to escape from Xaldin's clutches with the rose, and Xaldin is then killed by Beast, Sora, Donald and Goofy.
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If that happens, Beast will not only become a strong Heartless which Sora would have to destroy and feed to Kingdom Hearts, but also leave behind a powerful Nobody for Xaldin to use as he wishes (just like what happened to Xehanort). Manipulated and controlled, Beast is forced to allow the Heartless into the castle and lock the entire servant staff in the dungeons, with Belle too scared to intervene. Beast starts mistreating Belle. When Sora, Donald and Goofy arrive, they are encountered by Beast, who attacks them without hesitation. Sora wins the battle, and Beast comes back to his
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famous in film history 25 years after its debut. Belle appeared on BuzzFeed's "Definitive Ranking Of 72 Disney Princess Outfits" four times, ranking the character's green, blue, pink and yellow dresses 51st, 37th, 31st and 15th, respectively. Similarly, Belle's blue, pink, yellow and green costumes were ranked 18th, 10th, ninth and fourth by Official Disney Blogs, whose author believes that the character's ballgown "went down in the history books." Belle appeared on "Stylist"'s list of the "Best beauty looks in Disney" twice, both for the character's hairstyles. "Entertainment Weekly "ranked Belle's hair fifth in the magazine's "Disney Princesses: Ranking Their
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his horse, magically cured. He packs up and departs with the items. Passing through the garden, he recalls Belle's request of a rose, and he picks one. He is immediately confronted by the Beast, who thunders at him for taking the rose. As punishment, the Beast demands the merchant return to the castle in one day after saying goodbye to his children. If he fails to return, his family will be killed. The father returns home and tells the story to his children. Learning of her father's fate, Belle, feeling responsible, takes her father's horse and returns to the castle
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the other characters from the first movie appear in the stage show, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World. Belle appears in a meet-and-greet attraction at Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland called Enchanted Tales with Belle. In season 18 of "Dancing With the Stars", Danica McKellar played Belle while performing a Quickstep on a Disney themed episode. Ginger Zee and Edyta Śliwińska also both portrayed Belle while performing a Foxtrot and Waltz respectively during the Disney night episode of the 22nd season of "Dancing with the Stars". Emma Slater then played Belle while dancing a
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because he longs to maintain his co-dependent relationship with his master. Tricked by Forte into retrieving a large Christmas tree from a frozen pond, Belle nearly drowns, only to be rescued by the Beast. The Beast, however, having been misinformed by Forte, wrongly accuses Belle of trying to escape again, and locks her in the dungeon as punishment. When the Beast finally discovers the truth, they forgive each other, and Belle helps him thwart Forte's plan to destroy the castle. "" (1998), depicts Belle as she interacts with both the Beast and his enchanted servants in various segments, exploring themes
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from Belle. When she finally looks, Belle sees that the master is a hideous monster. Though frightened, Belle learns to overlook this as the Beast is very kind to her. After Belle expresses a desire to see how her sister is faring, the beast gives her a magic mirror to see Jasmine. When Belle looks, she sees Jasmine asking her father about Belle. Furious, her father strikes her. Belle becomes frightened that her father will hurt Jasmine next and the beast agrees to bring Jasmine to the castle for safety. When Belle's father attempts to stop the beast, he is
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fear that Belle could never learn to love him. Belle, on a tour through the castle, enters the West Wing and discovers the rose. The Beast is furious at Belle, because he told her never to enter that part of the castle. All of this causes Belle and the Beast to argue. But the others advise Beast to be a gentleman, because Belle could be the one to break the curse. The castle's charming inhabitants discover that there is "Something There" that wasn't there before ("Something There"), and the two fall in love. Meanwhile, Gaston declares that Belle has rejected
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of "the Beast" is actually another fairy tale character, Rumplestiltskin (played by Robert Carlyle), who gains possession of Belle as part of a deal to save Belle's kingdom from losing a war. Indian actor Vikram portrayed Beast for sequences in a dreamy song "Ennodu Nee Irundhal" in the 2015 Tamil language film ""I"" opposite Amy Jackson who portrayed Belle. The original prosthetic make-up for the characters were provided by Sean Foot (Shaun) and Davina Lamont and additional works were done by National Film Award winners—Christien Tinsley and Dominie Till. In March 2015, English actor Dan Stevens was cast as the
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earn her love in return by the time the last petal falls ("Prologue"). Ten years later, a beautiful young girl named Belle makes her way into town one morning in order to get a book from the local bookseller. On the way she expresses her wish to live in a world like her books, full of adventure, while the townspeople note her unparalleled beauty but find her love of books odd ("Belle"). Belle has also attracted the attention of Gaston (the local hunter and town hero), who admires her only for her beauty. Belle, however, is not oblivious to her
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him and his castle will be broken, she will marry him and become a princess. The final boss of the game is Gaston, a hunter who will try to steal Belle from the "Beast". Disney's Beauty and the Beast (SNES video game) Disney's Beauty and the Beast is an action platformer for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name, it was developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Hudson Soft in North America on July 1, 1994 and Europe on February 23, 1995, respectively. The game was published by Virgin Interactive in
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from the musical "South Pacific". The "Something There" musical sequence was added towards the end of "Beauty and the Beast"'s filmmaking process. Belle was animated by Mark Henn, while the Beast was animated by Aaron Blaise. Henn described "Something There" as "a great sequence," continuing, "I love to animate songs." The "Los Angeles Times" Charles Solomon felt that Belle was drawn inconsistently throughout the film, observing that the character appears "noticeably slimmer" during "Something There". Written in the key of D major at a quick allegretto tempo of 108 beats per minute in common time, the "playful" "Something There" is
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number," "TV Guide" drew similarities between "Be Our Guest" and songs from the Broadway musicals "Hello, Dolly! "and "Mame". "The Globe and Mail"'s Jennie Punter called the song "show-stopping." Similarly, Drew Taylor of Indiewire echoed Punter's statement, writing, "when the enchanted wait staff dazzle the captive Belle, assuring her that she's not a prisoner she's a guest of the castle," the result is ultimately "show-stopping." Writing for the "Austin Chronicle", Kathleen Maher, who generally panned the film's songs and musical numbers, liked "Be Our Guest", describing it as "Beauty and the Beast"'s "only ... magical set piece." Ranking "Beauty and
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several bunches of flowers around the Beast's bed. At one point, the Beast begins to smell one of the flowers and almost wakes up, but it is removed just in time, and he falls asleep again. Beast appears as a major Disney character in the bestselling video game series "Kingdom Hearts". In the first "Kingdom Hearts", during a time in which the spell had not yet broken, Beast's home is attacked by the Heartless, led by Maleficent, who take Belle captive. Determined to rescue Belle, Beast goes as far as to exploit the power of darkness and risk his own
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18% of votes. Belle is the fifth most successful Disney Princess in terms of box office revenue, with "Beauty and the Beast" having grossed over $350 million. However, Belle was the lowest-selling Disney Princess on eBay in 2013, with sales of less than $7,000 despite the fact that she is often cited as a customer favorite. Belle is considered to be among Disney's most beloved animated heroines. According to Scott Huver of "People", the character's "popularity remains a force to be reckoned with" even 25 years after the film's release. Belle was the only animated heroine nominated for the American
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Belle and The Beast ensur[es] that "Beauty and the Beast" lives up to its reputation as one of the most memorable romances of all time." Describing it as an "unconventional romance," Charles Solomon of the "Los Angeles Times "opined, "The idea of a young woman learning to love a gentle heart hidden beneath a baleful exterior represented a major break with tradition." Likewise, critics enjoyed O'Hara's performance. According to "Variety", Belle was "magnificently voiced by O’Hara." "The Star-Ledger's" Stephen Whitty enjoyed O'Hara's "pretty soprano." John Hartl of "The Seattle Times "wrote, "O'Hara does a spirited job of investing the character
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she discovers an enchanted rose without realizing that it is tied to the Beast's fate; and the Beast's rage at her trespassing causes her to flee the castle on horseback. Belle is pursued by wolves in the woods but they are driven off by the Beast, afterwards Belle helps the injured Beast back to the castle and nurses him back to health. Although she initially dislikes her captor, Belle gradually learns to accept the Beast in spite of his appearance and eventually befriends him. Belle and the Beast's strong bond greatly envies Gaston to the point of which he storms
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that the love of "Beauty and the Beast" will thrive forever. Instantly, Belle and the prince reappear in their traditional costumes. ("Beauty and the Beast") During the curtain call, Belle and the Prince give a lucky person in the audience a rose similar to the one in the movie. The original version opened for the film's 1991 premiere. Its first performance was at 1:30 pm on November 22, 1991, the same day the film was released. When the Theater of the Stars was moved in September 1993 (to make room for the construction of Sunset Boulevard), the show was temporarily
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song "A Change in Me" was kept in the production after being written for Toni Braxton during her stint as Belle. The Beauty and the Beast universe encompasses two main locations: a French village and a castle, which are linked by woods. As the three spin-off films all take place within the time period of the original film, the plot of the "Beauty and the Beast" franchise is encompassed in the original 1991 film, which the other films serving to give added insight to certain parts of the story that were skimmed over (such as when Belle is living in
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as "a bookworm, with gumption and a mind of her own." Similarly comparing Belle to Ariel, John Hartl of "The Seattle Times" wrote that, in "Beauty and the Beast", "there's rarely a sense of deja vu, perhaps because the heroine is so different from 'Mermaid's' dependent Ariel, and her dilemma is more poignant," while "Boxoffice "scribed, "Undoubtedly in response to criticism that the cute little 'Mermaid' Ariel was nothing more than a precocious sexpot, the idea-people behind this beauty—aptly named Belle ... chose to make her an icon of self-reliance and a voracious reader with a curiosity and love for
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misogynist) the endgame is the still the same, elaborating, "When the movie ends, they’re still solidly with a man, their dreams of adventure abandoned. Therefore, the Disney renaissance is characterized more by theoretical want of adventure rather than a genuine pursuit." Deemed an "iconoclast" by "Boxoffice", Belle continues to garner strong recognition for her role in "Beauty and the Beast". Established as a cultural icon, the character holds the distinction of being Disney's first feminist princess. Commentators believe that the character's role in "Beauty and the Beast" as one of Disney's first strong female characters is responsible for changing the
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Something There "Something There" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Walt Disney Pictures 30th animated feature film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Sung by the majority of the film's main cast, the song was recorded by American actors Paige O'Hara as Belle and Robby Benson as the Beast via voice over, featuring actors Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury and David Ogden Stiers as Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth, respectively. The only song performed by the Beast, "Something There" is heard midway through "Beauty and the Beast "during a scene in which Belle and the
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again to fight and defeat Xemnas (then known as "Unknown"). In "", Beast is merely a figment of Sora's memories. He is once again separated from Belle, courtesy of Maleficent, but once more, Beast defeats Maleficent with Sora's help and rescues Belle. After Sora defeats Ansem, all the previously attacked worlds are restored, including Beast's Castle. Afterwards, Beast and Belle return to their home to carry on with their lives. However, the peace is shattered once again when Beast is approached by Xaldin of Organization XIII to do his bidding. Xaldin is determined to manipulate Beast into becoming a Heartless.
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dinner, the Beast apologizes for his previous behavior. Belle makes the Beast a proposal; she will dance with him, if she is allowed to see her family one last time. The two begin to dance though amidst it all, the Beast asks for Belle's love. Jarred, Belle demands to see her family as she had bargained. When the Beast refuses, Belle fervently rejects him once again. That same night, she witnesses the Beast prey upon and devour a hog. In shock, she attempts to escape by running into the enchanted forest only for the Beast to catch up to her
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which the studio agreed despite its costliness. O'Hara credited the filmmaker's decision with developing both the film and Belle and the Beast's relationship. O'Hara and Benson became the first Disney voice actors to record together. In total, the recording process took over two years to complete. O'Hara had already been friends with co-star Richard White, who voices Gaston, for 15 years. Despite her successful stage career, O'Hara was virtually unknown to Hollywood audiences when she was cast in "Beauty and the Beast"; she was one of the last obscure actresses to be cast in a feature-length Disney animated film before
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the fairy tale, and ultimately ordered that it be restarted from scratch in favor of creating a Broadway-style musical film starring a strong heroine, more similar to "The Little Mermaid". Opting instead for a "feminist twist" on the original story, Katzenberg hired television writer Linda Woolverton, who had never written an animated film before, to write the film's screenplay. Before "Beauty and the Beast", Disney's tradition of depicting female characters as victims had already long been established. The fact that Belle was hardly depicted as a feminist in earlier versions of the film became a point of contention among the
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of behavior, the Beast decides to show mercy and spare Gaston on the condition that he immediately leave the castle. Belle then shows up on the balcony and the Beast climbs up to meet her; however Gaston refuses to accept defeat and stabs the Beast from behind. Gaston loses his balance and falls from the castle roof to his death, but Belle manages to grab the Beast and pull him up. The Beast, knowing he is mortally wounded, expresses his appreciation to Belle for returning and being able to see her one last time, before falling unconscious and apparently succumbing
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