Movie Review: Beauty & the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is a very well-known tale, but this particular live-action film was released in 1962. It's technicolor visuals are breathtaking and it's plot different from the Disney favorite.

During the day Duke Eduardo reigns over the land, but when darkness falls, he becomes... a beast.

It wasn't until Eduardo and his faithful servant Orsini travel down to the basement/dungeon-ish room that I realized I'd seen this movie before. I've seen this movie a lot actually as I loved it when I was little.

Lady Althea, Eduardo's betrothed, comes to visit with her father. Their arrival surprises Orsini because they're early. He tells them that Eduardo isn't feeling well and can not see them until morning. After her father bids her good night, someone locks Lady Althea in her room.

In the morning, Eduardo is back to normal and is reunited with the beautiful Lady Althea. He asks for a postponement of their nuptials and she agrees. Prince Bruno, Eduardo's cousin and nemesis, sends a spy to inquire about the castle being evacuated of all but the duke and Orsini at night. That leads to a wonderful outburst from one adorable little old lady about whether or not Eduardo had sold his soul to Satan.

Lady Althea follows Orsini down to the holding cell. When she sees Eduardo in his alternate form, she screams and faints. A man who lives in the stables by the castle hears the scream and tells Grivaldi, Prince Bruno's spy. Grivaldi has stolen a key to the castle from the duke's wine steward.

Lady Althea is relieved to know the truth. Orsini explains how Eduardo was cursed with his beastliness because of his father. After Lady Althea professes her love for Eduardo, he tries to kiss her, but she turns away.

Prince Bruno and Grivaldi sneak into the castle just as Eduardo transforms. The next day, Prince Bruno ambushes Eduardo and is shocked to see Lady Althea alive and well and still happy to marry Eduardo.

Grivaldi and the prince rile up a crowd of peasants and they descend upon the castle with torches and pitchforks. The curse is broken by Lady Althea who is still in love with Eduardo, despite his "hideous" appearance. The townspeople are satisfied and happy endings for all.

As far as the "beast" portion of the film, he's not exactly scary or hideous. He just looks like he stuck a toupee in each sleeve and has a hair helmet. They definitely were going for the pig/lion/boar aspects from the original story and in 1962, I'm sure it scared the bejeezus out of people.

Moral of this movie: Love is all you need.

"My neighbor, this jackass, let his cow into my garden."
"Is it possible that his grace has sold his soul to Satan and at night celebrates the Black Mass?"