Disney musical: Seven facts about Beauty and the Beast
22/12/2016
written by Mohan Mani
To mark the 25th anniversary of the classic Walt Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast" and the revival of the live show, we have compiled seven little-known facts.
Two failed Disney adaptation attempts
Walt Disney wanted to adapt "Beauty and the Beast" back in the 1930s and 1950s. However, the screenwriters at the time thought the material was too ambitious to be made into a film.
The look of the Beast
The beast is a combination of several animal species. It has the body of a bear, the mane of a lion, the legs of a wolf, the eyebrows of a gorilla and the head of a buffalo.
Madame Pottine instead of Mrs. Kamille
Madame Pottine (in the original English: Mrs. Potts) should actually have been called Mrs. Chamomile. The name of the caring, motherly teapot was intended to have a calming effect on children. However, Mrs. Potts was easier for children to pronounce in English and was also more suitable for song lyrics rhymes.
Belle as a self-made fighter
Unlike classic Disney princesses, Belle is not just waiting for her prince charming. Instead, she not only has to free her father, but also a castle and its inhabitants from an evil curse.
Gaston vs. Marguerite
Gaston would have been a hair's breadth away from becoming Disney's Beauty and the Beast antagonist. Belle was to be given an evil aunt called Marguerite. In the end, however, the wonderfully arrogant and self-absorbed Gaston won the race as the villain.
The oldest Disney princess
To this day, Belle is the only princess who is well over 20 years old. Other Disney princesses are all still teenagers.
Disney real film adaptation in March 2017
A Disney adaptation of "The Jungle Book" starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens will be released in cinemas on March 16, 2017, breathing new life into the classic on the big screen.
