Disney’sBeauty and the Beastwas almost an entirely different film, but it’s a good thing that the original plan didn’t work out. The 1991 animated film is one of the House of Mouse’s most beloved masterpieces, so it’s difficult to imagine a world in which it never existed. However, if Walt Disney had gotten his way in the 1930s and 1950s, Belle’s story would never have made it to the screen in the 1990s. Of course, this would mean songs like “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” and, of course, “Beauty and the Beast” wouldn’t have ever happened either.
Beauty and the Beastarrived duringDisney’s second big animated-movie boom, following the success of 1989’sThe Little Mermaid. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the 1991 movie managed an impressive $451 million at the global box office, inspiring Disney to continue producing major animated features throughout the ’90s. Of course, thoughDisney took a unique approach toBeauty and the Beast, it wasn’t an original story. Theanimated movie is based on the 1756 fairy taleby Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, which Walt Disney had tried to adapt for years.
Walt Disney Tried (And Failed) To Make Beauty & The Beast Decades Early
The Project Just Didn’t Work Out In The 1930s & 1950s
The special features on theBeauty and the BeastBlu-ray DVD set reveal that WaltDisney first attempted to adapt Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s story in the 1930s, following thesuccess ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs. However, his story team found the 1756 fairy tale too challenging to adapt to the screen, so this and many other ideas were put on the back burner.
The only artwork that remains from Disney’s first attempt atBeauty and the Beastis an image of Belle caring for the Beast’s wounds.
Disney again took a stab atBeauty and the Beastin the 1950s. However, by this point, a live-action adaptation of the story (from Jean Cocteau) had been produced to great success. An animated film just wouldn’t have competed, soBeauty and the Beastwas again set aside. Ultimately,this was for the best since an early Disney adaptation ofBeauty and the Beastwould have made the 1991 movie impossible. Still, even this project very nearly turned out differently.
Beauty & The Beast’s Gaston Storyline Was Almost Wildly Different
Gaston Went Through Several Evolutions
Theoriginal story ofBeauty and the Beastlacked a central villain, so as the Disney movie went into development in the 1980s, it was clear this would have to change. The writers experimented with some different characters. Early storyboards reveal that there were initially meant to be three male antagonists vying for Belle’s hand, but they were eventually combined into one—a version of Gaston, who wasmore a French aristocrat than a toxically masculine hunter. Gaston would have had a co-villain as well, Belle’s own aunt Marguerite who despised Maurice.
It’s now difficult to imagine a version of Beauty and the Beast that doesn’t include the villainous and misogynistic Gaston.
Of course, this early idea for Gaston was eventually scrapped, and screenwriter Linda Woolverton created the handsome, blockheaded, and violent version.Woolverton has said that Gaston is based on a combination of her ex-boyfriends, and this seemed to be the winning formula. It’s now difficult to imagine a version ofBeauty and the Beastthat doesn’t include the villainous and misogynistic Gaston.
Beauty & The Beast Only Became A Musical Late Into Development
A Major Rewrite Inspired The Musical Format
Gaston isn’t the only thing that was almost missing fromBeauty and the Beast. The 1991 movie was very nearly not a musical, with a shift being made relatively late in the game. The initial team behind the project did 20 minutes of storyboarding, which featured a far darker story and general theme. This was when Belle’s aunt was still a significant villain, and there was no concept of a song to be seen or heard. The result was deemed too dull to carry on with, sothe entire thing was scrapped, and Disney began again from square one.
Clearly, Beauty and the Beasts' massive success upon its release in 1991 proves that each of these changes and decisions was the right move.
The next batch ofBeauty and the Beaststoryboards were far lighter—more enchanted and whimsical. This was when Howard Ashman and Alan Menken were brought aboard since the new general mood and theme made more sense as a musical. This is how the movie came to have its excellent score and musical numbers. Clearly,Beauty and the Beasts' massive successupon its release in 1991 proves that each of these changes and decisions was the right move. Still,it’s interesting to consider what we almost got insteadof the masterpiece Disney audiences know and love.
Beauty and the Beast
Cast
A selfish prince is doomed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he manages to fall in love with a beautiful young woman.
