Beauty and the Beast (1987)

This isn’t the best version of my favorite fairy tale. Wooden acting and not-so-great musical numbers are a start. But the costumes, settings, and story are beautiful. The story delineates from the Disney classic. No surprise there and that along my hold interest for newcomers.

Rebecca De Morney (where is she now?) and her flawless skin star alongside John Savage. Both are more than adequate; but I wish the musical numbers were more emotional, more real.

Filmed in Israel, Beauty and the Beast has an unusual feel—chaste—comes to mind. The movie is beautiful, but maybe that’s nostalgia taking over.  One of the best scenes is in the courtyard when the statues come alive. It’s a beautiful dance sequence with the cast enrobed in white.

I wish Rogers and Hammerstein had a version. *sigh