BEHIND THE STORY...
While working on AN AMERICAN TAIL, Don Bluth began developing a version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. His tale had plenty of similarity to Disney’s CINDERELLA with evil family members and talking animals. To Don’s disappointment, he did not find any real interest in the project. It occurred to me that the reason for the lack of interest was that the recent TV series based on the story had taken the tale into darker, and more romantic territory. I decided to move the story into another direction – horror.
I made Beauty more of a modern, forceful woman. I made the beast more mysterious, less sympathetic. I added a handsome rival for Beauty’s hand. I added a menace on top of the Beast’s. In my mind, I saw it sort of a cross between Hitchcock and Daphne DeMaur. Don did not like the take at all, calling it too dark. Morris Sullivan, who at the time was financially running the studio, and had set up the move to Ireland, found the idea intriguing. I remember he asked if such a version could succeed. I told him I did not know if it would be a blockbuster, but by taking such an unusual view of the tale it would certainly attract attention.
A year later, I heard that Disney was stalled on their version. As I was already talking to their development department on another project, I decided to send them my version. The head of development thought the concept interesting. However, when he ran it past the producers it struck out. There seemed to be several problems. First, they didn’t like the idea of giving Beauty a romantic rival to Beast. They thought this would make the story too confusing. Second, the idea of the handsome person being the actual monster was totally against the idea of Disney heroes and villains. One person thought that Beauty was too independent. Another felt the idea of her talking about books was a big mistake. Bookworms were something that Disney princesses would never be.
In 1992, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST arrived in theaters. It became one of Disney’s biggest successes, and was the first (and still only) animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. I saw the film at an early screening. When asked about it, I simply said it was a good picture… and that it seemed fairly familiar.
And now my pitch...
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
An Animated Feature Pitch by John Cawley
To the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast a Gothic touch is added. Though Carol (Beauty) and her father are concerned over the increasing number of attacks by wild animals, the main worry is over their financial situation. When the animals attack her father, he finds temporary safety in a strange estate. The Beast, who owns the estate, views the intruder as a thief. For punishment, Carol must reside with the Beast. Once there, the Beast only allows her to see him at night. During her first days there, she spends her daylight time reading and her evenings cooking for and talking to the Beast. When the Beast shows reluctance to answer her questions about his past, she begins to investigate the house to find where the Beast goes during the day and what his origins are. As the weeks pass she begins to suspect that the Beast may be connected to the wild animals... and that the animals may not really be "animals."
CAROL/BEAUTY - Obviously a beautiful girl with a warm heart. Since her mother's death she has taken over the task of caring for both the house and her father. Her strong belief in honesty and faith make her somehow trust the Beast.
HER FATHER - a kind man. He spent most of the family funds on the long illness, which eventually took his wife. Now he must struggle to maintain their home. His greatest possession is Carol and he fears for her when she goes to the home of the Beast.
BEAST - a hideous half-man/half animal creation. Though he is a terrifying and mysterious character, he is also well versed in the arts and culture. His inner manner is what makes Carol both sympathetic and suspicious.
ARCHER - a neighbor of Carol. He has continually offered to help the family financially, in the hopes of winning the favors of Carol. Both Carol and her father dislike the man for his forcefulness and distrust him for his "over-abundant" knowledge.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
A Summary by John Cawley
Carol (Beauty) and her father have enough problems trying to make ends meet to worry about the increasing number of attacks by wild animals on travelers. Archer, a neighbor, has continually offered financial assistance in the hopes of gaining Carol's favor. However both she and her father have always declined. While returning from the village, in an effort to sell the remaining family valuables, Carol's father is attacked by the wild animals. He attempts to escape by running deep into the woods, but is finally overtaken by the pack. Upon awakening he discovers the money and valuables have been stolen.
He wanders through the woods until he comes upon a decrepit manor. When no one answers his calls, he enters the house and finds that the inside of the structure, unlike the exterior, is beautifully kept and furnished. He sights a small stack of gold coins and slips one into his pocket and leaves. Once outside he realizes that, no matter how desperate, he will not steal and turns to replace the coin when the Beast confronts him. Angered, the Beast threatens the intruder. After hearing the story, the Beast states that if Carol will come to him tomorrow she may plea for her father. The Beast's decision will come then. Upon arriving home, Carol's father tells her the story. She agrees to go because she believes that since the Beast gave her father the second chance he must be basically "fair." Her father wonders if there is a connection between the Beast and the wild animal attacks.
When Carol visits the Beast, he stays in shadows as she tells her tale. As she finishes her plea for mercy the Beast steps into the light and Carol is horrified by his appearance. The Beast states that since Carol is influenced more by the way things appear than the way things are, he shall do the same and consider her father a thief. For the crime, her father must come live with the Beast... unless Carol will take his place. If she does, she may visit her father occasionally.
At home, she argues that she must go, for it would be difficult for a woman to hold on to the property. Also, if she is the one, she will be able to see her father on occasion. Her father finally agrees... but only if she promises to come visit before the month is out. Secretly, Carol feels she will be able to reason with the Beast and reduce or eliminate the sentence.
Her life with the Beast is not too different than her home life. She spends the day working around the house. Only at night is she able to see her captor. Their early meetings are always full of tension as Beauty tries to put up with the Beast's monstrous looks. Through dinners and talks she soon realizes that the Beast is quite cultured. As the month comes to an end, she tells him of her promise to her father. The Beast at first refuses, but finally agrees if Carol will be certain to leave at daybreak and return by sunset. Should she fail, the Beast will die.
Home again, Carol and her father have a joyous reunion. Archer also comes to see her. When he forces his attentions on her, Carol's father steps in and tells Archer to leave. Archer is informed that Carol will be staying with the Beast and that neither of them wish to see him on their property again. He leaves for his home, where he plans his revenge.
As Carol is preparing to go back to the Beasts manor, she receives a note from the Beast stating she may stay an additional day. Overjoyed, she begins to fix dinner for her father. While she cooks, she talks with her father about the Beast's ways and culture. When the father asks why such a learned person has never written a book, Carol replies that his hands make it impossible for him to write. Suddenly she realizes the note must have been a fake.
Carol quickly heads to the Beast's manor. As she nears his home, the sun has nearly set. She begins to hear the howl of wild animals coming from all around. When she turns a wild human-like animal knocks her down. Using a nearby branch she is able to get away. The Beast appears at the door, grabs Carol and pulls her aside. Animal and Beast struggle for some time until the animal is downed. The rest of the pack stands nearby, uncertain of what to do.
As the Beast turns to Carol, the wild animal lunges again and takes hold of the Beast's neck. At that moment a shot rings out and the animal falls to the ground dead. In the distance Carol sees her father, a rifle in hand. Immediately Carol races to the Beast's side to see if he is alive. Though badly wounded, it appears the Beast will live. Her father comes to the pair and points towards the animal as it changes its shape into Archer. The other animals begin transforming into the missing travelers.
Carol confesses that she has come to care for the Beast very much. As she gives him a kiss, the Beast becomes a handsome nobleman. Simultaneously, the manor rumbles and shakes, converting to a beautiful estate. The retched outside images were but a curse place on the nobleman who would remain that way until some loved him for what he was inside.
text, image and format © John Cawley
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