When I went to hear author Eloisa James speak last month she mentioned the original story of Beauty and the Beast and I realized that it had never occurred to me to wonder if Disney had taken liberties with the source material. So, I did a little looking around and found that the tale originated with Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740 and, yes, Disney and others since then have molded and shaped the stories into something different.
Instead of Gaston there were brave brothers. Instead of jealous village beauties there were jealous sisters. Instead of enchanted servants there were fairies that seduced and helped. But, in the end, a rose is still a rose and the tears of a beauty still transformed a beast.
Some researchers think that the Beast could have inspired by this real man, Petrus Gonsalvus, who had hypertrichosis.
I admit that I prefer Dan Stevens, interesting likeness just the same. I like the Disney version, although having read more about the original I’d like to see that onscreen too!
I did like the new version with Emma Watson and nothing can beat the songs. Have you seen it? What did you think?
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