Beauty and the Beast premiered 25 years ago and I had the opportunity to watch history being made at the 25th Anniversary celebration today at Lincoln Center! The exact same stage where the magic began 25 years earlier! Keep reading for videos, interviews, and pictures that NO ONE ELSE HAS!
The Beauty and the Beast DVD comes out this Tuesday as part of The Walt Disney Signature Collection:
Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” captures the magical journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), an independent and intelligent, modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince. In honor of the film’s 25th anniversary, this tale as old as time joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Sept. 6 on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, and on Sept. 20 on Blu-ray™ and DVD.
We interviewed Richard White (Gaston), Paige O’Hara (Belle), and Robby Benson (the Beast):
Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts) popped in at the last minute for the picture, she stole the show!
My first question was about the voice work the actors did. Paige shared that they worked together, in person. They would do some voice work and then the animators would go back to work. Sometimes the acting would influence the animators and scenes would change slightly. Paige also mentioned that Robby would put his whole body into the acting while he voiced his character to the point that he was hunched over by the end of the day. This corroborates my opinionated husband who said he could feel the acting behind the animation in Beauty and the Beast.
Richard shared that they knew they would be apart of history because they knew they were making a movie that would be a classic. Today’s celebration proved him right! He also shared that when his four year old daughter realized it was him in the movie, she got mad at him for being so mean! She was able to follow along with her dads work because he was on this project off and on for two and a half years!
It was touching to hear Robby Benson relive this time period: he missed that years Oscars ceremony when the movie was nominated because his wife was giving birth! Then he added that next month his daughter is due to give birth to his first grandchild. All generations get to enjoy this classic, forever!
Lastly, the timeless message of the movie was shared by Paige, “beauty is within.” Robby pointed out that her Belle character was also one of the first independent and strong female characters to have been written into a Disney movie!
We were very lucky to be apart of this incredible evening:
The moderator is on the far right and next to him was the movie’s Producer, Don Hahn. Then, after the movie, we received the surprise of our lives. Alan Menken, composer of so many hit songs for Disney, came out and played a medley of Disney songs for us:
And as if that was enough, Angela Lansbury came out on stage, at the ripe young age of 91, and sang the title song, Beauty and the Beast
Lastly, some pictures from my personal archives:
Disclosure: We received tickets to view the movie at Lincoln Center. All opinions are always 100% honest and our own.
Well that goes on my dvd to buy list.
Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies. Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts is adorable and I love how she popped in for a photo. I can almost hear her singing the title song in my head. It will be stuck there all day – and that’s not a bad thing. Love this!
Beauty and the Beast is my hubby’s all time favorite Disney movie. I love hearing Angela Lansbury sing in your video, what a treat! It must have been such a fun day! I can’t believe it’s the 25th anniversary! “Run along and get in the cupboard Chip!”
I am very surprised that it has been 25 years since this first was released. How special that you were able to participate in this fun event.
This sounds like such a fun event to check out. Beauty and the BEast is one of my favorite stories from my childhood. I’d love to watch it in person at Lincoln Center!
How AWESOME is this?! Beauty and the Beast is my all-time FAVORITE movie! I’m so excited for the new live-action one to come out (although NOTHING will ever top the original!).
wow Angela Lansbury!..been watching her forever
I am so jealous of you but glad you had a fabulous time. What an amazing group of people to meet and to hear Angela Lansbury sing! Super Jealous.
Beauty and the Beast is one of our very favorite Disney movies! My daughter and I are both such book lovers that we really connect with Belle 🙂 I break out in these songs very frequently. I would have loved to have been there!
This is great, I am glad you were able to experience this fantastic time for sure. I love Beauty and the Beast!
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies. Your so lucky you had a chance to experience this.
Oh what an incredible experience. Hearing from the cast must have been great. I love the pictures!
What a great experience. This has been one of our favorites since it was new. I can’t believe it’s 25 years already.
Wow, I was just thinking about Angela Lansbury the other day; wondering what happened to her. Thanks for sharing!
I think this is amazing and it’s definitely something that I would have loved to attend. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years! That’s one of my most favorite Disney movies and Belle will always be my favorite princess. She’s smart and amazing!
Omg what an amazing experience this must of been!!!! Beauty and the beast was a childhood favorite of mine!
I can’t believe that it has been 25 years since Beauty and the Beast came out!!! I would love to have been able to experience this, it’s one of my favorite movies.
I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. God, I’m getting old. My daughter loves this movie. Can’t wait to pick up the anniversary version.
This sounds like it was an awesome event indeed. I would have loved to been there. Beauty and the Beast used to one of my favorite Disney movies when I was a kid. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies! I can not believe that it has been 25 years.
Oh my gosh! I love Angela! That must have been such a great experience.
Wow, it’s great that you were able to attend the event. I love Beauty and the Beast 🙂
Angela Lansbury sang to you? She’s my idol – you are so, so lucky! What an opportunity.