Review of Beauty and the Beast

Strange performances by Trish Van Devere and George C. Scott left me frazzled watching this TV version of the classic tale, previously filmed at least twice. For those who only know the Disney version, don't expect the presence of songs or servants who have been turned into household items, mainly an hour of the married in real life leads and supporting her such familiar actors as Bernard Lee, Virginia McKenna and Patricia Quinn as her self centered family plotting against the magic she feels after spending time with the beast. Van Devere, a rather generic leading lady lacking screen charisma, is not the barely passed teen of the Disney film. She's far past that to be really believable as such a wide eyed innocent with a bit of feistiness, and Scott speaks his lines with a mixture of tongue in cheek and speedy anguish that is rather bizarre. Their eventual love seems forced at times, and the story is rushed and lacking in the magic the story requires. It's attractive on the surface and missing real mystery. The conclusion also lacks any real emotion so I ended up not feeling true satisfaction by the results of what probably had a bigger impact when it was first made as opposed to what it is now more than 40 years after been originally seen.