Product Details

• Actors: Robert Guillaume, Edward James Olmos, Amy Hill, Liz Torres, Jenifer Lewis
• Writers: Daryl G. Nickens
• Format: Animated, Color, SECAM, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Random House Video
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1996
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304030509
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,017 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The story is familiar: A wealthy merchant has a daughter named Beauty. After a blinding sandstorm hits, causing the man to lose his way, he stumbles upon an enchanted castle that is owned by the angry Beast. This grotesque creature has an offer for the man: The Beast will keep the man or the man's daughter as his captive to live in the castle. Beauty, not wanting her father to be locked away, agrees to the offer, and only she can see past the Beast's rough exterior to his kind heart. This is an updated version of a classic fairy tale with an ethnic twist. It brings home the lesson that inner beauty has more importance than outward appearances. Featuring the vocal talents of Robert Guillaume, Vanessa Williams, and Gregory Hines, the film contains two upbeat songs, "Could She, Would She, Will She" and "Wave Good-bye." A fun and vibrant rendition with an engaging script, this short originally appeared on HBO's Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child series, which promoted topnotch storytelling to reach children of all backgrounds. For ages 4 to 9, but adults will be entertained as well. --Peggy Maltby-Etra

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's better than you think, August 6, 2000

By 

Tara M. Williamson (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beauty and the Beast - Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I don't know who reviewed this video for Amazon, but they didn't pay very close attention to the ending. There's no housekeeper, there's no keys to the kingdom, and Beauty and the former Beast don't live forever. However, the narrator does say that Beauty's father comes to live with them, the former Beast is a prince, and they all live happily ever after. This version of Beauty and the Beast isn't as beautiful a movie as Disney's, but it's a lot closer to the original story. The songs are a lot of fun, the Beast's servants are pretty funny, and the Beast himself has a great sense of humor.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Update the cast list!, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beauty and the Beast - Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This wasn't the best movie ever made, but it wasn't terrible, either. Amazon.com, you need to update your cast list! Vanessa Williams was the voice of Beauty, Gregory Hines was the voice of the Beast, Paul Winfield was the voice of Beauty's father, and Debbie Allen was the voice of her sister, Precious. If you're wondering what Robert Guillame's role was, he was the narrator! I think the person who was the voice of her brother, Tree, was named something like Treat Williams. Whoever did the cast list for this movie needs to pay better attention to the closing credits!