Re: ELDRED

On Monday, January 27, 2003, at 10:42 AM, Susan Aker wrote:
> 
>  I can't think of a single Public Domain story where Disney's version
is the best.

I can: _Beauty and the Beast_.

I used to be one of Disney's biggest fans; I was looking forward to buying
_The Black Cauldron_ on video. Now years later, I am furious at Disney for its support of the CTEA and still don't have a home version of _The Black Cauldron_. I have refused to see Miyazaki's _Spirited Away_ in
the theater because of Disney's association with its U.S. distribution. I would
have much more to say in praise of the Disney company if I weren't so bitterly
disilluioned.

But a fact is still a fact: Disney's _Beauty and the Beast_ is the best version
of the story I have encountered. It surpasses the traditional print versions because
in the Disney version, the beast let's the woman go without condition, while in
every print version I have seen he exacts from her a promise to return before
releasing her. (There is, however a new Joanna Napoli version that might also overcome this difficulty; I haven't finished it yet).

I haven't seen Cocteau's version, so my judgement is still provisional. Rumor
has it, though, that the Cocteau version is somewhat artsy.

Tim Phillips
<hNrOoLtIhTgEaMr[_at_]tEeSlPeApMaEtRhE.com> Received on Wed Jan 29 2003 - 01:12:34 GMT