LIFE Beauty & The Beast: The Story of a Fairy Tale;

Celebrating the release of Walt Disney's much-anticipated live-action version of the beloved 1991 animated feature, LIFE delivers the fascinating story behind the fairy tale itself—from its hidden origins as an ancient, sometimes bawdy story told by firesides (did you know the beast was once depicted as a pig?) to its later incarnations as a Brothers Grimm tale, a classic French film, a hit television series—even an opera. Culminating in a behind-the-scenes look at the new musical starring Emma Watson, this is an enchanting look at the enduring power of a story that began “Once upon a time…”