Author and Director William Richert tells the original tale of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for the first time since 1740, when the story of how a Prince was changed into a Beast until somebody loved him for his soul, and not for his physical appearance. The creation of the Beast as part of a fairy tale first came into being in Paris among the aristocrats of the time as a way to explain, perhaps, the relationships of younger women to older men. In time the story grew and changed into the present Walt Disney incarnation. But the roots of the story are steeped in pagan literature, and the truth of the transformation from handsome prince, to beast, and back again, has lessons for all time and place. The illustrations are by the great American illustrator River Sauts, whose works hang in the Vatican, among other spots. William Richert's film and book credits include AREN'T YOU EVEN GONNA KISS ME GOODBYE?, which he wrote and directed as a film starring River Phoenix and introducing Matthew Perry and Johnny Galecki. Also Mr. Richert wrote and directed WINTER KILLS starring Jeff Bridges and John Huston, which the New York Times called "One of the Great all-time American Films -- ranks with Citizen Kane."