Beauty and the Beast
may be a tale as old as time, but never has it been more imaginatively told than in the 1987-90 live action television series created by Ron Koslow.
The concept has a noble lion-man, Vincent (Ron Perlman), member of a vast, wondrous community located beneath the streets of Manhattan, who saves the life of New York socialite turned assistant district attorney Catherine Chandler (Linda Hamilton). As he nurses her back to health, a connection is formed between them that drives the rest of the series as their worlds intertwine, exploring their love as well as the darker underpinnings of society.
Now as the show celebrates its 35th anniversary,
Above & Below: The Unofficial 35th Anniversary Beauty and the Beast Companion
looks back at the making of the series with profiles of Hamilton and Perlman and continuing with a behind the scenes look at every episode produced through the eyes of the show's various writers and directors, including
Game of Thrones'
George R.R. Martin and
Homeland's
Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. New to this edition is an interview with Perlman from a convention appearance, an in depth conversation with makeup maestro Rick Baker, who designed Vincent's incredible look; an essay about the show's transition from Season 2 to Season 3, an expanded look at
The Unseen Beauty and the Beast,
a guide to different filmed versions of the
story, and a brand new interview with series creator Ron Koslow looking back at the show's history and his feelings about its incredible journey.