My observations of the Girl in The Blue Dress The “Little Town” video in the 1991 Disney classic “Beauty and The Beast” animated movie happens to be one of my favorite scenes, in this, my favorite movie. There are many things about this scene that have stood out to me. One thing, however, hit me unexpectedly even though I am familiar with the scenery, the songs, the storyline, etc. I was singing along with the heroine, Belle as I have always done in the past and the words “little town full of little people…” hit me in the face. Those words are so beyond the pale and I missed the meaning for over twenty years. Belle, the pretty girl with the sweet voice and seemingly absent of avarice is an elitist snob and rude to boot. To her everyone in this town is dull and she barely acknowledges them. She complains about the little village from the moment she steps outside her door. The birds are chirping and everything looks alright with the world, and yet all she can do is find fault with the village that she is walking toward. Why didn’t she stay at home if the people and the town bore her so much? The color and style of her dress is no accident. The shade of blue is soothing and gives the appearance of innocence. The style says ‘poor but not trashy’. Everything about this character is carefully crafted to get the audience to relate to her in some way. We are constantly reminded in song that this girl is pretty. She is pretty, but the three blondes are prettier, in my opinion. But we are given a hint that they are stupid. Her contempt for the villagers is hidden in plain sight from them and from the audience. Belle makes her way to the book shop hitching a ride on the back of someone’s wagon. It wasn’t far, but she didn’t ask for permission. Once she arrives at the book shop she returns a book she borrowed. Apparently no one shops in this particular store so borrowing instead of buying is alright. She is probably his only customer. Because of her beauty or because she is so interested in reading, he lets her have a book. She likes the book so much that she can’t stop reading it even as she is walking. The book that she’s reading could be totally interesting, but as with cell phones today, she should put it down and involve herself with the real world. There is no ethnic diversity in this little town. Everyone looks the same or related in some way. They all have on earth tones. Belle is the only one in a blue dress. Even in her peasant dress, she feels above these peasants. She’s odd because she is the only in blue.