After the news of Angela Lansbury’s passing, tributes poured in from around the globe.
Individuals of all ages admired the work of the Irish-British-American actress, whose career spanned eight decades. Lansbury’s name was synonymous with something for everyone, whether from her Broadway days, her 12-season run in Murder, She Wrote, or the enchanting memories she left us with from Disney.
Amid the many shared favorite moments from the award-winning actress’s career, one video, in particular, has captured the hearts of many – a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the filming of Disney’s iconic “Be Our Guest”.
Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast”
Lansbury first collaborated with Disney in 1969 when she reviewed the script for Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Two decades later, amidst her growing fame in Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury’s name arose as the ideal candidate to voice a talking teapot at Disney.
“We were creating a trio of talking objects for Beauty and the Beast,” explained Disney producer Don Hahn to D23. “These servants were the enchanted objects of the Beast, serving as his confidantes much like the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Woodman did for Dorothy in Oz. One of the trio was a motherly teapot initially named Mrs. Chamomile – but due to pronunciation challenges, she became Mrs. Potts. For months, only one name topped the casting list: Angela Lansbury.”
Recording “Be Our Guest”
The classic ballad of Beauty and the Beast was written with Lansbury in mind. The recordings were accomplished with a live orchestra, impressively in a single take!
Lansbury later recounted an encounter where a young child pointed her out to their mother, exclaiming, ‘Mom, that’s Mrs. Potts.’ It was a moment that filled her with pride.
The behind-the-scenes footage of that recording, featuring the late Jerry Orbach as Lumière, has been widely shared since Lansbury’s passing on October 11.
The specific clip is from Howard, a Disney+ original documentary. This documentary showcases segments of the recording from June 8, 1990, but many have shared it in its entirety online.
Angela Lansbury’s performances were always a delight to behold. Her absence will be deeply felt, beyond words.
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