As I started research for Beauty and the Beast, I noticed that so many stories have beauty and the beast plots; the obviously beautiful woman/girl meets the obviously ugly guy. Of course the guy is ugly on the outside with the underlying good guy who needs to be understood to find his beautiful soul on the inside. The basic good versus evil (beauty versus ugly) seems to apply here to differing extents as does the maturation process.
One thing I looked into was the classic Rigoletto. The opera by Giuseppe Verdi is well known, fantastic musically, and much more violent, sexual, and closer, I think, to the original versions. My favorite version on the big screen, however, was made in 1993 and stars Ivey Lloyd and Joseph Paur. 
The movie takes place during the 1930’s American Depression. Bonnie, a young girl, loves to read “Rigoletto” which is a story about a cursed fairy prince who must live life as a hideous monster until he can find someone who can see through his appearance to his true heart which is hidden inside him.
A mysterious man, Mr. Ribaldi, arrives in town and buys the mortgage on Bonnie's house, and Bonnie’s mother arranges for her to work for him so her family can keep their home. At first, Bonnie believes the man is a monster not only due to his physical deformity, but also for his hard-hearted behavior. One day, Bonnie hears music, and being a gifted singer herself, she searches out the source, finding Ribaldi giving voice lessons to a beautiful princess named Gabriella. Bonnie comes to realize that Ribaldi is not only a gifted musician but also a kind, misunderstood person. Bonnie convinces Ribaldi to give her music lessons.
As Bonnie is being tutored by Ribaldi, many in the town are having their mortgages bought up and being evicted from their homes, and they suspect Ribaldi. Rumors are spread about Ribaldi and though most adults believe that he is a monster, the children of the town are drawn to him. All the while, handicapped and sick people are being quietly and miraculously healed or helped.
The citizens of the town give Bonnie an ultimatum: if she works for Ribaldi, she’ll be stopped from participating in the state singing competition. Though she wants to continue to work for and study with him, Ribaldi convinces her to not waste all their hard work and to follow her dream to the competition.
While Bonnie is singing at the competition, Ribaldi saves the life of Bonnie’s friend, and the townspeople, thinking he hurt her, attack him. They then destroy Ribaldi's home searching for proof of his dastardly deeds, only to find a list of people he has helped.
Bonnie returns home to find Ribaldi is dead. After the funeral, Bonnie goes by his house and hears the piano being played. Going inside, she finds a man who resembles Ribaldi, but has no deformities. When Bonnie asks the man his name, he says "Some people call me Rigoletto, but you don't believe that, do you?"
The film leads viewers to believe that Ribaldi had been cursed, but the curse ended when Bonnie uncovered the true beauty of Ribaldi’s heart.
At the close of the film, Bonnie finishes reading the Rigoletto story. Her younger brother asks her if she believes the story to be true, and Bonnie tells him that she does.
As I watched the movie, I listed the beauties and the beasts. Most of the characters, even including Bonnie a bit, fit as beasts at some point or other. But by the end, most had come around – especially Bonnie and Ribaldi – and realized the error of their ways. The curse of cold hearted, hateful selfishness and fear had been lifted by the beauty of compassion, understanding, friendship, hope, faith, and love.
Perhaps maturation is more than biological. We hope that as we mature we understand better, have more of the good qualities, and strive to be less childish.
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