When originally released in 1959, Sleeping Beauty was a major critical and financial disappointment for Walt Disney. The film cost a then-hefty $6 million and failed to break even on its original release in the U.S. Critics were unkind, too, calling it ponderous and lacking in memorable characters.
I think the critics were perhaps a little harsh. While it doesn’t rank with Disney’s finest, it’s still superior to most animated films. The only memorable characters are the three fairies — Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather – -who become Princess Aurora’s de facto parents. Dressed in bright red, green, and blue outfits, they dominate the story. Aurora, Prince Phillip, and even the evil Maleficent could have been better developed with more time on the screen.
The plot is based on, but also simplifies, French author Charles Perrault’s version of the fairy tale. Fairies Flora and Fauna bestow the gifts of beauty and music on the baby princess at a joyous celebration. But before Merryweather can give her gift, Maleficent appears and curses the child. She states that before the sun sets on Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday, she will prick her thumb on a spinning wheel and die. Following Maleficent’s departure, the King asks if the fairies can reverse the curse. Their magic is not strong enough to do that, but Merryweather changes Aurora’s death to a deep sleep from which she can be awakened only by a kiss from her true love.
The strength of Sleeping Beauty lies not with its narrative, but with its visuals. It was Disney’s second widescreen animated feature film (after Lady and the Tramp) and the larger frame is filled with detail. Artist Eyvind Earle is generally given credit for the film’s overall look. He won a 1953 Oscar for the Disney widescreen animated short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom. However, Sleeping Beauty was undoubtedly the product of many gifted animators given the resources to create a visual masterpiece.
I don’t think the images below capture the vivid color and rich facets of the film. Thus, I’ll end this review here and let the pictures do the talking.
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| The colorful Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. |
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| Aurora walking in the woods. Note how the leaves are used to add depth. |
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| Maleficent–could she have influenced Cruella in 101 Dalmatians? |
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| With the reflection in the water, this looks like a painting. |
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| Aurora cries in her room, thinking she has lost her love. I love the details– such as how the fire lights part of the tapestry on the wall. |
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| The fairies try to find Aurora before she pricks her thumb. Note the almost Expressionistic angles, especially the archway. |
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| Maleficent’s castle–reminding me a little of the one from The Wizard of Oz. |
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| The dragon sequence is breath-taking–always the film’s highlight for me. |
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| This shot reminds me of one used many years later for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. |
Editor’s Note: Although Sleeping Beauty is currently out of print, the film’s soundtrack remains available as a special picture LP and a deluxe edition CD.
Rick29 is a film reference book author and a regular contributor at the Classic Film & TV Café , on Facebook and Twitter. He’s a big fan of MovieFanFare, too, of course!