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 n spectacular style, the film recounts the simple
story of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy,
Maleficent, to die at the age of 16 by pricking her finger on the
spindle of a spinning wheel. Despite the loving attempts of the
three good but often bumbling fairies, Flora, Fauna, and
Merryweather, to protect her by raising her, disguised as Briar
Rose, in a forest cottage, the curse is fulfilled. The good fairies
put everyone in the castle into a deep sleep until the spell can be
broken. It is only with the aid of Prince Phillip that Maleficent,
transformed into a towering, fire-breathing dragon, is destroyed,
and the Sleeping Beauty is awakened by his kiss. |
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Based upon the Charles Perrault version of "Sleeping Beauty," the
film had an overall stylistic look conceived by artist Eyvind
Earle, today known for his paintings and Christmas card designs.
With a budget that exceeded $6 million in 1959, this was Walt
Disney's most lavish and expensive animated feature to date. Though
not an initial box-office success, the film has proven to be a
unique asset, with popular reissues in 1970, 1979, and 1986, and a
release on home video also in 1986. |
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Supervising director Clyde Geronimi. Animators: Marc Davis, Hal
Ambro, Hal King, Harvey Toombs, Ken O'Brien, Iwao Takamoto, and
John Kennedy. Starring: the voices of Mary Costa (Aurora), Bill
Shirley (Prince Phillip), Eleanor Audley (Maleficent), Verna Felton
(Flora), Barbara Luddy (Merryweather), and Barbara Jo Allen
(Fauna). In Technirama 70. 75 min. George Bruns' orchestral score,
which was nominated for an Academy Award®, expertly blended
famous themes from Tchaikovsky's ballet, while Sammy Fain, Jack
Lawrence, Tom Adair, Winston Hibler, Erdman Penner, and Ted Sears
wrote lyrics to such songs as "I Wonder" and "Once Upon a
Dream." |
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