Sleeping Beauty (1959) FULL LENGTH REACTION

Okay so despite the fact this film doesn’t have the most developed or interesting leads in Aurora and Philip I can let that slide as it is a fairy tale. Plus the fact of the animation is beyond spectacular especially in it’s ultra widescreen presentation. This was the studio’s first animated film which was planned from the beginning to be in Widescreen (Lady and the Tramp was also made in Widescreen, but only when production was over halfway done). When the Eyvind Earle was brought on board to help give the look of a moving tapestry, this became a rare example of the background look influencing how the characters would look to fit with their surroundings. The film you’re thinking of with the poison apple is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Some people think Maleficent’s reason for cursing the child is weak “Oh she wasn’t invited to the party”. What people don’t realize the way things were back then is when there was any celebration given you would invite EVERYONE whether rich or poor, young or old, friend or enemy. By then not inviting her they broke tradition and so Maleficent felt right to take revenge on them. Maleficent what do I even have to say one of the greatest Disney villains ever and you’ll recognize her voice as Eleanor Audley who was the voice of Lady Tremaine in Cinderella. In the original story Sleeping Beauty slept for 100 years like Maleficent planned to keep Philip in the dungeon for before letting him go which is pretty evil of Him being old and elderly having aged while as she says “In ageless sleep she finds repose”. The voices of two of the fairies will also be familiar as Flora was Verna Felton who was the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Aunt Sarah in Lady and the Tramp, and many other while Barbara Luddy who voices Merryweather was the voice of Lady in Lady and the Tramp. King Hubert was voice by Bill Thompson who provided multiple voices in Alice in Wonderland, and Lady and the Tramp. The reason I learned why the Fairies go back and forth on the color of Aurora’s dress is because the animators couldn’t decide what it should be either. The film while a good sized hit still wasn’t big enough to cover the cost of production and wouldn’t receive a re-release in theaters until after Walt’s death. If you would like to learn more about the making of the film I will direct you to the following link: https://youtu.be/DW2rJbZmNnc?si=0w8bBWsxYSrCaOPp One last thing the voice of Aurora, Opera Singer Mary Costa is still alive which makers her the last of the original Disney Princesses at age 93. (Snow White’s voice actress Adriana Caselotti- died in 1997 age 80, and Cinderella’s voice actress Ilene Woods- died in 2010 age 81).

James Moyner