Sleeping Beauty

Name: Sleeping Beauty
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Animation, Family, Musical
Released: January 29, 1959
Duration: 75 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Mary Costa

1959

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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Sleeping Beauty

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Film Distribution Company | Release Date: January 29, 1959 | Approved

Starring: Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Mary Costa

Summary: After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies.

Director: Clyde Geronimi

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Animation, Family, Musical

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 75 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Dave Kehr

The masterpiece of the Disney Studios' postwar style. The animation has been stripped down, in accordance with economic imperatives, but what the images lose in shading and detail they gain in strength and fluidity. Read full review

100

Steve Daly

Barbie-doll-slim Princess Aurora, cursed to enter suspended animation at 16, and her Abercrombie & Fitch-worthy savior Prince Phillip, who literally rides a white horse — aren’t as much fun as the three fussy-old-lady fairies who become their protectors. This movie is all about the lure of supporting ornamentation. Read full review

100

Kate Cameron

It is a picture that will charm the young and tickle adults, since the old fairy tale has been transferred to the screen by a Disney who kept his tongue in his cheek throughout the film's animation. It is a beautiful and amusing cartoon. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

An epic brilliance conjures up impossible monumental castles, shadows and monstrosities, with exciting action marvellously orchestrated across the CinemaScope frame. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

A crisply stylized fairyland, where the colors are rich, the sounds are luscious and magic sparkles spurt charmingly from wands. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Just as the film’s gorgeous backdrops suggest characters trapped in suspended animation, the many colorful balls of light that frequently circle their heads hauntingly convey the filmmakers’ idea of fate and love locked in a cosmic struggle. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The drawing in Sleeping Beauty is crude: a compromise between sentimental, crayon-book childishness and the sort of cute, commercial cubism that tries to seem daring but is really just square. The hero and heroine are sugar sculpture, and the witch looks like a clumsy tracing from a Charles Addams cartoon. The plot often seems to owe less to the tradition of the fairy tale than to the formula of the monster movie. Read full review

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User Reviews

timone

Apr 30, 2019

Ah yes, Sleeping Beauty, this could easy be one of my best Disney films of all time. After two Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella Disney wanted to make something so magical that Disney princesses come to life. The main characters are not all that enganging Princess Aurora andAh yes, Sleeping Beauty, this could easy be one of my best Disney films of all time. After two Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella Disney wanted to make something so magical that Disney princesses come to life. The main characters are not all that enganging Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip but there still memorable. They don't even talk much, much like Nostalgia Critic said. I do know that Prince Phillip says his last line is ''Goodbye Father.'' The three good fairies are magical even the two kings King Stefan and King Hubert are a lot of fun too. My friends Liam Fleming and Jacob Dimmock and I were quoting the lines on the taxi years ago and it is a lot of fun. The songs I remember them all. I even remember Once upon a dream. Even the music in it once again is beautiful as well, you can't go wrong. The evil villian which is very menacing is Maleficent. She is one of Disney's baddies. The way she's animated, the way she gets angry, the way she changes into a dragon, she is definitely the one. The end scene is fantastic, I mean the fight scene and the end scene. The spindle which the princess is so heartbreaking and that makes the audience cry in tears and the three fairies put everyone to sleep until the princess awakes and that is Prince Phillip give the princess the true loves first kiss. Everybody is happy because Princess Aurora is alive and the prince and the princess lived happily ever after.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

meydianarizki21

Nov 7, 2020

A Disney Classic is Epic

When I was a little girl, Sleeping Beauty was my all time favorite Disney film. I was so in love with this story, it's crazy how many times I wore out the VHS. But growing up, I lost touch with the story, but I recently bought the DVD and re-watched the film and youA Disney Classic is Epic

When I was a little girl, Sleeping Beauty was my all time favorite Disney film. I was so in love with this story, it's crazy how many times I wore out the VHS. But growing up, I lost touch with the story, but I recently bought the DVD and re-watched the film and you know what? I'm still in love with this movie. I really miss these old Disney movies where the animation was so bright and beautiful, the characters were so lovable, and the story was so magical. I'm not bashing Disney films from today, just I'm sure we could all relate on this subject where the older Disney films just had a certain charm about it. Sleeping Beauty is just a timeless story and has so much wonderful romance, I guess since I'm a girl, I just couldn't help but still be in love with this beautiful story.

Princess Aurora is born and is the future queen of her land, three fairy's, Flora, Merryweather, and Fauna bless her with three gifts: beauty and song, right as Merryweather is about to bless Aurora, the evil witch, Maleficent, comes in and curses Aurora that she shall touch a spinning wheel by her 16th birthday and die! Merryweather changes it to where she won't die, but sleep and could only be woke up by the kiss of true love. The fairy's wish to keep this from happening still, so they take Aurora and raise her as their own. One day Aurora on her 16th birthday goes out in the forest and meets the charming and handsome Prince Phillipe, but she doesn't know he's a prince and she doesn't know he's fhe man she's actually betrothed too. She is told by the fairy's that she can never see him again and that she's a princess; later that night the curse happens! Now the fairy's need Phillipe to save Aurora before it's too late.

Everything about Sleeping Beauty is just a perfect Disney film and I can't wait until to show this to my future kids one day. I know that their generation is going to have just the CGI animation, so it's good that at least we still have these films, they're treasures. The voices, the animation, the story, Sleeping Beauty is the most romantic fairy tale that anyone could easily fall in love with. If you are a Disney fan, this is a must see, it's a great family film or if you're just a film buff in general, I'm a grown up and I still tear up when I watch Sleeping Beauty.

10/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DisneyLover1

Oct 6, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sleeping Beauty is an all-time classic no doubt. The characters are loved & unforgettable like the 3 good fairies Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather, King Stefan & his wife Queen Leah, King Hubert & his son Phillip, the Mistress of Evil Maleficent, & of course Princess Aurora. The story is amazing with so many funny & romantic moments like when one of the castle's musicians get drunk from drinking only one glass of wine & when Phillip & Aurora dance in the forest. The story begins with Stefan & Leah spending many years together without a child & they eventually give birth to their beloved daughter Aurora. When Aurora was born, Stefan & Leah decided to proclaim a holiday to all of the subjects in the kingdom pay homage to the baby princess. During her christening, baby Aurora is betrothed to young prince Phillip who is King Hubert's son & Hubert is King Stefan's best friend to unite their kingdoms. Once Hubert & Phillip give their blessings to the princess & the kingdoms, the good fairies Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather decide to give Stefan & Leah's daughter blessings as well. Flora blesses Aurora with beauty, Fauna blesses Aurora with song, but when Merryweather makes her blessing she is then interrupted by the evil Maleficent. The Good Fairies tell Maleficent that she wasn't invited & then Maleficent decides to leave, but Queen Leah quickly asks the evil fairy if she's offended at all. When Maleficent says that she isn't offended, she decides to give Aurora a "blessing" as well but she gives a curse to the baby princess saying that when Aurora is 16 years old, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. Stefan & Leah ask the good fairies if the curse can be undone but it can't because the good fairies aren't more powerful than Maleficent. Eventually, Merryweather uses her blessing to weaken Maleficent's curse, where Aurora won't die if she pricks her finger; she will fall into a deep sleep, only broken by true love's kiss. King Stefan then orders the entire kingdom to burn all of the spinning wheels. Since Aurora wouldn't be safe with her parents, the good fairies persuade the King & Queen that they'll take care of Aurora & they will keep Aurora safe in a forest cottage. 15 years later, Aurora grows into a beautiful young woman. On her birthday, the fairies ask her to gather berries so they set up the surprise party for Aurora. During her walk in the forest, Aurora meets Phillip who is a handsome young man who is instantly attracted because of her beauty. Aurora is frightened because she can't talk to strangers but the two eventually fall in love, & she invites him to meet her at the cottage. Flora & Merryweather argue over the color of Aurora's gown which attracts the attention of Maleficent's raven who knows the princess' location. When Aurora gets home, she tells the fairies that she's in love. Eventually, the fairies tell her that she's betrothed to a prince & she shouldn't the man she saw. Aurora is heartbroken & cries. Phillip returns to the kingdom and tells his father of the peasant girl he met but Hubert fails to convince his son not to which makes Hubert devastated. The Good Fairies bring Aurora back to the castle and make her wait for her birthday celebrations which is meeting her parents. Maleficent finds Aurora and lures her into a dark tower with a spinning wheel where Aurora finally pricks her finger. The Good Fairies put Aurora in a bed in the highest tower & they put a sleeping spell on the entire kingdom where they all sleep until Aurora's curse is broken. Phillip is then kidnapped by Maleficent where she will only release Phillip when a century passes where Phillip is close to dying & Aurora not aging at all. The Good Fairies rescue Phillip giving the prince a magical Sword of Truth & the Shield of Virtue. Maleficent's goons fail to capture Phillip which causes an enraged Maleficent to transform into a dragon. The Evil Fairy & Prince fight where Phillip throws his sword at Maleficent's heart instantly killing her. Phillip awakens Aurora with a kiss breaking Maleficent's curse & waking the entire kingdom. The couple walk down to the ballroom, where Aurora meets her parents and the couple live happily ever after. IMO, the best parts of the movie is Flora & Merryweather fighting over the color of Aurora's gown & one of King Stefan's musicians becoming drunk. The graphics are BEAUTIMUS, the plot is just perfect, all of the characters are all lovable in their own way, & just the legacy the movie built was incredible because there are parts of Sleeping Beauty that's used in Video Games, Disney Park rides, & a live-action film adaptation! This movie is a classic for a reason & it's one of the best animated films Disney has made. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Feb 2, 2019

Dream Real. Live Real.

Sleeping Beauty Disney has got all the reasons and recipe now, to make the ultimate childhood dream. This crisp clean environment served in this binary world is a provoking act that stabilizes the reputation of its banner, after a few mediocre fumbles. It has gotDream Real. Live Real.

Sleeping Beauty

Disney has got all the reasons and recipe now, to make the ultimate childhood dream. This crisp clean environment served in this binary world is a provoking act that stabilizes the reputation of its banner, after a few mediocre fumbles. It has got everything, a beautiful princess, a young prince, spellbinding magic, blessings and curses ridden by a huge evil dragon; enough to endorse itself. The concept no matter how familiar- the good vs evil philosophy- works for bringing back the theme to mythological level and analysed in detail. The blessing and the curse that clashes horns on screen is scrutinized for their purity with one dimensional characters on both sides, that are amiable to this storytelling.

The humor is left to the supporting cast as always, where the three maids does tickle you every time they fight for the color of dress or the method of preparations or coming up with banal ideas. This script feeds itself on supporting cast, no prince or princess will save the castle, these incredible helpers that usually are just giving them a head start has more three dimensional and deeper perspective than any other; they even share the screen the most.

On technical aspects, there is no holding back, from songs to music, to visuals to choreography, every frame whispers the Disney-ness on screen. The antagonist, instead of glorified- literally to a scale of dragon- doesn't invest much in the narration, the conflicts and bickering of those maids along with their soft spot for our lead cast, is enough to keep the threat fresh and neat. The entire love and hate theme that it hangs on resembles a lot with Rowling's Harry Potter books. Sleeping Beauty is everything you're looking for, a rare Disney gem that lives up to the hype of the banner and the praises; even after ages.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Tyranian

Apr 7, 2019

These old Disney films are very high quality, featuring intelligent writing and beautiful animation.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

sebastianali

Apr 19, 2021

Animación hermosa, una gran villana y buena banda sonora, son algunas de las cosas mas destacables de la película. Tambien me gustaron las 3 hadas, desprenden bastante carisma! Aunque desgraciadamente no todo envejeció tan bien, y es que la relación entre Aurora y el príncipe es muy clichéAnimación hermosa, una gran villana y buena banda sonora, son algunas de las cosas mas destacables de la película. Tambien me gustaron las 3 hadas, desprenden bastante carisma! Aunque desgraciadamente no todo envejeció tan bien, y es que la relación entre Aurora y el príncipe es muy cliché incluso para su época, es un personaje con 0 carisma. Y en cuanto a la villana, si bien sus momentos en los que aparece son de apreciar, también es verdad que no lo aprovecharon del todo creo, al no aparecer lo suficiente y forzar su muerte de forma muy artificial. Las hadas en una escena del principio decían que Malefica era mucho mas poderosa que ellas, sin embargo al final logran derrotarla?
Aun así, es una gran película que recomiendo ver aunque pueda volverse cliché y mas para los estándares actuales debido a lo parodiada y referenciada que esta La Bella Durmiente.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JordanLayton

May 4, 2020

Sleeping Beauty is an animated film that Disney released in 1959. I'm happy to say that I found more than expected to enjoy about this movie. Most of what I held on to throughout the short run time were little aspects of the film that seem to have been lost to time, for better or worse. OneSleeping Beauty is an animated film that Disney released in 1959. I'm happy to say that I found more than expected to enjoy about this movie. Most of what I held on to throughout the short run time were little aspects of the film that seem to have been lost to time, for better or worse. One example of this is the delicate application of short choral flares that punctuate key moments in Aurora'a life. I haven't seem many films from this era, but this one was my first exposure to this style and I was charmed. The animation surprised me as well at points in this film. Techniques used to show the magic of Maleficent and the fairies all worked, even when the effects seemed to be drawn on top of existing animation in a different art style. On a similar note, I actually didn't mind the backgrounds being drawn in a different style than the characters. That choice (likely made out of necessity) combined with the multi-plane camera technique makes the characters pop and provides a feeling of depth that I don't think you get out of other animated films that followed this one. Speaking of depth, the characters and plot of this movie lack it. This is an archetypal story and in terms of characters, on all accounts, what you see is what you get. Not a huge complaint - I didn't exactly go in expecting fully formed characters. But still worth mentioning as slight shortcoming.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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