"Sleeping Beauty (1959)" Review

Title: Sleeping Beauty

Directed by: Clyde Geronimi

Screenplay by: Various writers

Year: 1959


Sleeping Beauty, a Disney and childhood classic that I actually didn't see until very recently. However, I have been aware of its iconic standing in cinema and I was familiar with the main story, which most people are. But this movie is 55 years old. Does it still hold water to this day, or should it be condemned to an eternal slumber?

Princess Aurora is cursed by an evil witch named Maleficent as a baby. Maleficent declares that on Aurora's 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning needle and she will die. Three fairies, though not powerful enough to lift the curse are able to modify it a bit, adding that she will not die but instead shall enter an eternal sleep that can only be ended by true love's kiss. The king sends Aurora away with these three fairies so they can look after her until Aurora turns 16.

The story of Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale and this 1959 adaption really gets that across. The film begins with a visual storybook with text we can read clearly and is accompanied by a narrator. We immediately get a sense that what is about to unfold is a charming little fairy tale. This aspect really does complement the film well. It sets up the tone and atmosphere perfectly and without wasting any time at all.

Having never seen this film as a child and having only heard things about it, I found the fact that the three fairies were the main characters to be a genuine surprise. It truly is their story and how they deal with this situation. The most interesting thing about this is that these fairies, named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, do not appear in the original tale. These characters were made specifically for the film and seeing them as the main characters was quite unexpected for me. This is not at all a bad thing, as it offers a creative method of telling a Disney princess tale and it works well. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are charmingly funny little fairies that have grown very attached to Aurora. Their antics and bickering provide some lighthearted humor.

Aurora, when she has grown older, becomes a beautiful young woman with the voice of an angel and a wonderful personality. She makes friends with the animals of the forest, much like Snow White, and dreams of a lover. There is also Prince Phillip, the man Aurora has been looking for (this is not a spoiler as it is made quite obvious from the moment we are introduced to him). He is a likable and charming young man who immediately falls in love with Aurora and her with him upon their first meeting.

However, the scene stealer of the entire movie is Maleficent, a witch that is purely evil. Maleficent is so evil in fact that the only reason she cast a curse on Aurora is because she wasn't invited to the party. I know how that sounds, but the way Maleficent speaks sells this part of the script. The voice acting conveys Maleficent's genuinely evil nature and helps to justify what might appear as a poor excuse for the plot to even exist. Maleficent easily ranks as one of Disney's best villains, perhaps the best in fact. She has a crow as a spy, magic at her disposal, and the ability to transform into a  fearsome dragon. "Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of hell!" Maleficent is one of the most memorable characters in Disney's history.

Something that I instantly fell in love with was the art style. Not only is the story told and narrated as a fairy tale would be, but the visuals make the pages of the storybook come alive. The use of colors evokes powerful tones tell a story of their own. They are vivid, charming, and, most importantly, timeless. Another thing that stuck out to me is the music. The song "Once Upon A Dream" is so hauntingly beautiful and has not lost any of its value. Another song I feel is worth mentioning is "Hail to the Princess Aurora" which is played as soon as the film begins. Working with the art style and use of colors, this song perfectly establishes the setting. I can't quite explain it in words but just listening to the song sends me into the world of the movie.

The only flaw I can think of pertains to the characters. They are all rather one-note. Maleficent is simply evil, Aurora and Phillip are simply perfect people. Normally this would be an issue for a film, but I believe Sleeping Beauty is justified in this approach for one reason; it's a fairy tale. Fairy tales aren't meant to have complex characters. I approach watching Sleeping Beauty as I would approach reading a fairy tale. And in that respect, the characters of the movie work just fine for the film.

Sleeping Beauty (1959) is a Disney classic in just about every way. Great visuals, fun characters, a memorable villain, really good music, and a simple yet heartwarming story. Though I had never seen this film as a child, it felt nostalgic to me while viewing it. I instantly felt like a child again and thus Sleeping Beauty proves itself to be a timeless and charming tale that has lost none of its quality even after over half a century of its debut. This was a delightful viewing. As a film, it has some minor issues, but as a fairy tale, it succeeds brilliantly. And to hold up so well over half a century later is a testament to its timelessness.

Grade: B+