During its early years the Walt Disney company had established itself as the studio for making animated films. There was a talent for converting classic fairytale stories from the books to film that caught everyone’s attention. Despite the massive success though, even the mouse house waivered later on its years. While this film apparently opened successfully when released, it was not as financially beneficial in the long run. At the time, it was the costliest animated film to date for the studio. One of which would lead to change in direction of the company for a while thereafter. So was it the film that didn’t work or just the accrued costs involved? More than likely the latter, but when looking at this film now, it’s a classic yet not exactly as unique as one might think or remember.
Headed by supervising director Clyde Geronimi, a slew of other sequence directors and with the story adapted by Erdman Penner who both did Peter Pan (1953), the story is about a princess named Aurora who is betrothed to wed the prince of another kingdom and bring the two lands together. The plight of this story is when the sorceress Maleficent enters the picture. After not being invited to the kingdom’s ceremony, she bestows a curse on Princess Aurora that she will prick her finger on a spindle and fall into a deep sleep during her 16th birthday. From there it’s up to Aurora’s fairy “god mothers” Flora, Fauna and Merryweather to keep her from making this curse come true. The concept sounds different, honestly it really isn’t by a lot. Not to mention it has been recorded that Disney didn’t want audiences drawing parallels to that of their first film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
With that said, it seems like they already knew this might be a gamble and it sort of shows. Some people remember this film fondly for being a part of the classic Disney princess lineup. However, it seems this film is remembered more for the opposite reason. The cast of actors playing the main roles feels what only can be described as the last of the golden age of Hollywood voices. Actors like Bill Thompson, Barbara Jo Allen, Barbara Luddy, Verna Felton and Mary Costa all participated in other movies that most would consider long before their time to know. The voice acting itself is fine for the roles the cast play, but what people tend to recall the most about this feature was Maleficent (Eleanor Audley). Not sure if it’s the stark gothic design of the character against the rest of the background but the character has only grown in popularity since.
However, the antagonist is not enough to carry this picture. The main characters themselves feel very hollow. While the character designs are friendly looking, they don’t add much to the story when it comes to development. Princess Aurora who is more a plot device than an actual character is pretty yes, but she says very little of importance and the same could be said for her betrothed partner Prince Phillip. The real main focus goes to the three fairies who work to keep Aurora secretly hidden from Maleficent. That’s fine, but the title of this film isn’t the three fairies, it’s sleeping beauty! It also really doesn’t help that this film shares similar plot elements to that of Snow White. A female antagonist places a curse on a young more beautiful princess that puts them in a deep sleep. And love’s first kiss is what’s needed to break the curse? I can’t imagine why the story felt familiar.
Yet with a run time not even at an hour and a half, the pacing feels slower than usual too. Perhaps it’s because there are very few characters who leave a lasting impression. The animation though cannot be discredited. Several other Disney films before it were not featured in widescreen format, but this one is and it definitely adds scope to the fairytale. Not only is the animation fluid, but well drawn with lots of detail. Imagine the effort it took to animate every cell of this feature, what a painstaking process. Lastly the music composed by Disney familiar George Bruns did a decent job. While there aren’t very many songs that will stick in the viewer’s head like other Disney classics, the sound is still very much reflective of the scenes that play out in the movie.
It may be considered a part of the Disney classics, but it’s not as entertaining as one might think. The villain is surely the most memorable component along with its animation coming in second. But it’s the under developed main characters, pacing and similar plot elements that make this fairytale a snoozer.
Points Earned --> 5:10
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