Sleeping Beauty (The Walt Disney Signature Collection) [Blu-ray]

Sleeping Beauty" was envisioned by the great Walt Disney as his masterpiece--the feature-length cartoon par excellence. And, in many ways, it is. The then-record budget (six million dollars) was the largest ever for an animated motion picture. The widescreen Technirama 70 process had never been used for an animated feature. The six-track magnetic stereo sound was a step upward from the "Fantasound" system employed in "Fantasia" (1940). Also new and trend-setting was the style of the animation--a more realistic, geometric design which, surprisingly left many critics and audiences cold. The extra expense needed to showcase the widescreen film properly, together with the lukewarm reviews, prevented "Sleeping Beauty" from turning a profit at the box office when it was released (with much fanfare) in 1959. But time has been kind to the film, subsequent reissues have finally put it in the profit margin, and both viewers and critics are appreciating it for the beautiful fantasy it has always been. However, like it's predecessor "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) which was Disney's first fairy tale, as well as his first full-length film, this screen adaptation of "Sleeping Beauty" strays from it's origins. While the Charles Perrault version of the tale is given as the source, there are new variations. The Disney version of the tale whittles the number of good fairies down to three from the original story’s 7 and giving them the appearance and personalities of elderly women. Meanwhile, the evil fairy, dubbed Maleficent, is a cold, flamboyant villainess who, for better or worse, overshadows everyone else in the film (but then, the villain always does). Disney's retelling also dispenses with the Heroine's 100 year sleep which lasts merely one night. There is much emphasis put on the three fairies who secretly, in the guise of peasants, raise the baby princess Aurora, (whom they dub "Briar Rose" interestingly, the name given the Princess in the Grimm retelling) and, unwittingly make it possible for Maleficent to execute her curse. Also new, is the introduction at the beginning of the film of Prince Phillip, who is immediately betrothed to Aurora. The climatic battle he has with the evil fairy, here transformed into a dragon, has become one of the most memorable parts of the film, though it was purely the scriptwriter's invention. In the end, however, it is best to appreciate the film as a stand-alone creation, rather than a faithful adaptation of a classic story. Indeed, as some latter-day critics have pointed out, "Sleeping Beauty" has been embraced by the young and old audiences who find in it many of the same sword and sorcery elements in films like "Legend" and "Excalibur". And every penny of it's then-unprecedented budget is on the screen. One marvels at the intricate design of the animation, all accomplished well before the advent of computers, which the Technirama screen showcases to full effect. The voice talent is perfect. Mary Costa, who went on to an estimable opera career, is a lovely and expressive Aurora, while Bill Shirley is an ingratiating Prince Phillip. Eleanor Audley (so deliciously cold as the stepmother in Disney's "Cinderella") is the embodiment of majestic evil as Maleficent. Verna Felton (the Fairy Godmother in Disney's "Cinderella"), Barbara Jo Allen and Barbara Luddy are the delightful (and all too human) fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. Aurora's father, King Stefan, is voiced by Taylor Holmes, with Bill Thompson as Phillip's father King Hubert. A word should also be said for Candy Candido, who provided the sounds made by Maleficent's goons. The Tchaykovsky ballet score provides both the background music and melodies used for the new songs. All this blends perfectly in an epic adventure/fantasy seldom experienced on screen, and one with enough heart to capture the most cynical viewer. A must watch family movie 5⭐️

Great movie I would definitely recommend you watch it.

What a honour to finally have my mum's all time favourite Disney classic and the bonus features were perfect. This DVD is the best possible celebration of the anniversary of such a timeless gem!

Good value for the money

A must dvd for those people who collect Disney Classics. I saw this movie years ago and loved it. I originally purchased it on VHS for my children, but I missed purchasing this as a dvd when it appeared in the local supermarket, and like some Disney films they are only available for a short period of time. Thank goodness for Amazon. I was able to purchase a copy without any difficulty. This film is a timeless classic, the music is great and can be enjoyed by both young and old alike.

I enjoyed the film remembering the story as a child. Lots of light heating bits.

Wonderful! Excellent classic film ever!! I do love Angie's MALEFICENT so that I wanted see the original animated movie which inspired them a lot and made them to create totally different story line featuring brilliant actoress/actors. It was so difficult to find English subtited version in Japan, It's all subtitled in Japanese which I am not fond of at all! Finally, I could get it at reasonable price together with another English film which never been shown inJapan yet. I really enjoy them! Thank you.

One of the best animation films of all time - it is very hard to choose the choosen one. Fresh as new, never tired of it. Sit back and enjoy it in superb hd picture quality. Do not miss it!!!

Ya la tenía y la compré por error nuevamente pero bueno ni modo igual me gusta la película, es edición diamante y es para que se coleccione paulatinamente los 50 clásicos de Disney vale más comprar en paquete que de uno por uno

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 Blu-Ray 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.

Great like watching it all the time

Il y avait des années que je voulais voir ce dessin animé de Disney, j'ai hésité à acheter le DVD en raison de son prix élevé. Et finalement, j'ai investi dans le plus beau, le plus merveilleux, le plus intéressant de toute l'oeuvre de Disney. L'émotion esthétique est sans cesse sollicitée, par la délicatesse du dessin, la richesse des détails les plus minuscules, la grâce des personnages (même Maléfice dans sa méchanceté). L'humour se mêle aux sentiments (scènes avec les petites fées, le cheval du prince, la scène d'amicale chamaillerie entre les deux rois, la rencontre de Rose et du Prince Philippe dans la forêt avec la complicité des petits animaux). De plus, les bonus expliquent en détail les sources d'inspiration de Disney et la réalisation du film, c'est passionnant.

Perfect! I lent my sleeping beauty to someone years ago and haven’t gotten it back, so I was just replacing mine. Product just as described, used in very good condition. I haven’t watched them yet, but I did pop them in my player and the discs work perfectly. Thank you!