Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959) is a timeless, fairy-tale romance in which the beautiful Princess Aurora is cursed by the vengeful sorceress Maleficent: before sunset on her 16th birthday she will prick her finger on a spinning‑wheel spindle and die—unless a twist of magic by the three good fairies turns that fate into a deep sleep that only true love’s kiss can break. To protect her, the fairies hide Aurora in the woods as Briar Rose; years later she meets and falls for Prince Phillip, but Maleficent’s prophecy comes true, plunging the kingdom into peril. The story builds to a spectacular finale featuring a thorn‑choked fortress, a daring rescue, and a showdown with Maleficent in her most fearsome form. Watching this film you’ll experience classic hand‑drawn Disney artistry: lush, stylized backgrounds and vibrant, storybook color design; a sweeping, ballet‑inspired musical score; and archetypal characters—innocent heroine, gallant prince, comic but warmhearted fairies, and one of Disney’s most iconic villains. The pace blends gentle moments of charm and romance with moments of high drama and fantasy spectacle (including the magical forest and dragon transformation), making it both enchanting for children and nostalgically satisfying for adults who appreciate vintage animation and fairy‑tale grandeur. Ideal for family viewing or anyone who likes classic animated fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty offers romance, magic, memorable imagery, and the satisfying emotional payoff of good confronting evil and love breaking an ancient curse.

Actors: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley

Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Les Clark

Runtime: 75 min

Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy

6.6 /10 85 /100 7.2 /10 7.4 /10