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

Great like watching it all the time

Sleeping Beauty is one hour and fifteen minutes and was released in theaters on January 29, 1959. The story is that an evil witch named Maleficent put a curse on King Stefan and Queen Leah infant child named Aurora. The curse was that Aurora would prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel before the sun set on her sixteenth birthday. The three good fairies disguised as mortal take her to a cottage in the woods where she grew up and went by the name Briar Rose. Since this is a Disney movie we now the rest of the story and the happy ending. This was the first Disney movie filmed in 70mm format or what we would call today wide screen. This would be the last Disney movie inked by hand. From 101 Dalmatians on, every animated movie would be were xeroxed onto the cels. On last fact about Sleeping Beauty at the time it was the most expensive movie to make at a cost of six million dollars. My biggest beef about this two DVD set is the overkill of information. In Disc 2 the Games, Music, & Fun is fun for kids but when you the History & Behind the Scene (mostly geared to adults) is too much information. It took me over two hours to go through that whole thing and after watching no more of five minutes of The Peter Tchaikovsky Story I turned the special off. Just see below look below at what you get. I cannot imagine a parent going to her daughter and saying "hey little girlie lets watch all of disk two". The poor girl would wind up committed in a mental sanatorium. Overall Sleeping Beauty (the movie only) is a great family movie and gets an AAAAA+++++. Disc 1 Play Film Scene Selections Audio Commentary Sneak Peeks A. The Lion King Special Edition B. Brother Bear C. Finding Nemo D. The Santa Clause 2 E. Kim Possible: the Secret Files F. Disney Princess G. Disney Electronics Princess Style Set Up A. Spoken Languages a. English (widescreen) b. English (full screen) c. French (full screen) d. Spanish (full screen) B. Captions a. English for the Hearing Impaired b. None C. THX D. Register Your DVD E. Return to Film Disc 2 Games, Music, & Fun A. Disney' Art Project B. Rescue Aurora Adventure Game C. Princess Personality Profile Game D. "Once Upon a Dream" Sing - Along Song E. "Once Upon a (Another) Dream" Music Video Performed by no secrets F. Sleeping Beauty Ink & Paint Game History & Behind the Scenes A. The Making of Sleeping Beauty B. Story a. The History of the Story b. The 1951 Outline c. Storyboard Sequences i. Seq 15: The Fairies put the Castle to Sleep ii. Seq 17: The Capture of the Prince C. Production a. The Music b. The Design c. Creating the Backgrounds d. Live - Action Reference i. Briar Rose Dance Reference ii. Prince Phillip and the Dragon Reference iii. Photographs e. The Restoration f. Widescreen to Pan - and - Scan Comparison D. Sleeping Beauty Galleries a. Layouts and Background Gallery b. The Sleeping Beauty Storybook Gallery c. Poster Gallery d. Disneyland Walk through Gallery e. Concept Art Gallery i. Briar Rose/Princess Aurora Gallery ii. Maleficent and her Minions Gallery iii. The Three Good Fairies Gallery iv. The Royal Household Gallery v. Miscellaneous Characters Gallery E. Publicity a. Original Teaser Trailer b. Original Theatrical Trailer - 1959 c. Trailer - 1995 F. Sleeping Beauty Scrapbook a. Behind the Scenes b. Publicity c. Merchandise d. Theme Parks G. Four Artists Paint One Tree H. The Peter Tchaikovsky Story I. Grand Canyon VHS EXTRAS Previews A. The Little Mermaid B. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas C. Old Yeller D. Alice in Wonderland E. The Jungle Book F. George of the Jungle Once Upon A Dream: The Making of Sleeping Beauty

Tutto perfetto 😍

Classic movie, with interesting extras. Arrived on time in great condition.