Dornröschen (1959)

Dornröschen: Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Les Clark, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman. With Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton. After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies.

“I grew up in the Disney era where u0026quot;Little Mermaid,u0026quot; u0026quot;Beauty and the Beast,u0026quot; u0026quot;Aladdinu0026quot; and u0026quot;The Lion Kingu0026quot; reigned supreme among me and my elementary school pals (and to this day, if you ask one of my peers what their favorite Disney movie is, itu0026#39;s probably one of those or one of the Disney-Pixar creations). u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut one Disney film has always remained my utter favorite and that is, indeed, u0026quot;Sleeping Beauty.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLike most children, I grew up watching Disney movies — everything from animated films like u0026quot;Snow Whiteu0026quot; to u0026quot;Lady and the Tramp,u0026quot; the semi-animated like u0026quot;Mary Poppinsu0026quot; and u0026quot;Bedknobs and Broomsticks,u0026quot; and the non-animated such as u0026quot;The Parent Trapu0026quot; and u0026quot;Old Yeller.u0026quot; But u0026quot;Sleeping Beautyu0026quot; remains my favorite animated movie and youu0026#39;d better believe at seventeen years of age, Iu0026#39;m still watching it. I cannot believe how the animation has been knocked in some reviews — itu0026#39;s beautiful! They captured the medieval period so well and even the people look like, well, people. The score is beautiful and the songs u0026quot;I Wonderu0026quot; and u0026quot;Once Upon a Dreamu0026quot; are sung wonderfully by Mary Costa. What a voice! Aurora is by far one of the prettiest Disney princesses (one thing that initially drew me to the movie as a child), following the formula with those trademark doe-eyes that Disney bestows upon all of their princesses and heroines. Prince Phillip actually does more than just show up to sing a song and say one line, a welcome change that answers the age old question, u0026quot;What does she see in him anyway?u0026quot; The three fairies are delightful (I always wanted to be Fauna!) and funny. And of course, thereu0026#39;s the quintessential villain — Maleficent. She scared me when I was younger and when I view the film now, no wonder. (For the longest time, I was also scared of Eleanor Audley period, but sheu0026#39;s truly a marvelous actress.) And when Phillip kills her — yeah, youu0026#39;d better believe thatu0026#39;s some scary business. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is beautiful and funny, the animation is divine, the music ethereal, and the voice talents extraordinary. This is a personal favorite and it comes highly recommended!”