Awaken to a World of Wonders!|Feb. 17, 1959|United States|75 Min.|G
Genre: Animation;Family;Fantasy;Romance
Description: After many years without children, King Stefan and Queen Leah of a European kingdom joyfully welcome the birth of their daughter, Princess Aurora. To celebrate, they declare a holiday for their subjects and arrange her christening. During the ceremony, she is betrothed to Prince Phillip, the son of King Hubert, to strengthen the alliance between their kingdoms.
Among the christening guests are three good fairies: Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Flora blesses Aurora with beauty, while Fauna grants her the gift of song. Before Merryweather can give her blessing, the evil fairy Maleficent appears. Offended by not being invited, Maleficent curses Aurora, claiming that before sunset on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel’s spindle and die. The fairies cannot reverse the curse, but Merryweather softens it, ensuring Aurora will instead fall into a deep sleep, to be awakened only by true love’s kiss. To protect her, all spinning wheels in the kingdom are destroyed, and Aurora is taken to live in a hidden forest cottage with the fairies.
Sixteen years later, Aurora, now called Briar Rose, grows into a beautiful young woman. On her sixteenth birthday, the fairies send her to pick berries while they prepare a surprise for her. In the forest, Aurora befriends the woodland animals and sings *Once Upon a Dream*. Prince Phillip, now a dashing young man, is drawn to her voice and is captivated by her beauty. Though initially hesitant to speak to him, Aurora falls in love and invites Phillip to meet her family that evening.
This timeless tale weaves themes of love, bravery, and destiny, as Aurora’s fate hangs in the balance, awaiting the power of true love’s kiss.
Cast director: Clyde Geronimi
Cast actor: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen, Taylor Holmes, Bill Thompson, Marvin Miller
Original name: Sleeping Beauty