This post is about 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. It is the 16th Disney feature length animated film and was produced by Walt Disney. The film is based on the tale of the same name written by Charles Perrault. It was released on 29th January 1959.

The film begins with the long awaited birth of Princess Aurora, daughter of King Stefan and Queen Leah. The film quickly progresses to the Christening of the Princess. Many people are invited to the Christening, including King Hubert Stefan’s Close friend and his son who is betrothed to Aurora, and the three good fairies .

The three good fairies have prepared three separate gifts for the new princess. The first two give their gifts before the ceremony is interrupted by Maleficent the evil fairy who angry about not being invited to the Christening. Maleficent then curses the child and leaves. The third fairy adjusts the curse by is unable to undo it completely. The King and Queen decide to send away their child with the three good fairies in disguise.

Sixteen years past and the Princess has been raised in secret by the good fairies. That night the fairies escort Aurora back to her parents. However before she is reunited with her parents, she picks her finger on a spinning wheel and falls into an enchanted sleep thus for filling Maleficent’s curse.

The fairies place the whole kingdom in an enchanted sleep before going to help Prince Philip (King Hubert’s son) defeat Maleficent.

The film ends with Maleficent defeated, Aurora and the rest of the kingdom awoken from the enchanted sleep and Prince Philip and Aurora dancing together.

In an early draft of the script, the good fairies were meant to have connections with nature, with Flora being in charge of plants and vegetation. This subplot was later dropped, as it was too complicated and didn’t advance the story.

Walt Disney’s mother was named Flora.

Aurora is on-screen for a total of only eighteen minutes and speaks only eighteen lines throughout Sleeping Beauty.

The only lead character in a Disney film who speaks less than Aurora is Dumbo.

Aurora is Latin for “dawn”

I will rate the film into five categories, lighting, sound, sadness, scariness and Autism friendly. I will also give an overall score.

Lighting and sound categories are in reference to light and sound sensitivity.  As a person with Autism I have both but it is possible to have one or the other and still be a person with Autism

Lighting: 2/10

Sadness: 0/10

Scariness: 4/10

Sound: 1/10

Overall score: 7/10

Autism friendly: Yes

I do enjoy watching this film and do think it is a good film from its time however I would of preferred to have given Aurora more screen time. I also feel that it’s more about the fairies and Philip than Aurora.