Original
production animation drawing of Briar Rose in graphite pencil from
"Sleeping Beauty," 1959, Walt Disney Studios; Numbered 57 in pencil
lower and upper right; Size - Briar Rose: 6 3/4 x 4 3/4", Sheet 12 1/2 x
15 1/2"; Unframed.
"Sleeping Beauty," the 1959 Walt Disney full
length motion picture, introduced two characters that would become universal
favorites; Maleficent and Princess Aurora. Aurora, along with Snow White and
Cinderella would be forever immortalized in the public's view as the three
greatest Disney Princesses. The original design for Aurora and her peasant
disguise Briar Rose was developed by Tom Oreb, who based the character on the
famed Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn; known for her thin frame and a very
graceful demeanor. Marc Davis, the head animator, would continue the
development process by morphing her general appearance and the clothing of the
heroine. The fine tuning of the character continued so that she could be
combined with the very angular forms present in the Eyvind Earle hand painted
backgrounds.
Close up of the original production animation drawing of Briar Rose.
As with other Disney films, an actress was hired as a
live-action model (as a guide for the animators) for Princess Aurora/Briar
Rose. Helene Stanley, who was also the model for Cinderella in 1950, became the
model for the heroine. It is interesting to note that prior to marrying Marc
Davis in 1956, Alice (Davis) designed some of costumes worn by Stanley in her
acting role in "Sleeping Beauty."
In 1952, the professional opera singer Mary Costa, after
meeting people at a party with her future husband director Frank Tashlin,
auditioned for the part of Disney's Princess Aurora/Briar Rose. Walt Disney
called her personally within hours of the audition to inform her that the part
was hers. The success of the film "Sleeping Beauty," owes a chuck of
those accolades to the voice of Mary Costa. Her songs were some of the most
beautiful ever sung by a Disney Princess. In November 1999 Mary Costa received
the Disney Legends Award, and her hand prints are now a permanent part of the
Disney Legends Plaza at the entrance to Walt Disney Studios.
Close up of the production number.
After Maleficent's evil curse that Princess Aurora would
(before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday) prick her finger on the spindle
of a spinning wheel and die; the three Good Fairies disguise Aurora as a
peasant named Briar Rose and hide her deep in a remote forest cottage. The
majority of the movie focuses on Briar Rose, and this is a beautiful original
production drawing of her. The drawing is used in the scene when Flora, Fauna,
and Merryweather send Rose out on a task to pick a basket full of berries; so
that they will be alone to make her a beautiful dress and an extra special
birthday cake! The dialog for the scene is below:
Merryweather: "We want you to pick some berries."
Flora: "That's it, berries!"
Briar Rose: "Berries?"
Fauna: "Lots of berries."
Briar Rose: "But, I picked berries yesterday."
Flora: "Oh, w-we need more, dear."
Fauna: "Lots, lots more."
Flora: "Yes! Now don't hurry back, dear."
Merryweather: "But don't go too far."
Flora: "And don't speak to strangers."
Fauna: "Goodbye, dear."
All Three Fairies: "Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye!"
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