MovieChat Forums > Sleeping Beauty (1959) Discussion > Charles Perrault

Charles Perrault

posted 10 years ago by cdull
9 replies | jump to latest

I find it odd that the opening credits says this film is based on "Sleeping Beauty" by Charles Perrault.

Other then the title and the name of the princess this movie is closer to the Brothers Grimm's "Little Briar-Rose".

The Grimm's tale has the prince waking the princess with a kiss. The Perrault version has him kneeling down beside her as the curse ends.

The Grimm's tale ends with the prince and princess getting married. For Perrault that's merely the midway point of his tale! It continues with the prince, now the king, leaving his wife and children in the care of his mother, an ogress, who wants nothing more then to eat her grandchildren and daughter-in-law.

Check out both stories for yourself if you don't believe me!

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sleepingbeauty/stories/littlebriaro se.html

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sleepingbeauty/index.html

"Don't you lay a hand on my sasquatch!"

[–] phillindholm 10 years ago

I pointed out the use of ''Briar Rose'' (Grimm name) in another thread. In Perrault's version, the Princess is not even named. I prefer the Grimm's version. Unlike many of their stories, it lacks horror. And, in Perrault, the King and Queen are not put to sleep-they die of old age. So, for me, Grimm wins again.

[–] cdull 10 years ago

Everything we know and love about the tale comes from the Brothers Grimm, not Charles Perrault. So I wonder why Disney credits Perrault and not the Grimm's?

And you are right about the lack of violence and horror. Very unusual that it's the friendlier version of the tale.

We're lucky to have "Little Briar Rose" since the Grimm's almost excluded it from their collection of fairy tales. They felt it was too derivative of Perrault and not German enough. Luckily they changed their minds!

"Don't you lay a hand on my sasquatch!"

[–] phillindholm 10 years ago

I didn't know that. There is a beautiful live action German version of the story (produced in 1955) which was released here,(in 1965) dubbed and re-scored by Anne and Milton DeLugg, who also wrote new songs for it. The English dubbing is very well done, (though poorly synchronized) and the new musical score is excellent. Originally called ''Dornroschen'', it was re-titled ''Seeping Beauty'' (what else?) and it's my favorite version of the tale. The German language original is available on German DVD. Unfortunately, the U.S release is not. I had to have a good quality VHS copy transferred to DVD and it looks fine. This one, and the original Disney film, is all the ''Sleeping Beauty'' I need.

[–] johnsokw 8 years ago

First we ought to forgive the Disney team for not being obsessed with the history. They'd still be in the library since there was not internet. I wonder how many serious research books were even available in the late 30s, and even so, probably full of unsubstantiated claims. and then they knew ahead of time they were going to alter them to make them colorful, entertainment FOR ALL AGES.

Fans or critics of Disney movies at some point should check on the vague and incoherent histories of many of the stories. Remember Grimm bros were primarily collectors of already existing stories. I learned on Stuff you should know Podcast that the two linguistic experts reissued the anthology with less horrific details after their first edition sold poorly. Even they give credit to earlier versions like Perrault's and Basile's? (notice I don't say iteration which is misused by so many these days) It's safe to assume that stories about a wooden/clay boy, a poor girl who marries a rich man, a sleeping beauty are found on nearly every continent. Certainly Antarctica is rich in folklore.
I think people will appreciate what Disney did. Even with the Grimm's editing, the stories are rambling, often incoherent, chaotic, almost unreadable.
Too many characters for the length, endless stupid plot twists. Many of the originals were not at all for children. If I fault Disney, it's for working to discourage other competing versions rather than allow for free expression. REad what they did when the other Alice and Wonderland from UK came out. OMG. no one is going to read this. At least, IMDB keeps me out of the kitchen.

[–] annedoe 8 years ago

I consider it an comibation of Perrault's "Beauty in the Woods", Grimms' "Briar Rose" and the music is from the Sleeping Beauty ballet from Russia

[–] racy1285 8 years ago

The Grimms version is based on the Charles Perrault tale. Disney gives credit to Perrault because he created the story. The Brothers Grimms only adapted the story and added their different take on the story. That doesn't mean they should be given credit to the story. It's Perrault invention so he is given full credit no matter what.

[–] annedoe 8 years ago

ok hold your horses there-I have a book someplace around here..(can't find it at the moment) but it says that the Grimm Brothers almost DIDN'T include the Briar Rose story because of its similarity to the Perrault's version until they remembered something about a Norse goddess (Freya)

[–] racy1285 8 years ago

But they still did release it and many historians today give Parrault credit for originating the story. And rightfully so since his stories were pubished 200 years before the Grimms published theirs.

Here is a recent news article that explains it. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/google-doodle/12093512/Who-was-Charles-Perrault-Why-the-fairy-tales-you-know-may-not-be-as-they-seem.html

[–] Wilsonandrewc (546) 2 years ago

I have it on DVD and since the opening credits says this film is based on "Sleeping Beauty" by Charles Perrault, I play it in French with English subtitles.