Walt Disney and the Story Department tweaked stories to make them as strong as possible for an animated film and its audience. Sleeping Beauty is no different, drawing influence from French writer Charles Perrault's story with the same name. Here are just a few differences we found between Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and the Grimm fairy tale on which it is partially based: “Briar Rose.”
In the Grimm version:
- While on a walk, the queen saves a little fish who got stuck out of water. The fish thanks her by telling her that she will finally bear a child
- The princess’s true name is Briar Rose. (A little foreshadowing, eh?)
- There is no arranged marriage for Briar Rose.
- There are thirteen fairies in the kingdom. All were supposed to be invited to the party, but the king and queen only had 12 golden dishes. They were afraid the 13th fairy would be offended if she wasn’t served her meal in a golden dish as well, so they didn’t invite her at all. (Also, the fairies all come dressed in red!)
- The 13th fairy says the curse will fall on the princess’s 15th birthday, not her 16th.
- The curse has a time limit: 100 years.
- The princess never hides with fairies in the forest; she stays with her royal parents.
- The prince comes across the castle and its inhabitants on the 100th year, which is how he is able to get into the castle.
- The prince and the 13th fairy never fight; in fact, the 13th fairy isn’t mentioned in the story at all after the curse is laid.
- The kiss isn’t what wakes Briar Rose; it’s a coincidence that the prince kisses her as the curse expires.
What are some others? Tell us in the comment section below!
Jennifer Dick
Engagement Programs Manager
at The Walt Disney Family Museum
Sleeping Beauty is screening throughout the month of January at The Walt Disney Family Museum, daily at 1:30pm. Check the calendar for more details.