Comments on: Giving the Princess What For

By: Shuvcat

Shuvcat — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:54:00 +0000

You know why Maleficent is cool. She is the only Disney villain who gets to cuss. “Mommy, she said ‘hell’!!” Cooler than the Snow White queen by far. :)

By: Medusa

Medusa — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:34:13 +0000

Indeed, Robbye! I neglected to mention Eleanor Audley’s contribution to Maleficent’s overall impression. And thanks for the shout-out to Marc Davis — what memorable characters he crafted for us!

By: Robbye

Robbye — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:59:14 +0000

Maleficent is magnificent! She is one of the greatest creations of Marc Davis—one of the Seven Old Men animation masters at Disney—and taught a whole generation of kiddies about hauteur, style, and pure evil. In fact, she was considered so frightening to children she was blamed for the relatively disappointing box office of the first release (1959)! No one has exactly figured out if Davis based on her any one in particular, but, in fact, he did: Eleanor Audley, the lady who provided the fairy’s hauty voice (and also for Cinderella’s evil stepmother). Audley had a very patrician face and the similarities to Davis’s creation are definitely there. Davis went on record in saying her voice inspired his characterization of Malificent (Audley won TV fame later on as Eddie Albert’s mother-in-law on “Green Acres”). Davis had a thing for these high-fashion women—his greatest creation was Cruella DeVil (of “101 Dalmations”). Everybody thinks he based Cruella on Tallulah Bankhead but the real model was Lauren Bacall—the cheekbones, the voice, even the cruelty (rumor has it that Madame Bacall is difficult, to put it politely). Here’s a hearty thanks to the great Marc Davis!

By: Amelia

Amelia — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:03:32 +0000

I was recently babysitting at night and the kids wanted to watch “Sleeping Beauty”. I didn’t join in until the sun had gone down, the lights in the TV room were off, and the image of Maleficent slowly hypnotizing Aurora into the fire place was on. It scared the BEJEEZUS out of me! The kids however, were unfazed, probably because they were hypnotized be her as well.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:29:51 +0000

I’m convinced Maleficent invented kidney stones. It’s a pain no one forgets and you have my complete sympathy.

My autistic takes turns obsessing on his favourite movies. Currently on top of the hit parade are “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker”. I blame/thank Walt for the boy’s fondness for Tchaikovsky.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:59:44 +0000

Sleeping Beauty was hands-down my favorite film as a child — to the point where I spent my high school trip to Disney World stocking up on Aurora-related paraphernalia, and just a few weeks ago received the special edition DVD for my birthday. Maleficent both terrified and fascinated me, but I always preferred her over that other dull trio.

I hope you feel better soon!

By: Peret

Peret — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:23:59 +0000

Ugh, I had a kidney stone about two years ago. I feel for ya. Go to the hopsital, they give you morphine until it has passed.

And I LOVED Maleficent. She was always so much more stylish and elegant than the other typical bad guys. I suppose that is why I like the vampire genre too.

Get better, that is more important right now. We’ll wait patiently. :)

By: Suzi Doll

Suzi Doll — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:04:09 +0000

Maleficent should have gone after the Handsome Prince a bit harder and tortured him, though most Handsome Princes walk around in a daze like they, too, have been in a long sleep. Handsome Princes. . . t hey get on my last nerve.