The royal court, the panoramic journey of the Prince to the overgrown castle, and the great celebratory dances of the happy ending (in which other famous fairytale figures appear) are all brought to life by the luscious designs of this celebrated production, created in 1946 for the The Royal Ballet. The inspired performances of its revival for the 75th anniversary of the Company in 2006 turn this film into a wonderful tribute to The Royal Ballet's unique style and visual splendour.
This production, staged by Dame Ninette de Valois, epitomises the style of the company as as it marks The Royal Ballet's debut at the Royal Opera House, where since 1946 it has been the resident ballet company.
© Picture: Bill Cooper