Remember that commanding voice, that sent chills down your spine?
Eleanor Audley’s vocal recordings gave Maleficent a scary, bigger than life and unworldly quality. Combined with Marc Davis’ masterfully restraint animation the character became a villain for the ages.
With Disney’s life action film “Maleficent” coming to a theatre near you, this is as good a time as any to talk about this powerful mistress of all evil.
Many years ago, when I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Eleanor Audley, I asked her to sign this German lobby card from the film Sleeping Beauty. Marc had just put his name on it a few days earlier.
I need to get this image framed, so much history behind it.
Miss Audley remembered that soon after Sleeping Beauty finished production the studio arranged a screening of the film…just for her. She said, she was the only one in the theatre watching this big screen spectacle. “I felt privileged and I adored the film.”
I found this clip on youtube from the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. More of Eleanor Audley’s performances.
Incidentally, the young lady in the clip is my friend Lisa Davis, who would soon after voice the character of Anita in 101 Dalmatians.
So here are the two artists who were mainly responsible for developing Maleficent.
A few rough key drawings of Maleficent as she creates a vision in front of Prince Phillip in the dungeon. “Behold….!” Amazing drawings.
Here's the link to a previous post on the remarkable Eleanor Audley:
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/08/miss-audley.html
Here's the link to a previous post on the remarkable Eleanor Audley:
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/08/miss-audley.html
Oh, by the way, I just attended a screening of “Maleficent”. Wow, what a magnificent film!!! Really!
