How to Wake a Princess (Czech: Jak se budí princezny) is a 1978 Czechoslovak fantasy film directed by Václav Vorlíček. It is based on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, in the versions collected by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.
Contents
Plot
Witch Melánie, Queen Eliska's evil and envious sister, casts a terrible curse on her newborn niece. At the age of 17, Princess Ruzenka is asked in marriage by the arrogant and vain Prince Jirí, although she is in love with Jaroslav, the prince's younger brother. One day Melánie succeed to trick the princess into prickling herself with a thorny bouquet of roses, and the curse comes true. Ruzenka falls asleep and the whole court with her. Jaroslav will therefore have to overcome various obstacles helped by his faithful servant Matej, to enter the castle covered in thorns. The young man finally manages to reawaken the princess with a kiss.
Cast
Marie Horáková as Ruzenka
Jan Hrušínský as Prince Jaroslav
Vladimír Menšík as Matej
Jiří Sovák as Ruzenka's Father
Milena Dvorská as Queen Eliska
Libuše Švormová as Melánie
Marie Brozová as Melánie's Maid
František Filipovský as Baron
Oldřich Velen as King Vendelin
Stella Zázvorková as Queen Anezka
Jan Kraus as Prince Jirí
Miloš Vavruška as Hunter
Václav Postránecký as Jakub the Gardener
Evelyna Steimarová as Miroslava
Marie Horáková and Oldřich Velen had all their lines dubbed by Naďa Konvalinková and Lubor Tokos respectively.
Production
The exteriors were filmed at the Pernštejn, Křivoklát and Roštejn castles (Růženka's castle, close-ups of Růženka's castle and Jaroslav's castle respectively), and at the ruins of Orlík Castle (Melánie's house). The fight with the bear was filmed at Konopiště Castle.