I’m a hopeless romantic. Chalk it up to my belief in happily ever after. I can always count on the blissful ending of a great love story. With the classic theme of boy gets girl, “Ever After: A Cinderella Story”
I’m a hopeless romantic. Chalk it up to my belief in happily ever after. I can always count on the blissful ending of a great love story. With the classic theme of boy gets girl, “Ever After: A Cinderella Story” has all the elements of a feel good romantic movie. This 1998 cinematic story from director Andy Tennant is a fresh take on a timeless fairy tale.
The movie features the delightful Drew Barrymore as Danielle de Barbarac, a feisty, free spirited young peasant girl who is suddenly orphaned by her adoring father. She is unexpectedly forced to live with Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, her deliciously evil stepmother played wonderfully by Angelica Huston, and her selfish and snobby daughters. Danielle becomes their dutiful servant hoping that they will eventually grow to love her.
One day, Danielle stumbles across a thief stealing one of their horses. Quick to stop a potential robbery, she clocks the unwanted intruder with a freshly picked apple. Unbeknown to Danielle, she has just taken down Prince Henry, played by the hunky Scottish actor, Dougray Scott. The prince is attempting to flee from an arranged marriage. Upon learning of his identity, Danielle begs for the prince’s forgiveness and he rewards her with gold coins for her silence.
These coins lead to their second meeting. Danielle poses as a courtier to buy back her father’s faithful servant who has been sold by Rodmilla. When Henry is returned back to the castle after his failed escape, he witnesses this courtier fighting relentlessly for the servant’s release. The prince does not recognize her to be Danielle. He is immediately smitten and asks the guard to free the servant.
They continue to run into each other all the while the prince believes Danielle to be the courtier. When they do finally grow close, Danielle and Prince Henry share a passionate kiss and begin to fall in love. Danielle is conflicted by her true identity and she decides to reveal all to the prince.
However, Rodmilla beats her to the punch. She exposes the true identity of Danielle to Prince Henry as well as his parents. Broken hearted, the prince severs all ties with Danielle before she has had a chance to explain her actions. Prince Henry reluctantly agrees to the arranged marriage and Danielle returns to the manor. Rodmilla rids Danielle once and for all by selling her to a pious businessman.
But it is their undying love that cannot keep the two apart. Prince Henry learns of Danielle’s plight and rescues her. As predicted, boy gets girl and they live happily ever after.
Filmed beautifully on location in France, Tennent reteams with key crew from his past films, including Cinematographer Andrew Dunn (“Hitch”) and Costume Designer, Jenny Beavan (“Anna and the King”). Both give the film it’s authentic look and feel of 16th century France.
As with the timeless fairy tale of Cinderella, “Ever After” has won my heart.
Year: 1998
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Angelica Huston, Dougray Scott
