Ever After (1998)

Director:

Andy Tennant

Writers (WGA):

Charles Perrault (1729 story)
Susannah Grant (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

31 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Desire. Defy. Escape.

Plot:

The "real" story of Cinderella. A refreshing new take on the classic fairy tale.

Plot Keywords:

Sentimental | Stepsister Stepsister Relationship | Masked Ball | Passion | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Drew Barrymore	...	Danielle De Barbarac
Anjelica Huston	...	Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent
Dougray Scott	...	Prince Henry
Patrick Godfrey	...	Leonardo da Vinci
Megan Dodds	...	Marguerite De Ghent
Melanie Lynskey	...	Jacqueline De Ghent
Timothy West	...	King Francis
Judy Parfitt	...	Queen Marie
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Auguste De Barbarac
Lee Ingleby	...	Gustave
Kate Lansbury	...	Paulette
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Louise
Walter Sparrow	...	Maurice
Jeanne Moreau	...	Grande Dame
Anna Maguire	...	Young Danielle

Also Known As:

Cinderella (USA) (working title)
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (USA) (working title)
Untitled Cinderella Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief language and mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36063) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Château de Fénélon, Dordogne, France

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In actuality, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was painted on wooden panel, making it quite impossible to roll up into a tube.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Prince Henry of France in fact married Catherine de Medici, a member of the Italian nobility.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Grand Dame: My great-great-grandmother's portrait hung in the University up until the Revolution. By then, the truth of their romance had been reduced to a simple fairy tale. And while Cinderella and her Prince *did* live happily ever after, the point, gentlemen, is that they *lived*.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Canarios

Beautiful Love Story

"Ever After" is a wonderful, imaginative romance. It's a classic Cinderella tale with a simple storyline, set in 16th century France, and revolves around an independent young woman named Danielle. Although she works as a servant for her stepmother, Danielle is anything but weak and subservient. She is passionate and strong-willed, qualities that lead her to the French court, dressed as a wealthy courtier to save a man's life. There she meets Henry, the handsome Prince, who is jaded by his suffocating royal lifestyle. He is fascinated by Danielle and her thirst for life and adventure, and they fall deeply in love -- but the Baroness would do anything to keep them apart.

Drew Barrymore turns in a stunning performance as Danielle, and delivers her lines feelingly. Her emotions are raw and realistic, and she gives the character charm, wit, and beauty.

Anjelica Huston brings a third dimension to her role as the stepmother, who is usually just portrayed as a flat character, evil and hateful. In this movie you see that she is a loving mother who would do anything to make her own daughter Queen, and that she has a reason to resent Danielle.

The character of the handsome Prince is also usually very flat and typical, but Dougray Scott brought a refreshingly human characteristic to him, because he too has his struggles and conflicts.

The script, like the actors, was strong for a romantic fairy tale, and the cinematography was gorgeous. There was one scene in which Danielle is floating on her back in the river, a dreamy and breathtaking moment that describes her carefree nature perfectly. The music composed by George Fenton is lovely - I recommend the soundtrack for this movie too, especially "Walking On Water."

A wonderful movie for all lovers of romance! 10/10