Donkey Skin (1970)

A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise herself so she won't have to marry a man she doesn't love.

Director:

Jacques Demy

Writers:

Charles Perrault (fairy tale), Jacques Demy

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Jean Marais, Jacques Perrin

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Deneuve	...	La princesse / La reine bleue
Jean Marais	...	Le roi bleu
Jacques Perrin	...	Le prince charmant
Micheline Presle	...	La reine rouge, la seconde reine
Delphine Seyrig	...	La fée des Lilas
Fernand Ledoux	...	Le roi rouge, le seconde roi
Henri Crémieux	...	Le chef des médecins (as Henri Cremieux)
Sacha Pitoëff	...	Le premier ministre (The Minister) (as Sacha Pitoeff)
Pierre Repp	...	Thibaud - l'intendant
Jean Servais	...	Le récitant (voice)
Georges Adet	...	Le savant
Annick Berger	...	Nicolette
Romain Bouteille	...	Le charlatan
Louise Chevalier	...	La vieille fermière
Sylvain Corthay	...	Godefroy

Storyline

The education of a princess wrapped in a love story. A king and queen live happily until her sudden death. The king decides to marry his lovely daughter. She's willing, but the Lily Fairy serves as a social conscience, intent on thwarting incest. She instructs the princess to request a series of dresses impossible to make; however, the king's tailor succeeds. So the fairy plots the princess's escape, wearing the skin of the king's prize donkey. She's spirited away to be a scullery maid dressed in the noisome skin. A wandering prince sees her in the woods and is smitten. Can love find its course, and does the princess learn a lesson of life's hardships?

---

Plot Keywords:

incestuous desire | based on fairy tale | princess | king | queen | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 December 1970 (France)

Also Known As:

Donkey Skin

Filming Locations:

Château de Chambord, Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marianne Productions,Parc Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (restored version) Mono (original version) Dolby SR (restored version)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Demy originally envisaged Brigitte Bardot and Anthony Perkins in the lead roles.

---

Quotes

Narrator: Once upon a time there was a king so great, so loved by his people and so respected by neighboring kingdoms that he was the happiest of monarchs. And his happiness was even greater for having chosen a beautiful and virtuous wife. The couple lived in perfect harmony. They had a daughter of such grace and charm that they never regretted having but one child. Their palace was a marvel of taste and abundance. The buildings were magnificent and the vast stables were filled with the most handsome ...

---

Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

User Reviews

Classic French story

Weird, yes and off-putting to some, but this is a classic French "conte de fée" (fairy tale) by Charles Perrault.

This man was also responsible for Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

The stories in Mother Goose also stemmed from his work.

If you think about it, many of these stories contain weird or gruesome elements but are now all considered classics which we read to our children, albeit in somewhat doctored form.

So, weird to Americans, but normal to the French.

One cannot deny that the picture is beautifully filmed, and that the color is truly outstanding.

We should note that Jacques Demy also directed the Umbrellas of Cherbourg and the Young Girls of Rochefort. There is a great similarity in attitude and art if one compares these three films of his.