Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

The Brothers Grimm arrive at the home of a wealthy Grande Dame who speaks of the many legends surrounding the fable of the cinder girl before telling the "true" story of her ancestor.

Director:

Andy Tennant

Writers:

Susannah Grant (screenplay), Andy Tennant (screenplay)

Stars:

Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott

6 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Drew Barrymore	...	Danielle
Anjelica Huston	...	Rodmilla
Dougray Scott	...	Prince Henry
Patrick Godfrey	...	Leonardo
Megan Dodds	...	Marguerite
Melanie Lynskey	...	Jacqueline
Timothy West	...	King Francis
Judy Parfitt	...	Queen Marie
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Auguste
Lee Ingleby	...	Gustave
Kate Lansbury	...	Paulette
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Louise
Walter Sparrow	...	Maurice
Jeanne Moreau	...	Grande Dame
Anna Maguire	...	Young Danielle

Storyline

Andy Tennant directed this Cinderella variant. The Brothers Grimm arrive at the home of a wealthy Grande Dame (Jeanne Moreau) who speaks of the many legends surrounding the fable of the cinder girl before telling the "true" story of her ancestor. In flashback, the story then focuses on eight-year-old Danielle, daughter of a wealthy widower, a 16th-century landowner. After returning to France with his new wife Rodmilla (Anjelica Huston) and her two daughters, he dies of a heart attack. Ten years later, Danielle (Drew Barrymore) is now treated as a servant by the trio. Fortunately, she has an encounter with Prince Henry (Dougray Scott), who is fleeing an arranged marriage. Later, when Danielle poses as a Lady, the Prince takes an interest in her. Inventor-artist Leonardo Da Vinci (Patrick Godfrey), accepting the French court's patronage, offers advice to Prince Henry on matters of the heart.

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Plot Keywords:

cinderella | fairy tale | leonardo da vinci | stepsister stepsister relationship | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

Desire. Defy. Escape.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for momentary strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinderella

Filming Locations:

Chateau de la Roussie, 24200 Proissans, Sarlat-la-Caneda, Dordogne, France

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,526,904, 2 August 1998

Gross USA:

$65,705,771

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$98,005,666

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trailers prominently feature two songs that do not appear in the film: "The Mummer's Dance" by Loreena McKennitt and "Fable" by Robert Miles.

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Goofs

When Prince Henry and the gypsy have their sword fight, the gypsy that punches Prince Henry draws his sword. In the next shot (a one-shot of the gypsy) it is still sheathed but in the subsequent two-shot the gypsy's sword is drawn again.

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Quotes

Leonardo da Vinci: Come, let's see these paintings of yours.
Gustav: Now?
Leonardo da Vinci: When you're as old as I am, son, now is all you've got.

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Alternate Versions

While the theatrical version was rated PG-13, the VHS version was edited to remove three swear words in order to be suitable for a PG rating. The DVD and Blu-ray versions are uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Mamma Mia! (2015)

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Soundtracks

Put Your Arms Around Me
(1997)
Written by Johnny McElhone, Sharleen Spiteri, Robert Hodgens, and David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart)
Performed by Texas
Courtesy of Mercury Records Limited

User Reviews

Loved - loved - LOVED this movie!

Cinderella is a timeless classic, a fairytale for all ages. And "Ever After" is pitch-perfect as an adaptation of the Cinderella story to screen.

As a fairytale, this movie follows a predictable pattern and storyline. It is sweet, light, innocent and beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. The cinematography is one of the stars here and this is a fabulous movie to watch - for the scenery, the costumes and the visual effects.

Anjelica Huston steals the show as the evil stepmother, but Drew Barrymore puts in a fine performance here, and Patrick Godfrey is wonderfully eccentric as Leonardo Da Vinci. Overall, this is not so much a movie about the acting, but it's more about the sometimes sappy, usually saccharine, but wonderfully heartfelt classic story. Instead of the magic of the original fairytale, Ever After replaces it with the "magic" of wit, humour and heart. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Funny and charming, Ever After is one of those great movies that can be watched over and over again.