WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW. I'm not sure how I could spoil this age-old fairy tale, but out of an abundance of caution, there are spoilers mentioned below! A Little History: "The familiar English version is a translation of Charles Perrault's Cendrillion, which appeared in his influential collection of fairy tales, Contes de ma mere l'oye (1697) / Tales of Mother Goose (1729). Some of the features of Perrault's version, such as the fairy godmother, are uncharacteristic. Usually, the supernatural helper is the girl's dead mother or an animal agent sent by her. The prince's recognition of the cinder maiden by the token of a 'glass' slipper is unique in Perrault. In other versions of the story the test of recognition is often a golden or silver slipper or a ring." [www.britannica.com]. Once Upon A Time... I never get tired of reading or watching a good "Cinderella" story. Ever After is yet another adaptation of this fairy tale I thoroughly enjoyed. So what if Danielle De Barbarac/Cinderella (Drew Barrymore) was not as graceful or enchanting as Leslie Ann Warren/Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical version of Cinderella. (I just loved LAW's swan-like neck). Although women were supposed to be subservient during that time in history, I liked the fact that Danielle was a defiant idealist independent thinker who could defend herself in any situation. So what if Prince Henry wasn't as regal or authoritative as Stuart Damon/Prince in R&H's version of Cinderella. His bumbling and vulnerable demeanor meant he definitely needed a self-confident, yet loyal Princess by his side. So what if historical facts were mingled in with this fable - e.g., Leonardo da Vinci or Gustave (I think Klint) playing cupid. [Did Oliver Stone get the facts right in JFK?] Anjelica Huston as the Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent/stepmother and Megan Dobbs as Marguerite De Ghent/stepsister, were wickedly wonderful. Baroness Rodmilla's mean-spirited, gold digging, by any means necessary tactics to connive Prince Henry to marry her daughter Marguerite, was absolutely diabolical. But when Danielle entered the ball wearing that stunning winged costume and said, "Just Breathe," I held my breath and cried. [Okay, so sue me for being a CHICK]. Prince Henry's diaper-like jock protector was a bit distracting, if you know what I mean. If you add in the picturesque cinematography and the musical score, Ever After is one of those movies I'll never get tired of watching. Cass Trivia: The year was 1965, and I remember it like it was yesterday. All week we planned to watch Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical fairy tale of Cinderella. The story my mother had read to us over and over again was finally coming alive on television. Every time we saw the commercial advertising it, we danced. IT'S SHOWTIME!!! That night, we all took our baths without coercion, and we had already staked out our spots on the floor in the den with our pillows. Five minutes and counting before airtime. My dad dimmed the lights and my mom slipped out of the den. And then we smelled it -- "Jiffy Pop popcorn," we screamed! "No one move," my dad instructed. "Your mother will serve everyone so there's not a mess," he continued. My mom gave each of us an individual bowl of popcorn and each a large cup of strawberry Kool-Aid. MOVIE TIME!!! Months after seeing Cinderella, my sister and I were still practicing how to curtsy (and yes, our knees did crack). But the musical score was the icing on the cake with songs like, "Ten Minutes Ago"...I saw you", or "Impossible...for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage...Impossible", or "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful..."or because your wonderful", or the evil but comical stepsisters singing "What does a fellow want with a girl like her?" After that, I loved musicals (stage or movie) and wanted to become an actress. [Part of that statement is true -- I am acting between the hours I'm supposed to be working. Did the Academy forget to nominate me for an Oscar for Best Actress in "She's Still at Lunch"?] EVER AFTER: Thirty-six years ago I met and fell in love with my own Prince Henry. I still have the very first Christmas present he gave me in third grade. Ever After is a constant reminder that some fairy tales do come true. back to top Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2001 EMAIL: cass@3blackchicks.com

Use the feedback form below to send your comments to Cass