Happy birthday, ‘Ever After’! Here are 9 things we love about you
I remember the exact moment I realized something important about myself: I am a romantic. It was in a theater in Phoenix, Arizona in the summertime of 1998. I was nine years old. I have an inkling there were signs of my Jane Austen-loving soul long before then, but this movie experience is the first one I can think of that had such hefty significance. The movie was Ever After, and here I am, 17 years later, still loving it and watching it on repeat.
In light of all of the recent and upcoming live action adaptations of Disney fairy tales (keep ’em coming!), I thought it was appropriate to remember this classic Cinderella story that came before them. Starring Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston and Dougray Scott, this portrayal is packed full of star power and gumption. The heroine, Danielle (Drew Barrymore) is strong-willed and capable and effortlessly smart, which is what makes her so irresistible. There are many reasons why I adore this movie (and occasionally watch it multiple times a day), so let’s celebrate its anniversary by going through a list of its greatest attributes. Because Ever After was, and is, the perfect movie.
It makes us feel all the feels, and weep endless tears of happiness
Don’t get me wrong, I cry ugly sad tears in this movie as well. But for the perfect movie, tears are a must. Especially when it comes to this reunion scene, because I really can’t even. Gah.
It’s all about the love of a good book, which we totally understand
Danielle’s father was a great teacher and loved to share his insights on science and philosophy with his young daughter. When he died, the last book he brought home to her, Utopia, became quite arguably her most prized possession. In fact, her application of its principals is one of the initial reasons she catches the attention of Prince Henry. He realizes the strength of her mind and her passion for the world, and is stunned by her intelligence and bravery. He later takes her to an astonishing library, hoping to woo her. She is, of course, completely won over. Because books!
Anjelica Huston is so amazing as the step-mother
This movie was my first encounter with the great Anjelica Huston. Since then I have loved following her career and learning more about her. As the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, she is deliciously evil. I do not think anyone else could have pulled off such a perfect mixture of cruelty, elegance, jealousy, and empathy. She is a master manipulator. Huston does a great job of exposing traces of humanity and vulnerability within the Baroness, despite the fact that the character is ruled most heartily by her greed.
We’re all about the soundtrack
Try listening to “Utopia” or “The Homecoming” or even just the main “Ever After Main Title” theme without wanting to bawl your eyes out, travel the world, renew your hope in humanity or just fly away on your newfound wings.
This soundtrack is a piece of art, and is one of the biggest reasons why this movie gets me every time.
George Fenton, you angel, you.
One of the best characters is a famous artist
The fact that Leonardo da Vinci is in this movie at all is fantastic, but it’s even better that he plays such a delightfully important character. His creative spirit inspires Prince Henry, and his solid advice and sweet (albeit sarcastic at times) personality play a big role in the central love story. The above sequence, in which he spouts “It looks like rain!” may be one of my favorite moments in cinematic history.
The bestie-dom between Danielle and Gustav is the sweetest
Danielle has the most amazing supporting cast throughout this movie. They all play their parts to help and protect her. Her childhood best friend, Gustav, knows her heart and always comes to her rescue. Her fellow servants, Louise, Paulette and Maurice cover for her on multiple occasions as she’s falling in love with the prince. Although they don’t have the capability to fight against the Baroness outright, they rebel in other ways to help their beloved Danielle, whom they have loved since she was born. They roll their eyes and steal clothes and lie about chickens. Danielle even gains another true friend by the end of the film, her not-so-evil stepsister, Jacqueline.
Can we PLEASE talk about the gypsy kiss
After their trip to the wooing library, Danielle is forced to save the prince’s life from gypsies. The best part? She saves him by picking him up and carrying him when the gypsy leader announces that he will let her leave with “anything she can carry.” So cheeky. Prince Henry’s expression when this happens is my favorite of all time. The gypsies erupt in laughter, and they go on as friends.
In the heart of the gypsy camp near a warm cozy fire, Danielle and Prince Henry share wine, secrets, a few games of rock, paper, scissors and eventually their magical first kiss. It was the kiss to measure all other kisses by. Well, at least… according to my 9-year-old self, it was.
(Let’s be honest, according to my 26-year-old self, too.)
We are so into all the glitter
For a girl of the 90’s, this was the ultimate kicker. Cinderella with rhinestones. I don’t know about you, but I bought an abhorrent amount of roll-on glitter sticks and tubes of glitter lotions and body sprays as an adolescent. This movie may be to blame. If I could steal and perfectly replicate any look for Halloween (or just any ol’ Friday night), it would be this one.
Danielle is a total #boss
Not only does Danielle save the prince from the wrath of the gypsies (and is even bold enough to earn their trust and respect), she also perseveres through heartbreak, public shame, and slavery. As the narrator explains at the beginning of the movie, Danielle falls in love with a prince who is “still a boy in many ways.” That adolescent streak in him causes Danielle a lot of sorrow. He makes a terrible mistake by rejecting her once he finds out she’s a servant instead of a countess. It’s rather devastating, and although Danielle cries her share of tears, she also wakes up the next day and works her butt off to begin moving on with her life. She is sold as a slave to a slimy benefactor but ends up awesomely saving herself (“now hand me that key or I swear on his grave I will slit you from navel to nose!”) before the prince can even say “I’m sorry for being a terrible human”.
In an Oprah: Next Chapter interview from 2013, Drew Barrymore talked about how excited she is to show her daughter her movies when she’s older (and now Drew has two little girls!). She highlights her inspiration for making Ever After in the first place, and really hits the nail on the head about what is so meaningful and lasting about watching this movie as a young girl.
Here is an excerpt from the interview:
What are your favorite Ever After moments? What would you add to this list? I would so love to know.
