Danielle is a lively young girl raised by her father, a widower. When her father marries again, Danielle is not at all against it; in fact she says she likes her step-mother (Anjelica Huston) and her two new sisters. Danielle’s father soon dies of a heart attack, and the step-mother takes over the household. Being a baroness, she considers Danielle a commoner and reduces her to the position of a servant. She also knows little about money management and squanders everything, so when Danielle grows up the family is deep in debt, trying hard to keep the appearance of being rich.
When Danielle first meets Henry, the crown Prince of France (Dougray Scott), she is in her servant dress, working outside, and he is on the run. Upset with his father forcing him into an arranged marriage, Henry escapes from the palace and tries to steal one of the horses that belong to Danielle’s family. She comes running to defend their property, attacking the thief with the apples she has been picking – and when she recognizes the prince it’s a little too late: quite a few apples have been thrown, and they hit the target. However, the prince is not angry, he only wants to get away before the guards come after him. He gives the “servant girl� some money for her silence and rides off. They meet again when Danielle comes to town to buy back an old servant her step-mother had sold for her debts. In order to do that, Danielle dresses up as a noblewoman. Henry thinks the girl looks familiar, but he cannot quite place her. When he asks for her name, Danielle gives him her mother’s name and runs home as soon as she can.
As you see, this Cinderella version adds some new plot details to the beloved story, and it does that very well, in my opinion. They make the story feel real, and, together with excellent acting, create a truly good movie. Drew Barrymore is so sweet and lovely as Danielle. Dougray Scott is believable and very human as the prince, with his faults and failings. The step-sisters, Jacqueline and Marguerite, are much more than just evil step-sisters, they have real-life personalities. If you have not yet seen this movie, check it out, you will not be disappointed!