MovieChat Forums > Princess Caraboo (1994) Discussion > One of my favorite movies

One of my favorite movies

posted 20 years ago by aimsusie
15 replies | jump to latest

What a lovely yet overlooked gem of a film! I saw it on cable TV years ago and had to get the video of it the minute I found it in the store. While based on a true story, it is at heart a sweet romance. Everything is splendid to look at: The acting, the costumes, the cinematography, etc.

As for the "tacked on Hollywood ending" critized in the comment section, I don't agree at all. I thought the end was sweet. Why shouldn't they end up in each others arms?

I highly recommend this to everybody.

"War is not healthy for children and other living things."

[–] bheyer 20 years ago

I just saw this lovely and enchanting film on the Love Stories Channel, today. I found it utterly charming and delightful. I agree with the original poster of this thread, the ending was NOT just "tacked on." It's altogether fitting and proper that "Princess Caraboo/Mary Baker," and her "Prince Charming," SHOULD wind up in each other's arms. After all, it IS a fairy tale, is it not?

I'm the bad guy? How'd that happen?
Michael Douglas ("D-FENS"), in "Falling Down"

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] Tiburon75 20 years ago

I loved this movie. I remember a few years ago I bought a used VHS tape of it, and then a few months later I found another used VHS tape and bought that one as well (just in case something ever happened to the first one, I figured I would have a spare!) Can anyone tell me how the DVD is?

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] rockindudette 19 years ago

i just saw the movie on onDemand and it was very good. i love British accents so i was in british heaven! lol

Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.~Westly

~amy

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Zargo 19 years ago

DVD's adequate. Full-screen, with no notable extras other than a few trailers and talent profiles.

[–] Owlnut73 9 years ago

I agree. Esrly in tge film, I was hoping they'd get together. I also wished he'd kissed her in the final scenes.

[–] turtletommy 16 years ago

Yes I saw this when it first came out on video years ago and thought it a pleasant enough picture but after seeing it for the first time since I was surprised how much better it was than I had earlier thought. The cast is first-rate (Broadbent and Hughes are both terrific), the Welsh and English location scenery gorgeous as well as the soundtrack. I wouldn't really call the film a romance, although there is a bit of that involved. Fans of Brit costume dramas will find it their cup of tea though it's a bit lighter in tone than average. Phoebe Cates is nicely cast as the Princess and is as cute as always. Unfortunately the film appears to be available only in full screen pan and scan format- I saw it that way on Comcast OnDemand free movies and it's listed that way on DVD. But it's still a very good-looking film and quite enjoyable.

[–] riosweitzer-899-924312 8 years ago

My late mother and I rented this year's ago when I was younger. We fell madly in love with it. I own it now on DVD, and am having my husband watch it with me. It's one that when I have kids, they will watch it when they are old enough.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

I added the DVD to my library years ago. Don’t be deterred by the disc’s 4:3 picture formatting. Most TVs and DVD players will let you reformat the disc to fill your widescreen TV. This is a movie that I want to watch with my wife, when we find each other.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 5 years ago

Shout Factory has a new blu ray release of this film.

[–] whoanelly (1592) 4 years ago

I bet it’s gorgeous on bluray.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Thank you for that information, trevorh. I am grateful.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

I finally watched this movie. I think it's been on my 'to watch' list for at least ten years. It is a very charming film. It's not violent. There is no sex. It's not filled with jumpy camerawork. And no CGI, at least that I could detect. Maybe the harbor scene. It is a very simple tale, simply told in a beautiful way. The cast is outstanding. Any time Kevin Kline and John Lithgow are in a film, it already has me mostly won over. But the rest of the cast are very good, too. Princess Caraboo is played by Phoebe Cates, who to me is as beautiful as any actress I've ever seen, and this is easily her best performance. As she slowly charmed the people she encounters in this film, she likewise won me over. A bit sad finding out this was to be her final starring role before she retired from acting.

The ending (along with the whole romantic angle) does feel a bit artificial, but it doesn't detract much from the film. For me, this film gets a solid 8/10.