The Princess and the Pea (2002 Film)
Encyclopedia
The Princess and the Pea is an animation film adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Princess and the Pea
by Hans Christian Andersen
. The film was directed by Mark Swan. It was released August 16, 2002 as an American-Hungarian production of Feature Films for Families
& Swan Productions. The script writers were Forrest S. Baker and Ken Cromar.
The film won two Accolade Competition Awards of Excellence In 2003 and 2004, both for the musical score by composer Alan Williams
. The film was also nominated for a Young Artist Award
in 2003, in the category of "Best Family Feature Film - Animation".
As the years pass, Heath's daughter is named Daria and grows up as a gentle and loving girl, working for her horrible farmer "step family', while on the other side Hildegarde (Laird's daughter) grows up as an arrogant, selfish and spoiled princess in the castle. And Prince Rollo, now grown, returns to Heath's castle, dreaming of happiness with someone he loves. Hildegarde, upon seeing him, and hearing how wealthy he is, decides to marry him, but Rollo refuses and flees. Hildegarde chases him, but looses his trail. During her search, Helsa and Laird see each other again, and Laird tells Helsa it is time to tell Hildegarde of her true lineage. Needless to say, she doesn't take it well.
Meanwhile, Rollo, while on a quest, meets Daria, and her trusted pig companions; Princess, Hungry, and Fearless, (she had hoped to give Fearless a name to live up to, but it hasn't worked yet.) The two fall in love and soon after, are separated. Rollo continues in his search for a real princess to marry; one of proper lineage, beauty, grace, and class. Every prospect disappointed him. He realizes he shouldn't love someone because of their titles, but because of who they are and decides to marry Daria, and rushes to tell her.
And all the while, Sebastian the Raven, has been searching for this lost prophecy, now only deducing that to discover true nobility, one must place a pea beneath twenty mattresses. By now, King Heath, utterly disappointed with how Hildegarde turned out with her raising, decided to disinherit her, and leave his kingdom to Rollo and whoever he chooses as his bride. He asks Sebastian to deliver the message to Rollo telling him all of this. Finding out about Heath's plan, Helsa intercepts the message, and brought it to Laird's attention. Laird turns the entire Pig kingdom against Daria, claiming her as a witch who talks to pigs. The followers chase her through a forest and burn down her hiding place, where she'd met Rollo.
Rollo returns and tries desperately to save her, but with the help of her animal friends she and her companions escape. Sebastian, meanwhile, finally discovers the full prophecy in the ballroom of Daria's hiding place. Above the prophecy is a stained glass window showing the image of a great Queen, Daria's ancestor, who bought about the Golden Age of the Kingdom before the Dark Ages took it over.
The prophecy reads:
"To Reveal the Heart of True Nobility
Place the Pea Twenty Mattresses Deep
The Princess True is Love and Sensitivity
Upon Such, She Can Never Sleep"
Delighted at finally solving the obstinate mystery, Sebastian dances around, forgetting to evacuate the burning building. Rollo saves him and exits the place, too exhausted to continue searching, and cries for Daria one last time before passing out in front of the mob. Laird lies to the crowd telling them that he cried for Hildegarde, wanting to marry her. Rollo is taken to the castle and treated for his injuries. And, hearing the news of his wish to marry Hildegarde, Heath plans the wedding, and upon Hildegarde's orders, the wedding is going to take place the moment Rollo feels better. While mourning Daria, whom he believes to be dead, he gets off the bed, and Hildegarde sees him, and immediately starts the wedding.
Daria, finally leaving her step family, tries to find Rollo, and is rudely pushed aside by the people. She helps a servant in the castle, who fell and hurt herself. She takes her into the castle kitchen, and seeing Sebastian's twenty feather beds, decides to lie down for a moment, but she is unable to, saying there appeared to be something hard under them all. Seeing this, Sebastian deduces that Daria is the real Princess for she felt the pea under twenty mattresses. And he sees Daria's only birthmark, a heart on her foot. Which he remembers the Princess to have when he saw her many years ago. But his plan to tell everyone is intercepted when Laird and Helsa stop him, by tying him up. He escapes and interrupts the wedding revealing the truth. But, before telling everyone who is the real princess, since Hildegarde is not, Laird shows up holding Daria hostage. He tries to eliminate Rollo by throwing a chandelier on top of him, but Heath saves him, and miraculously lives.
Laird, along with Helsa and Hildegarde, flees taking Daria hostage. He sets up a trap to get rid of Rollo to Heath whom he knows to be following him. Rollo confronts him, and miraculously survives another fatal attempt to eliminate him. Atop the castle tower, Laird and Helsa are defeated and arrested. The little pig, Fearless finally lives up to his name by helping defeat Hildegarde.
Rollo and Daria are reunited, and Rollo introduces Daria to Heath, her father. She and Rollo end up married, and live happily ever after.
The Princess and the Pea
"The Princess and the Pea" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her physical sensitivity. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in an inexpensive booklet on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen by C.A...
by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
. The film was directed by Mark Swan. It was released August 16, 2002 as an American-Hungarian production of Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families is a privately held entertainment company based in the United States. According to the company, Feature Films for Families makes films that reinforce traditional family values and morality, are suitable for all ages and contain no profanity, sexuality, violence, or...
& Swan Productions. The script writers were Forrest S. Baker and Ken Cromar.
The film won two Accolade Competition Awards of Excellence In 2003 and 2004, both for the musical score by composer Alan Williams
Alan Williams (composer)
Alan Williams was born March 1965. He grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. He is an American award winning composer and orchestrator for movie soundtracks and television series. He has won 10 Accolade Competition Awards, 2 Golden Telly Awards, an Cinescape Top 20 Film Scores of 2005 Award, 5...
. The film was also nominated for a Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
in 2003, in the category of "Best Family Feature Film - Animation".
Plot
The glory of the old kingdom in now gone, the story of how a princess was discovered by a pea is lost and wars and tragedy have destroyed the land. Sebastian the Raven tries to restore some of the old tales using an old tapestry found by a young Prince Rollo, but it is almost destroyed. In the meantime, Heath is crowned King without the consent of his older brother and primary candidate for the throne, Laird, though he is a far fairer ruler. Laird is named the ruler of the Pig Kingdom where he promises revenge. Nine months later Heath's wife Mariana gives birth to a daughter, but dies during the child's birth, at the same time Laird's wife Helsa also gives birth to a daughter. Laird conceives an evil plan. He sends Helsa to take care of Heath's daughter, making the King believe Helsa lost her baby. During the night Laird gives Helsa her own daughter and gives the Princess away to some farmers, Helsa feels some remorse and asks Laird not to hurt the baby, because she lost her mother as a child too.As the years pass, Heath's daughter is named Daria and grows up as a gentle and loving girl, working for her horrible farmer "step family', while on the other side Hildegarde (Laird's daughter) grows up as an arrogant, selfish and spoiled princess in the castle. And Prince Rollo, now grown, returns to Heath's castle, dreaming of happiness with someone he loves. Hildegarde, upon seeing him, and hearing how wealthy he is, decides to marry him, but Rollo refuses and flees. Hildegarde chases him, but looses his trail. During her search, Helsa and Laird see each other again, and Laird tells Helsa it is time to tell Hildegarde of her true lineage. Needless to say, she doesn't take it well.
Meanwhile, Rollo, while on a quest, meets Daria, and her trusted pig companions; Princess, Hungry, and Fearless, (she had hoped to give Fearless a name to live up to, but it hasn't worked yet.) The two fall in love and soon after, are separated. Rollo continues in his search for a real princess to marry; one of proper lineage, beauty, grace, and class. Every prospect disappointed him. He realizes he shouldn't love someone because of their titles, but because of who they are and decides to marry Daria, and rushes to tell her.
And all the while, Sebastian the Raven, has been searching for this lost prophecy, now only deducing that to discover true nobility, one must place a pea beneath twenty mattresses. By now, King Heath, utterly disappointed with how Hildegarde turned out with her raising, decided to disinherit her, and leave his kingdom to Rollo and whoever he chooses as his bride. He asks Sebastian to deliver the message to Rollo telling him all of this. Finding out about Heath's plan, Helsa intercepts the message, and brought it to Laird's attention. Laird turns the entire Pig kingdom against Daria, claiming her as a witch who talks to pigs. The followers chase her through a forest and burn down her hiding place, where she'd met Rollo.
Rollo returns and tries desperately to save her, but with the help of her animal friends she and her companions escape. Sebastian, meanwhile, finally discovers the full prophecy in the ballroom of Daria's hiding place. Above the prophecy is a stained glass window showing the image of a great Queen, Daria's ancestor, who bought about the Golden Age of the Kingdom before the Dark Ages took it over.
The prophecy reads:
"To Reveal the Heart of True Nobility
Place the Pea Twenty Mattresses Deep
The Princess True is Love and Sensitivity
Upon Such, She Can Never Sleep"
Delighted at finally solving the obstinate mystery, Sebastian dances around, forgetting to evacuate the burning building. Rollo saves him and exits the place, too exhausted to continue searching, and cries for Daria one last time before passing out in front of the mob. Laird lies to the crowd telling them that he cried for Hildegarde, wanting to marry her. Rollo is taken to the castle and treated for his injuries. And, hearing the news of his wish to marry Hildegarde, Heath plans the wedding, and upon Hildegarde's orders, the wedding is going to take place the moment Rollo feels better. While mourning Daria, whom he believes to be dead, he gets off the bed, and Hildegarde sees him, and immediately starts the wedding.
Daria, finally leaving her step family, tries to find Rollo, and is rudely pushed aside by the people. She helps a servant in the castle, who fell and hurt herself. She takes her into the castle kitchen, and seeing Sebastian's twenty feather beds, decides to lie down for a moment, but she is unable to, saying there appeared to be something hard under them all. Seeing this, Sebastian deduces that Daria is the real Princess for she felt the pea under twenty mattresses. And he sees Daria's only birthmark, a heart on her foot. Which he remembers the Princess to have when he saw her many years ago. But his plan to tell everyone is intercepted when Laird and Helsa stop him, by tying him up. He escapes and interrupts the wedding revealing the truth. But, before telling everyone who is the real princess, since Hildegarde is not, Laird shows up holding Daria hostage. He tries to eliminate Rollo by throwing a chandelier on top of him, but Heath saves him, and miraculously lives.
Laird, along with Helsa and Hildegarde, flees taking Daria hostage. He sets up a trap to get rid of Rollo to Heath whom he knows to be following him. Rollo confronts him, and miraculously survives another fatal attempt to eliminate him. Atop the castle tower, Laird and Helsa are defeated and arrested. The little pig, Fearless finally lives up to his name by helping defeat Hildegarde.
Rollo and Daria are reunited, and Rollo introduces Daria to Heath, her father. She and Rollo end up married, and live happily ever after.
Cast
Among the cast members:- Amanda Waving - Princess Daria
- Steven WebbSteven WebbSteven Webb is an English actor who has been performing in theatre, television and film from the age of eight. Webb was born in Wirral, near Liverpool in the UK.-Career:...
- Prince Rollo - Dan FinnertyDan Finnerty-Early and personal life:Finnerty was born in Rochester, New York, but grew up in the small town of Bath, New York and attended Emerson College in Boston. He was a member of the hit off-Broadway show Stomp in New York City. On August 8, 1995, he married actress Kathy Najimy. Gloria Steinem...
- Prince Rollo's singing voice - Nigel LambertNigel LambertNigel Lambert is best known for his role as the narrator of the first series of the BBC comedy series Look Around You.He is the voice of Mr Curry in The Adventures of Paddington Bear television series and also "Papa" in the Dolmio pasta sauce puppet commercials.He also contributed extensively to...
- Sebastian the Raven - Lincoln Hoppe - King Heath
- Ronan VibertRonan VibertRonan Vibert is a British actor, known for his appearances on British television.-Early life:The son of Dilys and David Vibert, both artists. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1983 to 1986. He has a brother named Cevn....
- Laird
External links
- Film details
- Movie trailer on Youtube - "Never underestimate the power of a vegetable"
- The newer movie trailer on Youtube