WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER (TV)
Summary
One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." This made-for-television production, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, is a retelling of "Cinderella" through the eyes of one of her "ugly" stepsisters. The program begins in England in 1637 as Margarethe ten Broek Fisher gathers her potions and her two daughters, Iris and Ruth, and flees the village before an angry mob burns her house to the ground. One week later, Margarethe and her family arrive at the Haarlem Harbor in Holland, Margarethe's birthplace. While Margarethe goes looking for some shelter, Ruth runs into Caspar, the apprentice to painter Luykas Schoonmaker. Caspar saves her from rude businessmen, earning Iris's gratitude. Then, Ruth wanders off and sees the beautiful Clara van den Meer at her window. Nearby, a mysterious street woman hovers. Meanwhile, Margarethe is unable to find her family shelter as heavy rains begin to fall. Ultimately, they end up at the residence of Luykas, who immediately wants to paint Iris to help him audition for a job. As Margarethe cleans the house, Luykas tries to paint Iris. Later, Iris is upset to see that Luykas captured her plain appearance in the portrait, not showcasing her inner beauty. Surprisingly, Margarethe agrees that her daughter is indeed quite ordinary. However, Caspar insists to Iris that she is quite attractive. Later, Iris helps Caspar take the painting over to the residence of the van den Meer family, for investors to examine it. Caspar explains some myths about the rich clan and its shut-in daughter, Clara, en route. Cornelius Van Den Meer likes the painting of Iris. Clara wonders if Luykas will paint her, too, and Cornelius admits that a portrait of her carrying the latest tool of his trade -- a new tulip -- could serve as an advertisement for his business. Cornelius speaks with Iris, offering her a "business proposition" to tutor and befriend the lonely but brusque Clara. He further enlists Margarethe and Ruth to work for him. Upon leaving the Schoonmaker residence, Iris receives some charcoal and paper from Luykas, who encourages her to practice her art. He also tells her that moving into the van den Meer house is a mistake. Arriving at the posh new residence, Margarethe is impressed.
At dinner that night, Margarethe puts a potion in Cornelius's drink. By morning, Margarethe brings him breakfast in bed and convinces him to fire his cook and housekeeper. Meanwhile, Clara overhears Margarethe, realizing that she is scheming, trying to seduce her father. Later, Iris visits Luykas, who observes romantic interest between her and Caspar. Clara subsequently poses for Luykas, holding her father's prized tulip. That night, Iris, Ruth, and Clara spy again on Margarethe, who is trying to win Cornelius's affection. Clara is upset about the proceedings but Iris wonders why she is so consistently unhappy. Clara claims that people only see her beauty and nothing else. Later, as the three girls play a game, Iris and Ruth trick Clara, leaving her alone outside and frightening her. The mystery woman approaches her, causing Clara to scream. Then, Cornelius reveals that he is to marry Margarethe, infuriating Clara. At their wedding, Iris speaks with Luykas about why he looks so glum. Luykas says he's sad because he thinks he can never top his painting of Clara. Luykas then asks if Iris will apprentice for him. Also at the wedding, Iris notices Caspar seeming to show an attraction toward Clara. Later, Ruth makes a fool of herself at Luykas's studio and Iris chastises her. Margarethe will only allow Iris to apprentice with Luykas if Iris can prove that she can take care of the house's domestic chores, beginning by forcing Clara to get rid of her pet rat. Clara convinces Iris to just let her hide the rat. Then, snow falls outside and while everyone plays, Clara refuses to join them. Iris tries to convince Clara that it is okay to go outside and have fun. Out on the street, Iris runs into Luykas, before Clara surprisingly joins all for a snowball fight. Later, while alone, Clara is further pursued by the mystery woman, who tries to offer a warning. Then, Cornelius reveals that he is ruined, having lost everything when the tulip market crashed. Margarethe wants her husband to sell off his bad shares to his unwitting neighbors, but Cornelius refuses. Thus, Margarethe concocts another potion for him that exhausts him, making Cornelius bedridden. Now, Margarethe is determined to save the newly indigent family. She tries to make Clara attend an upcoming ball sponsored by the Dowager Queen to find a spouse for the prince. Clara refuses, stating that Margarethe is "the instrument" that has cursed the family. Margarethe thus forces Iris to attend, even though the girl thinks "it is hopeless."
Later, Clara encourages Iris to go to the ball. Clara decides she will stay by the fireplace, where she's comfortable. Applying cinder to her face, she jokingly calls herself Cinderella. Later, Iris works on her art side-by-side with Caspar, who tries to flirt with her. Caspar is upset when Iris asks his advice on whether she should make a play for the prince. Iris confides in Clara that she believes Caspar has feelings for her. Recognizing Iris's discomfort in wooing the prince rather than Caspar, Clara agrees that she will attend in order to save the family. This does not please Margarethe, who has written off Clara and forbids her to attend. Later, Margarethe and Ruth go to town to get Ruth and Iris some dresses. While they are gone, Iris sneaks Caspar into the house, who brings along material for a gown for Clara. Together, Iris and Caspar quickly make a dress for Clara to attend the ball. Then, when Margarethe prepares to take her daughters to the ball, Ruth slips up and reveals that Clara is secretly going, too. Thus, a furious Margarethe destroys Clara's gown. While Clara is alone, the mystery woman arrives again, encouraging Clara to go to the ball. The mystery woman reveals that she was asked to watch over Clara by her deceased mother. She laughs when Clara asks if she is her "fairy godmother." The woman tells Clara where to find a gown in the attic, her mother's bridal dress. Arriving at the ball, Iris does not want to enter, though Margarethe makes her do so. Also at the ball, Luykas tries to get a commission from the Dowager Queen by displaying his masterpiece, the painting of Clara and the tulip. Meanwhile, the mystery woman sends Clara off, telling her that the carriage must return her by midnight. Iris speaks with the Prince of Marsillac, who seems beguiled by her, especially when she mentions that she paints. Later, Iris is surprised to see Caspar at the ball and soon the two are dancing as he asks her about her interactions with the prince. Caspar chastises Iris for not understanding how beautiful she is. Then, Clara arrives, with a mask on as "Clarissa of Aragon," creating quite a stir in the hall. She speaks with the prince, who is intrigued and tongue-tied. The two dance, during which Clara pretends to turn her ankle to avoid being seen by Margarethe. Iris notices Clara and the prince's interactions and is momentarily jealous. She discusses her feelings with Caspar, who reveals that he was never interested in Clara. Clara and the prince go to a private spot to sit down and Clara finally reveals her beautiful face.
Then, the clock strikes midnight and Clara is forced to flee. Meanwhile, Luykas's prized painting catches fire, thanks to Ruth's misguided attempt to help Luykas get over his insecurity about never painting anything as good. As Clara flees from the ball, she loses a shoe. Later, Margarethe, Iris, and Ruth return from the ball, with Margarethe thinking they are soon to be tossed out into the streets by creditors. Margarethe tells Clara that a beautiful Spanish girl seems to have captured the heart of the prince. The next day, the prince pays a surprise visit to the van den Meer home on the advice of Caspar. He brings along the left-behind shoe, asking all to try it on in order to determine the identity of his princess. Then, Caspar realizes that it was Ruth who burned Luykas's masterpiece, with Ruth admitting that she did it to relieve the artist's suffering. After the shoe doesn't fit Iris or Ruth, Margarethe realizes that it must be Clara's. Margarethe pleads with Clara to take care of her daughters, even if she is cast aside. Before accepting the prince's hand, Clara assures that he will show favor to the people that she loves. As Clara and the prince embrace, Caspar and Iris do likewise. Includes commercials.
(Network varies; this series was also telecast on NBC from 1961 to 1981 and on CBS from 1981 to 1983.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 10, 2002 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:00:05
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:70176
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Fairy tales; Romance
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Clockstoppers" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" home video
- TV - Commercials - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame II" home video
- TV - Commercials - Aflac insurance
- TV - Commercials - Barilla pasta
- TV - Commercials - Bissell vacuums
- TV - Commercials - Campbell's soups
- TV - Commercials - Clarinex allergy relief
- TV - Commercials - Clorox floor mops
- TV - Commercials - Cottonelle toilet tissue
- TV - Commercials - CoverGirl lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Disney kidswear
- TV - Commercials - Fannie Mae Foundation credit information
- TV - Commercials - General Mills Milk 'n Cereal bars
- TV - Commercials - Glade air fresheners
- TV - Commercials - Hometown Buffet restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Johnson's bath oil
- TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's cereal
- TV - Commercials - Kleenex tissues
- TV - Commercials - Liquid-Plumr drain cleaner
- TV - Commercials - MasterCard credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Max Factor lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Mazda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - National Drug Control Policy and Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley board games
- TV - Commercials - Pedigree Little Champions dog food
- TV - Commercials - Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers
- TV - Commercials - Ralph's stores
- TV - Commercials - ReNu contact lens cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Sav-on pharmacies
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless
- TV - Commercials - State Farm Insurance
- TV - Commercials - Super Mario Bros. Game Boy video games
- TV - Commercials - Swiffer WetJet mops
- TV - Commercials - The Home Depot stores
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Volvo automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Walt Disney resort theme parks
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Whiskas cat food
- TV - Commercials - York peppermint patties
- TV - Promos - "According to Jim"
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
- TV - Promos - "Dinotopia"
- TV - Promos - "Eyewitness News"
- TV - Promos - "George Lopez"
- TV - Promos - "My Wife & Kids"
- TV - Promos - "Oprah"
- TV - Promos - "Spin City"
- TV - Promos - "Teamo Supremo"
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Job"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "The Wayne Brady Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: Snow White: The Fairest of Them All"
- TV - Promos - 74th Annual Academy Awards
- TV - Promos - ABC Family
CREDITS
- Peter Sussman … Executive Producer
- Ed Gernon … Executive Producer
- Diana Kerew … Supervising Producer
- Jan Peter Meyboom … Producer
- De Brabant, Jimmy … Co-Producer
- Gavin Millar … Director
- Gene Quintano … Writer
- Gregory Maguire … Based on the novel by
- Cynthia Millar … Music by
- Stockard Channing … Cast, Margarethe ten Broek Fisher van den Meer
- Azura Skye … Cast, Iris Fisher
- Trudie Styler … Cast, Fortune Teller
- Emma Poole … Cast, Ruth Fisher
- Jenna Harrison … Cast, Clara van den Meer
- Jonathan Pryce … Cast, Luykas Schoonmaker
- Matthew Goode … Cast, Caspar
- David Westhead … Cast, Cornelius van den Meer
- Malcolm Tierney … Cast, Van Stolk
- Mark Dexter … Cast, The Prince
- Helen Lindsay … Cast, Dowager Queen
- Janine Horsburgh … Cast, The Tutor
- Anne Comfort … Cast, Dame Proyn
- Chris Bearne … Cast, Doctor
- Pieter Riemens … Cast, Merchant
- Jean-Baptiste Kremer … Cast, Master Servant
- Kitty Cole … Cast, Young Woman