Princess Caraboo

1994

1h 37m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

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16 Images

Comedy

Drama

History

Mystery

Bristol, England, early 19th century. A beautiful young stranger who speaks a weird language is tried for the crime of begging. But when a man claims that he can translate her dialect, it is understood that the woman is a princess from a far away land. She is then welcomed by a family of haughty aristocrats that only wants to heighten their prestige. However, the local reporter is not at all convinced she is what she claims to be and investigates. Is Caraboo really a princess?

Directors

Michael Austin

Writers

Michael Austin(writer by)

John Wells(writer by)

Stars

Jim Broadbent

Phoebe Cates

Wendy Hughes

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Videos2

Trailer
Watch Official UK Re-Release Trailer
Trailer
Watch PRINCESS CARABOO Trailer

Photos16

Top cast

Mr. Worrall

Princess Caraboo …

Mrs. Worrall

Frixos

Professor Wilkinson

Gutch

Lord Apthorpe

Lady Apthorpe

Magistrate Haythorne

Reverend Hunt

Amon McCarthy

Prince Regent

Betty

Ella

Ship's Captain

Lady Neville

Mrs. Peake

Mrs. Benson

Directors

Michael Austin

Writers

Michael Austin(writer by)

John Wells(writer by)

All cast & crew

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Review

Featured review

6/10

Phoebe Cates is quite charming here as the enigmatic young woman who appears, very much like a fish out of water, in a Georgian English village. She's clearly not a local, and is heading for jail for begging before a supposed "interpreter" steps in claiming that he can understand her dialect and stating that she is really the eponymous character from a land far, far away.... The local "Worrall" landowners love the idea and embrace her. Not for her sake, of course, but because it adds kudos to their middle-ranking existence with the "county set". Thing is, is she actually a princess or is she just riding the wave - and a wave not necessarily of her own making? Despite the assembling of a strong cast here, the film flows a bit like treacle uphill. It looks great, the costumes and stately homes complemented by a suitably grand Richard Hartley score work well, but somehow the whole thing just lacks spirit. Jim Broadbent tries his best, but John Lithgow and Kevin Kline seem here to be seen in an English period drama rather than because either have anything much to contribute to the unremarkably crafted screenplay. It's an intriguing story - but little of that intrigue comes across here as this disappoints, slowly, more than it dazzles. Pity.

Geronimo196702 Nov, 2023