Princess Caraboo (1994) User Reviews (30)

Cute Girl & Story

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 22 April 2007]

Phoebe Cates was very cute in the lead role of "Mary Baker/Princess Cariboo." The story was a nice one, too, with no complaints about inappropriate language or behavior.

Kevin Kline supplies many of the laughs, at least with me. I preferred him over John Lithgow or Jim Broadbent.

This is supposedly based on a true story but I am going to assume they took a lot of liberties with it. Nonetheless, it's a story and a decent for "the whole family," as the cliché goes. However, I think this is mostly appealing to females. I found it pleasant, but more of a "chick flick" than a guy's film. Thus, I doubt I would watch it again, especially knowing the surprise ending.

I definitely recommend this comedy-drama-romance for people who haven't seen it, and for most people who are not adult males.

Entertaining, though what's with the anti-aristocracy line?

[Boris_G · 7/10 · 11 May 2008]

First the obvious plus points. Phoebe Cates is charming, and the character actors (notably Kevin Kline and Jim Broadbent) are all splendid fun; plus there's excellent cinematography from Freddie Francis.

SPOILER ALERT: The film is based on a true story, in which early in the 19th century provincials around Bristol and the West Country in the UK were excited by the apparent appearance of a pretty, oriental princess who had allegedly been kidnapped by pirates and had made her escape to England, where she came under the protection of the Worralls (Mr Worrall being a magistrate - not a banker as portrayed in the film). Eventually, ten weeks later, she was revealed as a fraud - she was in fact a certain Mary Baker - yet Mrs Worrall, whose sympathy Mary kept even after being unmasked, arranged for her to sail to Philadelphia. The film implies that she had been facing the death penalty for her deception, and that she was to enjoy a new life in America. The truth, more prosaically, is that Mary Baker tired of life in the States after seven years and eventually returned to England in the 1820s, where she died in 1865. All this info can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Caraboo and at http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/Princess_Caraboo/

All this rather underlines that the film-makers have taken this curious story and given it a harder spin against the English 'establishment', notably the aristocracy (in the form of the prince regent who is purposely made to look ridiculous, a point underlined as 'Caraboo' is apparently faced with the choice of the noble Irish journalist and the foppish and ridiculously dressed up prince). There's no evidence that the historic Caraboo came within spitting distance of the aristocracy, though the British press of the time gleefully had a field day over the gullibility of the local upper classes of Bristol and the surrounding region. Also I'm afraid the contrast of noble/innocent Irishmen (one of Caraboo's fellow inmates is - surprise, surprise - an innocent Irishman) versus evil English power-that-be (the only sympathetic English person who isn't a servant is Mrs Worrall) is becoming a tired cliché. Pity, because otherwise this is quite an enjoyable film.

Truly attractive cast

[bluecrab22 · 7/10 · 9 February 2009]

I am a straight guy. Not only was this a good story, but the women in this film are beautiful. If you're looking for explicit stuff, go elsewhere, but if you find hints of sexuality a turn-on, there's plenty here. There are some liberties taken with the actual story, but so what? What movie doesn't do that? Princess Caraboo is not a sugar-sweet and syrupy G-rated story, and those looking for fairytale family fare may be taken aback at times.

I am watching the movie for the second time (had to stop part way through last night) and it seems much different this time, as I know what's going to happen. The mystery may be gone, but there's some good laughs and of course, foxiness abounds. I started the reading the book on which this is based, but didn't finish it, at least not yet. Maybe I'll pick it up again, gotta have it around here somewhere.

Kevin Kline does well as a butler, as does Stephen Rea as a journalist. Worth checking out, and if you like early 19th century British period pieces - well, this one is less puffy and ponderous than some.

Well done and sometimes funny, based on fact

[vchimpanzee · 1 September 2003]

This story is set several hundred years ago. A mysterious girl who apparently speaks no English is found begging in the streets. The magistrate wants to put her in jail, but the wife of one of the prominent men of the city wants to take her home to stay with her. Several people are consulted to determine what language the girl speaks, including one language expert played by John Lithgow who is very funny (especially when he tries to speak various languages). The girl doesn't look Asian or Middle Eastern, but if she's faking it (as some suspect) she's doing a good job. She has a tattoo and strange religious customs that provide clues, though the language in which she writes is not known to anyone. It is decided that she is speaking a dialect from Asia.

When she does understand what is going on, she comes across as quite charming. Eventually, it is determined that she must be a princess, and her name seems to be Caraboo.

Phoebe Cates gave a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Whether her character did as well I won't say. You'll just have to watch.

I was worried when the movie wasn't funny at first, but the humor came in large doses after a while, and not the usual type of movie humor. This was quite a sophisticated film considering it often tried to be silly, and the costumes and the settings were very nice. The music was magnificent, whether highbrow classical or period music that sounded more like what ordinary people would enjoy.

Everything about this movie was well done, and while it's not normally the type of movie I would watch, I enjoyed it.

Princess Caraboo

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 2 November 2023]

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.

somewhere between "Gremlins" and "The Anniversary Party"

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 25 October 2007]

I have used some of my IMDb reviews to assert that we as movie audiences need to acknowledge certain actors/actresses - such as Dorothy Provine and Richard Benjamin - more than we presently do. Therefore, I will use my "Princess Caraboo" review to assert that we need to recognize Phoebe Cates more than we do. In case you aren't familiar with the name, she starred in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and the "Gremlins" movies. But this movie constituted one of her most interesting roles. She somehow seems to exactly fit this role of a woman who may or may not be a princess from another part of the world. The whole movie creates an almost mystifying feeling.

Also starring is Cates's husband Kevin Kline (who turned 60 yesterday) as a butler; they later co-starred in 2001's "The Anniversary Party" with their son and daughter. There's also Jim Broadbent and John Lithgow.

Worth seeing.

Duller Than Merchant Ivory Films, and Just as Slow

[quitwastingmytime · 3/10 · 29 April 2021]

Who would have guessed that a film about a con artist could be so boring? Based IRL too.

A Welsh beggar poses as a Javanese princess. She's obviously white, makes up a language from gibberish, and invents a religion and even the island "Javasu." Manages to fool local nobles, a reporter, and a so called scholar. Even the smallest research should have exposed her. She wasn't caught until other poor Welsh from her hometown recognized her.

How do you make that dull? Con artists have had good films made about them starring DiCaprio, Steve Martin, and others. But here, the pacing drags incredibly. Lots of long shots of nobles homes. Dull parties with dull elites rambling.

The film should have featured her real early life, her motives, and the ignorance and cultural stereotypes believed by nobles that let the "princess" fool them so long. Instead we get the least interesting part of the story, with fine actors trapped in it. Even after she's exposed, we get lots of dull talking from these same dull (both boring and stupid) elites, and very little from her.

Lovely and imaginative!

[Lady_Targaryen · 9/10 · 28 November 2005]

Princess Caraboo is one of those films for all ages and with a superb cast.During the King George III's court,beggars and all kinds types of vagrancy were punished with death or prison. Many problems and farces were frequent,making people very suspicious about humble people in general and even foreigners.One day, a beautiful and exotic girl is found walking down the road by two farmers. She is dressed as a beggar, but since she has oriental and noble aspect/manners, and only speaks in a strange language,people stay confuse about her Ancestry, taking her to a judge, where they make the conclusion that her name is Caraboo and she is a princess from an exotic country who was kidnapped by pirates. Being the focus of so many curiosity by the English court and also by the King himself,Caraboo is analyzed by a language professor and the maids who think she is a impostor. Would be a real impostor or a true princess? Got to found out watching this film. :)

Charmless twaddle

[Ripe Peach · 1/10 · 24 March 2001]

Cates is insipid and unconvincing, Kline over-acts as always, as does Lithgow while butchering an English accent (at least, I assume that's what he's attempting), and the tone staggers uneasily between farcical and maudlin. As with most pet projects showcasing a celebrity couple, it's a relief when this shoddy piece grinds to it's forced and jarring conclusion.

Delicate, funny, intriguing, beautiful -- this film is a treasure on many levels. See it!

[Rogue-18 · 10/10 · 22 February 2004]

"Princess Caraboo" is a rare breed of film these days -- aimed at adults, but highly respectful of the human soul and therefore safe for all ages. All viewers should find the historical angle fascinating, lovers of whimsical, offbeat humor will be delighted, "romantics" will be stirred by the powerful ending...and the ravishing color palette of the sets and costumes will enchant those who crave sheer visual beauty.

I personally thought the wonderful ending was handled very well -- it was particularly powerful for being beautifully understated, and did not "take away" from the effectiveness of the story. Because it had been foreshadowed (with great subtlety) throughout the movie, it did not arrive as a shock but rather as a fulfillment.

I must also put in a good word for the glorious music...another home run. See this film. As others have noted, it will stay with you long afterward.

Delightful

[drkjedi1-2 · 10/10 · 18 June 2002]

Wonderful piece and the best role Phoebe Cates has ever had. A sweet and sad tale based on true events, although how close this film is to the truth I do not know. But it is still one of my favorites, I even bought the DVD even though it wasn't in widescreen and had no extras, I just could resist owning this wonderful movie!

For those who love a story

[illusoryjane · 8/10 · 30 July 2004]

"Princess Caraboo" is about the selfish and fashionable endeavors of the aristocracy of 19th century England, about the role of true charity and from whence it comes, and perhaps most of all it is about humankind's fascination with the story. Although we catch glimpses of, and come to care for, the true character of Caraboo (Cates), the movie's namesake serves mainly as a vessel through which the subject of the film can flow.

In this movie a young beggar who speaks no English is taken in by a well-to-do family, and before long they have determined that she is a queen of the Orient. In no time, she is the town's sensation, and if nothing else, living like royalty. Her story attracts the attention of a newspaper man (Mr. Gutch played by Stephen Rea) who, in determinedly trying to discover the truth about Caraboo, falls in love with her. He half hopes the legend is true, half hopes that she's remarkable enough to have made up a story and a language and a manner to fool the very class she'd always been taught to fear and respect.

I liked this movie for many reasons. It must be said that it's decidedly predictable, but such is the case in movies that are not so much concerned with plot as with characters. The question is, are the characters worth making a movie about? They are. Cates is delightful as always, and in such a role in which she scarcely speaks, she has the opportunity to shine and to demonstrate (through action and manner) her ability to act the part. Stephen Rea is never to be outdone, and has a genuine ability to pull off passion in whatever role he plays. The British aristocracy is portrayed as largely grotesque and corrupt and mind-numbingly self-absorbed.

For my part, I always appreciate a movie that doesn't revolve around romance, and though this movie is touched with pieces of romanticism (definitely a chick-flick in certain ways), it's not about the romance. It is instead about how the story completes us, and how compelling the human imagination really is. Despite the moral values the film purports, Princess Caraboo is not didactic and short on sappiness.

I think "Princess Caraboo" is a delightful and beautiful tale, and I recommend it to those who prefer the story to the action, and who like to see the rich get theirs.

I love this film.

[jane-42 · 8/10 · 5 June 2001]

Any film that brings Phoebe Cates 'out of retirement' is already great in my book. This woman is beautiful and talented and I wish she was in every film instead of Jennifer Anniston. Anyway, this is a delightful little fable that also features Jim Broadbent and Kevin Kline, both great comedians, supporting Phoebe Cates. Supposedly based on a true story, this little unseen gem is perfect for the whole family. Well done!

One of my all time favorites!

[indymom810 · 10/10 · 26 January 2004]

A true romance, twisted up in a mystery. Phoebe Cates is luminous and graceful, and the supporting cast is perfectly chosen. Kevin Klines "I speet in your soup" line never fails to crack me up. A perfect combination of romance, comedy, and mystery, all in one little known movie. This movie is a must see!

A Charming Fairy Tale For The Whole Family

[katonahny · 10/10 · 12 September 2004]

This film is a beauty to watch. The scenery, costumes and music are all superb. The acting led by Stephen Rhea and Phoebe Cates was convincing and the entire supporting cast was excellent. It had elements of "My Fair Lady" and Cinderella that made you think you knew where the story was going but the surprise ending was even better than what was hoped for. It is such a pleasure to see a film without violence or bad language. The script was well written and the locales in the west of England were just beautiful. The musical background for the ball scenes was well done and the dancing was charming. This certainly was a "Feel Good" movie and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a romantic escape from the cares of living in the 21st century.

good story

[Aimee Natal · 21 April 2000]

This film is a good story, and you do think more of it once it's ended than you might while watching it. One of the main points is that it is hard to be who you want to be. But it's also hard NOT to be who others think you are. Other than that, it's hard to talk about the actual story without influencing others viewing of it. I saw the film with no knowledge of it other than what was on the back of the video box. That's a good way to go into it. Mr. Gutch (Stephen Rea), the newspaper reporter, isn't who he wants to be. Mrs. Worral, the rich aristocrat who takes the Princess under her wing, isn't who she wants to be. The servants aren't allowed to be anything other than who they are supposed to be. Throughout the film, you see how the Princess inspires others- with jealousy, lust, greed, and also with admiration and love. Good story.

Beautiful, funny and surprisingly thought-provoking

[Lancelot-16 · 10/10 · 21 October 1999]

This is a real gem of a movie. The cast is wonderful. Phoebe Cates' performance is extraordinary -- both funny and moving. At all levels the movie is very well made. But the most surprising thing, for me, was how much I continued to think about the story for days and weeks after seeing the movie. I strongly recommend it.

A delightful film based on a true story!

[ncd · 9/10 · 20 September 1998]

This film has been getting heavy airplay by Showtime for at least the past several weeks, which is a wonderful thing. (I was unable to see the film when it was released in theatres, and have been unable to find it in local video stores.) At any rate, this is a treat for anyone who enjoys the work of Kevin Kline, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Rea, and John Lithgow. Phoebe Cates is enchanting as the mysterious princess, her supporting cast is terrific, without exception, and Caraboo's story is hilarious, romantic, and poignant, all at once.

Charming romantic comedy.

[rcrusk · 8/10 · 9 November 2001]

Phoebe Cates is irresistible as Princess Caraboo. Kevin Kline is great fun as Frixos and I liked Stephen Rea as Gutch. This was a delightful and refreshing film. It's not easy to find in video stores, but ask for it. Films that are fun for the whole family are rare, but this is one.

That rarity - an excellent film for adults and children

[pjpaix · 8/10 · 26 September 1998]

If you're looking for an evening of video watching with your family, you'll love being transported to another time and place with this film. The cast is phenomenal - Phoebe Cates is perfectly, and beautifully, mysterious. Is Kevin Kline capable of a bad performance? Lithgow's British accent is superb. When it was over, our kids wanted to talk about the movie. Then, after they went to bed, my wife and I found ourselves talking about it. What higher praise can I give a family film?

Loved it

[mohawkmoon-114-329992 · 10/10 · 22 April 2022]

Ten stars is probably too much, but I would have given it 5 out of 5.

Other reviewers have said enough good things about it. It is a slow one. Phoebe Cates masters her role, so if you're a fan it's worth the watch.

I was sold on the mysterious princess identity until her real past was discovered late in the film. That thigh tattoo is what sold me. And that is the plot hole -- the movie never resolves where she got that East Asian thigh tattoo? (And, how many more did she have?) Before the tattoo, I was starting to think maybe she was autistic? (Refusing to speak except in her own invented language - high functioning autism is a possible diagnosis.) Before the reveal, I was sold on her believing that she was a princess, if not a real one. I only just saw it, 28 years after its release and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Timeless Classic

[mentoringme · 10/10 · 4 May 2021]

There aren't many films that stay with you for decades but this one stayed with me. Last night, I spent an hour looking for something to watch and suddenly the title of this film popped into my head. I fed it into the search field and... lo and behold. You can watch it on tubi with commercials... that come with a tasteful advance warning.

This period/costume drama takes place in Regency England, based on a true story about a poverty stricken woman who concocts an exotic identity that fools an entire village into believing she is an "oriental princess."

Phoebe Cates is lovely in this role. I'm not all that familiar with her other work, but here she stands out as a mysterious and engaging character. Other very fine performances from Kevin Kline, Jim Broadbent, Wendy Hughes, John Lithgow, and Stephen Rea. An all star cast at the top of their game.

Production values, costumes, sets, make up, are all outstanding and so is the musical score.

Sometimes you wonder what audiences really want when a gem like this gets passed over as second rate? If you're looking for "sex and violence" don't look here! Something for the whole family to enjoy and learn a little bit of history on the side.

An excellent film, brilliantly written and directed.

A Wonderful Film with only one flaw

[curtis-8 · 18 April 2000]

"Princess Caraboo" is a wonderful, almost perfect film in the old-fashioned mode. It should have made Phoebe Cates a major star--but unfortunately (and mysteriously) she is still best known as the girl Judge Reinhold thinks about in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

The movie is based on the true story of a mysterious girl who convinced a bunch of 19th century upper British Class men she was an Oriental princess. I'll leave the question as to whether she actually is or not up for you to find out. The performances, writing and direction are uniformly first rate, even magical in that old movie way. Unfortunately, the filmmakers tacked on a completely unearned and unwarrented "romantic" ending that mars the film. Not only does the romantic pairing of two main characters stretch believability, it is also SO OBVIOUSLY tacked on after the fact that it disrupts the flow of the film, almost ruining what had come before. I can't tell you what the ending is without ruining what pleasure the film will bring you when you see it, but I can say that it doesn't even make sense.

Nice drama

[sonofhades · 8/10 · 23 July 2001]

I saw this film on a long bus trip on video and have to admit that it was a drama movie to my liking.

I would like to recommend this one to anyone who likes good quality, historical drama.

Where we came from

[roedyg · 8/10 · 2 November 2006]

This is a fun story. It is best if you don't know ahead of time that Princess Caraboo is a fake, since they tease you back and forth trying to decide.

The movie is fun watching her effect on others, particularly the John Lithgow character. Everyone wants to spin their private fantasies around her, but of course deny everything. The deceit tickles.

Of course the fake Caraboo can act her part with a perfectly straight face. She is a professional actor, equally capable of playing Mary Baker or Princess Caraboo.

The law of the time was so harsh, unfair and arbitrary. It pretty well amounted to the whim of whomever had money. Beggars were jailed for three months or hanged. It intrudes harshly into the fizzy movie several times.

Princess Caraboo develops into a Scherezade-like character, who captivates with her stories. People want to believe her stories simply because they are beautiful. For the first part of the movie, Caraboo captivates the audience with her gentle mimes.