The Swan Princess
Encyclopedia
The Swan Princess is a 1994 American animated film based on the ballet "Swan Lake
". Starring the voice talents of Jack Palance
, John Cleese
, Steven Wright
, and Sandy Duncan
, the film is directed by a former Disney animation director, Richard Rich
, with a music score by Lex de Azevedo
. The film was followed by two direct-to-video sequels: The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
(1997) and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
(1998).
) who has a daughter named Odette (Michelle Nicastro
/Liz Callaway
). His friend, the widowed Queen Uberta (Sandy Duncan
) decide to have Odette and the Queen's son, Prince Derek (Adam Wylie
/Howard McGillin
), meet every summer with hopes they'd fall in love, so as to unite their kingdoms as one. At first, while Odette and Derek are still children, this fails to work, miserably, as hanging out together was not their "idea of fun". Years pass, and Odette and Derek reach young adulthood. During this time, the two finally begin to fall in love. However, during a royal ball, Derek expresses his wish to marry her for just her looks, which upsets Odette into rejecting him again. She leaves the next day with her father, but en route, they are attacked by Rothbart (Jack Palance
), an evil sorcerer who desires William's kingdom for himself. He kidnaps Odette and fatally injures William; Derek, alerted to the situation, arrives on the scene, where William tells him "It's not what it seems..." before dying. Despite Uberta's efforts to find another princess for her son to marry, Derek becomes determined to find Odette.
Elsewhere, Rothbart has taken Odette to his castle lair at Swan Lake and casts a spell on her that makes her turn into a swan during the day and a human again during the night. The spell can only be broken by a vow of everlasting love. He asks her to marry him every night, but she always refuses. During her captivity, Odette befriends an old Turtle named Speed (Steven Wright
), a frog named Jean-Bob (John Cleese
), and Puffin (Steve Vinovich
), a puffin
bird. Puffin, after learning about the workings of Rothbart's spell, devises a plan to reunite Odette with Derek. Together with Puffin, Odette finds Derek, who has gone searching for her with his friend Bromley (Joel McKinnon Miller
). However, he mistakes her for the "Great Animal," a bat-like monster that King William had told him about before his death, and tries to kill her. The ensuing chase leads Derek to Swan Lake, where he witnesses Odette change from swan to human. The two share a happy reunion, but almost immediately, Rothbart comes calling. At Odette's urging, Derek leaves with the hopes of meeting her at a ball being held by Uberta. Unfortunately, Rothbart finds Derek's bow (which Derek left behind), and has Odette, in swan form, imprisoned within the castle dungeon. He then plans to send Bridget (his hag sidekick), disguised as Odette, to the ball instead. Rothbart has also found Bromley, whom he has thrown in the dungeon with Odette.
Odette's friends free her, but when she gets to the ball, she sees that she has been replaced and tries to warn Derek. However, she is unable to, partly due to Bridget's attempts to keep Derek from seeing her, and Derek makes the vow to Bridget. Rothbart then arrives and reveals his plans to Derek. Desperate to save Odette, Derek races to Swan Lake, while Odette flies back to the lake as Rothbart's curse drains her life force. Derek arrives too late, and Odette dies in his arms, though not before she admits her true romantic love for him. Derek confronts Rothbart, demanding that he not let Odette die. To Derek's surprise, Rothbart is revealed to be the Great Animal (Frank Welker
) that King William had mentioned previously before his own death. An intense battle ensues, with Rothbart overpowering Derek and nearly killing him. Fortunately, Odette's animal friends return Derek's longbow to him, and Bromley, who has escaped from his earlier imprisonment, provides Derek with a single arrow. Derek catches the arrow and seemingly kills Rothbart by firing it straight-and-true into his heart.
With Rothbart seemingly gone, his spell on Odette is broken, and when Derek says that he really and truly does love her, she is revived. The two are soon married, and they live happily ever after, with Odette reclaiming Rothbart's castle as their new home.
The critical response to The Swan Princess was mixed. Currently, the film has a "C" grade at Box Office Mojo
. As of 2010, Rotten Tomatoes
has a 44% ("rotten") score, based on 8 reviews. One of its three "fresh" ratings there was from Roger Ebert
(three out of four stars).
.
and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
. The sequels are alternately titled The Secret of the Castle and The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure respectively in certain European DVD releases. Both sequels deal with the heroes having to face two other evil magic-wielders: the crazy yet comical wizard Clavius (Swan II), and the wicked witch Zelda (Swan III) — both of whom were/are former allies of Rothbart (and both of whom Rothbart betrayed). Most of the main voice cast did not return for the sequels, save for the late Michelle Nicastro
, who reprised her role as Odette, and Steve Vinovich
, who reprised his role as Puffin. Each sequel reprises some instrumental scoring from the original film by Lex de Azevedo together with all new songs and music by Lex de Azevedo and Clive Romney. Similarly occasional background and animation sequence art from the original Swan Princess film was reused when applicable but most was created new for each sequel. Swan Princess II animation features hand-painted cels like the original film but Swan III has digitally-painted cels. Overseas production for all three films was by Hanho Heung-Up Co., Seoul, South Korea.
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
". Starring the voice talents of Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
, John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, Steven Wright
Steven Wright
Steven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
, and Sandy Duncan
Sandy Duncan
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
, the film is directed by a former Disney animation director, Richard Rich
Richard Rich (director)
Richard Rich is an American film director, producer and writer known for his work in animation. He is president of Crest Animation Productions. Unlike most animation directors Rich has never worked as animator on a film....
, with a music score by Lex de Azevedo
Lex de Azevedo
Alexis "Lex" de Azevedo is an American Mormon composer, song writer, pianist and singer known primarily for his film scores and his work on the LDS musical Saturday's Warrior.-Biography:...
. The film was followed by two direct-to-video sequels: The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain is the first sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess. It was directed by Richard Rich and released in 1997....
(1997) and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess III and the Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure is the second and final sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess...
(1998).
Plot
The film begins with an aging king named William (Dakin MatthewsDakin Matthews
Dakin Matthews is an American actor with a long history of work in film, television and theater. He is also a playwright, director, and theatrical scholar.-Life and career:...
) who has a daughter named Odette (Michelle Nicastro
Michelle Nicastro
Michelle Nicastro was an American actress and singer.-Life and career:Nicastro was born in Washington D.C., the daughter of Carole Rose and Norman Joseph Nicastro, who was an ophthalmologist...
/Liz Callaway
Liz Callaway
Liz Callaway is an American actress and singer, famous for providing the singing voices of many female characters in films, such as Anya in Anastasia, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Kiara in The Lion King II:Simba's Pride....
). His friend, the widowed Queen Uberta (Sandy Duncan
Sandy Duncan
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
) decide to have Odette and the Queen's son, Prince Derek (Adam Wylie
Adam Wylie
Adam Augustus Wylie is an American television and motion picture actor, as well as a Broadway musical performer and a former Crayola spokesman.-Early life:...
/Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin is a Tony-nominated stage, screen and television actor, perhaps best-known for being the world's longest running Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera....
), meet every summer with hopes they'd fall in love, so as to unite their kingdoms as one. At first, while Odette and Derek are still children, this fails to work, miserably, as hanging out together was not their "idea of fun". Years pass, and Odette and Derek reach young adulthood. During this time, the two finally begin to fall in love. However, during a royal ball, Derek expresses his wish to marry her for just her looks, which upsets Odette into rejecting him again. She leaves the next day with her father, but en route, they are attacked by Rothbart (Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
), an evil sorcerer who desires William's kingdom for himself. He kidnaps Odette and fatally injures William; Derek, alerted to the situation, arrives on the scene, where William tells him "It's not what it seems..." before dying. Despite Uberta's efforts to find another princess for her son to marry, Derek becomes determined to find Odette.
Elsewhere, Rothbart has taken Odette to his castle lair at Swan Lake and casts a spell on her that makes her turn into a swan during the day and a human again during the night. The spell can only be broken by a vow of everlasting love. He asks her to marry him every night, but she always refuses. During her captivity, Odette befriends an old Turtle named Speed (Steven Wright
Steven Wright
Steven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
), a frog named Jean-Bob (John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
), and Puffin (Steve Vinovich
Steve Vinovich
-Biography:Vinovich was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Jennie J. , a secretary, and Stephen J. Vinovich, an insurance salesman.-Filmography:*Cold Case *8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter...
), a puffin
Puffin
Puffins are any of three small species of auk in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among...
bird. Puffin, after learning about the workings of Rothbart's spell, devises a plan to reunite Odette with Derek. Together with Puffin, Odette finds Derek, who has gone searching for her with his friend Bromley (Joel McKinnon Miller
Joel McKinnon Miller
Joel McKinnon Miller, or sometimes credited as Joel McKinnon, is an American film and television actor who has been living in Los Angeles since 1991. His most significant role is that of Don Embry on HBO's drama series Big Love.-Life and career:...
). However, he mistakes her for the "Great Animal," a bat-like monster that King William had told him about before his death, and tries to kill her. The ensuing chase leads Derek to Swan Lake, where he witnesses Odette change from swan to human. The two share a happy reunion, but almost immediately, Rothbart comes calling. At Odette's urging, Derek leaves with the hopes of meeting her at a ball being held by Uberta. Unfortunately, Rothbart finds Derek's bow (which Derek left behind), and has Odette, in swan form, imprisoned within the castle dungeon. He then plans to send Bridget (his hag sidekick), disguised as Odette, to the ball instead. Rothbart has also found Bromley, whom he has thrown in the dungeon with Odette.
Odette's friends free her, but when she gets to the ball, she sees that she has been replaced and tries to warn Derek. However, she is unable to, partly due to Bridget's attempts to keep Derek from seeing her, and Derek makes the vow to Bridget. Rothbart then arrives and reveals his plans to Derek. Desperate to save Odette, Derek races to Swan Lake, while Odette flies back to the lake as Rothbart's curse drains her life force. Derek arrives too late, and Odette dies in his arms, though not before she admits her true romantic love for him. Derek confronts Rothbart, demanding that he not let Odette die. To Derek's surprise, Rothbart is revealed to be the Great Animal (Frank Welker
Frank Welker
Franklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
) that King William had mentioned previously before his own death. An intense battle ensues, with Rothbart overpowering Derek and nearly killing him. Fortunately, Odette's animal friends return Derek's longbow to him, and Bromley, who has escaped from his earlier imprisonment, provides Derek with a single arrow. Derek catches the arrow and seemingly kills Rothbart by firing it straight-and-true into his heart.
With Rothbart seemingly gone, his spell on Odette is broken, and when Derek says that he really and truly does love her, she is revived. The two are soon married, and they live happily ever after, with Odette reclaiming Rothbart's castle as their new home.
Voice cast
- Michelle NicastroMichelle NicastroMichelle Nicastro was an American actress and singer.-Life and career:Nicastro was born in Washington D.C., the daughter of Carole Rose and Norman Joseph Nicastro, who was an ophthalmologist...
as Odette, a princess who transforms into a swanMute SwanThe Mute Swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less...
during the day time. Liz CallawayLiz CallawayLiz Callaway is an American actress and singer, famous for providing the singing voices of many female characters in films, such as Anya in Anastasia, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Kiara in The Lion King II:Simba's Pride....
provides her singing voice. - Howard McGillinHoward McGillinHoward McGillin is a Tony-nominated stage, screen and television actor, perhaps best-known for being the world's longest running Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera....
as Derek, the son of Uberta. Adam WylieAdam WylieAdam Augustus Wylie is an American television and motion picture actor, as well as a Broadway musical performer and a former Crayola spokesman.-Early life:...
and J.D. Daniels provide young Derek's singing voices. - Jack PalanceJack PalanceJack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
as Rothbart, a sorcerer who casts a spell against Odette. Lex de AzevedoLex de AzevedoAlexis "Lex" de Azevedo is an American Mormon composer, song writer, pianist and singer known primarily for his film scores and his work on the LDS musical Saturday's Warrior.-Biography:...
, the film's composer, provides Rothbart's singing voice. - John CleeseJohn CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
as Jean-Bob, a frogFrogFrogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. David ZippelDavid ZippelDavid Joel Zippel is an American musical theatre lyricist.-Biography:Zippel was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a 1976 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he wrote a "bizarre political musical" called Rotunda...
provides his singing voice. - Steven WrightSteven WrightSteven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
as Speed, a turtleTurtleTurtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
. Jonathan HadaryJonathan HadaryJonathan Hadary is an American actor.Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Hadary arrived at Tufts University already an accomplished actor. He was promptly cast by every director at Tufts, both student and faculty. During his sophomore year, he became an understudy for the...
provides Speed's singing voice. - Steve VinovichSteve Vinovich-Biography:Vinovich was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Jennie J. , a secretary, and Stephen J. Vinovich, an insurance salesman.-Filmography:*Cold Case *8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter...
as PuffinAtlantic PuffinThe Atlantic Puffin is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is its brightly coloured bill... - Sandy DuncanSandy DuncanSandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
as Queen Uberta, Derek's mother. - Dakin MatthewsDakin MatthewsDakin Matthews is an American actor with a long history of work in film, television and theater. He is also a playwright, director, and theatrical scholar.-Life and career:...
as King William, Odette's father. - Mark HarelikMark HarelikMark Harelik is an American television, film, and stage actor, as well as a playwright.-Career:Harelik has appeared in the films Election, Jurassic Park III and For Your Consideration; He was the voice of Rogers in The Swan Princess, and he has played parts on the television sitcoms Seinfeld,...
as Lord Rogers - Joel McKinnon MillerJoel McKinnon MillerJoel McKinnon Miller, or sometimes credited as Joel McKinnon, is an American film and television actor who has been living in Los Angeles since 1991. His most significant role is that of Don Embry on HBO's drama series Big Love.-Life and career:...
as Bromley. Wes Brewer provides his singing voice. - James ArringtonJames ArringtonJames Arrington is an American stage actor, director, playwright and scholar. His plays are about the people or the culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
as the Chamberlain. Davis GainesDavis GainesDavis Gaines is a stage actor.He has performed as the Phantom in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera more than 2000 times, on Broadway, in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco. In the latter location, he won the Bay Area Critics' Award for Best Actor. He performed in the roll for...
provides the Chamberlain's singing voice. - Brian Nissen as the narrator
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
as the alligatorAlligatorAn alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s
Musical numbers
- This Is My Idea
- Practice, Practice, Practice
- Far Longer than Forever
- No Fear
- No More Mr. Nice Guy (Trivia: As this song starts in the movie (52 minutes, 19 seconds in), the number "6.8" is briefly seen as Rothbart splits the ground under the hag's feet)
- No Fear (Reprise) (Featured only in the film between "Princesses on Parade")
- Princesses on Parade
- Far Longer than Forever (End Titles) - Regina BelleRegina BelleRegina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
and Jeffrey OsborneJeffrey OsborneJeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:... - Eternity (End Titles) - Dreams Come True
Theatrical
The Swan Princess received U.S. theatrical release on November 18 1994, and only made $2,445,155 on its opening weekend. It eventually had a total domestic gross of $9,771,658.The critical response to The Swan Princess was mixed. Currently, the film has a "C" grade at Box Office Mojo
Box Office Mojo
Box Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way. Brandon Gray started the site in 1999. In 2002, Gray partnered with Sean Saulsbury and they grew the site to nearly two million readers when, in July 2008, the company was purchased by Amazon.com through...
. As of 2010, Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
has a 44% ("rotten") score, based on 8 reviews. One of its three "fresh" ratings there was from Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
(three out of four stars).
Home video
The Swan Princess was originally released on home video on August 3, 1995, and sold over 2.5 million units. In certain European countries, the full The Swan Princess trilogy was released in a 2-disc double-sided set on February 16, 2004. On March 30, 2004 the film was re-released to mark its 10-year anniversary, with a new cover for the video and Special Edition DVD. The Special Edition DVD contains a few extras, including trailers, a read-along feature, a sing-along feature and games. On August 2, 2005, The Swan Princess was released as a double-feature DVD with its sequel The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted KingdomThe Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess III and the Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure is the second and final sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess...
.
Popularity
A Filipino version of The Swan Princess was released on April 12, 2011 through "Summer Super Sine" on TV5 for the benefit of the Philippine audience.Sequels
Two sequels were made to the Swan Princess movie: The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle MountainThe Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain is the first sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess. It was directed by Richard Rich and released in 1997....
and The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom
The Swan Princess III and the Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure is the second and final sequel to the animated film The Swan Princess...
. The sequels are alternately titled The Secret of the Castle and The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure respectively in certain European DVD releases. Both sequels deal with the heroes having to face two other evil magic-wielders: the crazy yet comical wizard Clavius (Swan II), and the wicked witch Zelda (Swan III) — both of whom were/are former allies of Rothbart (and both of whom Rothbart betrayed). Most of the main voice cast did not return for the sequels, save for the late Michelle Nicastro
Michelle Nicastro
Michelle Nicastro was an American actress and singer.-Life and career:Nicastro was born in Washington D.C., the daughter of Carole Rose and Norman Joseph Nicastro, who was an ophthalmologist...
, who reprised her role as Odette, and Steve Vinovich
Steve Vinovich
-Biography:Vinovich was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Jennie J. , a secretary, and Stephen J. Vinovich, an insurance salesman.-Filmography:*Cold Case *8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter...
, who reprised his role as Puffin. Each sequel reprises some instrumental scoring from the original film by Lex de Azevedo together with all new songs and music by Lex de Azevedo and Clive Romney. Similarly occasional background and animation sequence art from the original Swan Princess film was reused when applicable but most was created new for each sequel. Swan Princess II animation features hand-painted cels like the original film but Swan III has digitally-painted cels. Overseas production for all three films was by Hanho Heung-Up Co., Seoul, South Korea.
External links
- The Swan Princess - Official website at Sony Pictures