| Director | Andy Tennant |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, fantasy film, romantic comedy |
| Runtime | 121 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $25 million |
| Box office | $98 million |
The Brothers Grimm meet the Grande Dame who expresses her disappointment in their version of Cinderella. She produces her ancestor's portrait and glass slipper as the main reason why she invited them before recounting the true story that partially inspired the tale.
During the French Renaissance, ten years after Auguste de Barbarac dies, his daughter, Danielle has been forced to become a servant to her step-mother, the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent and her step-sisters, Marguerite and Jacqueline. Initially mistaking him for a thief, Danielle has an unexpected confrontation, with Henry, the Crown Prince, as he is attempting to flee in order to avoid an arranged marriage to Princess Gabriella of Spain. Henry gives Danielle 20 francs to keep their interlude secret. He is eventually caught by the Royal Guard after stopping gypsies from robbing Leonardo da Vinci, whom King Francis has invited to the Royal court.
Danielle disguises herself as a noblewoman and uses Henry's bribe to go to the palace to buy back Maurice after Rodmilla plans to ship him to the Americas. Henry witnesses her arguing with the jailer and impressed by Danielle's passion and intelligence, orders the jailer to release Maurice. When he asks for her name, Danielle gives her late mother's name, Countess Nicole de Lancret. Francis agrees to hold a masquerade ball at which Henry will announce his engagement to the woman of his choosing at midnight or else Francis will announce his marriage to Gabriella. Rodmilla accelerates her efforts at getting Henry to notice Marguerite, while being neglectful to Jacqueline. Meanwhile, Danielle begins secretly spending time with Henry. After an outing at the library of the Franciscan monks, a gang of gypsies ambushes them, but they offer to help them when Danielle bids the leader and attempts to carry Henry away. At the gypsy camp, they share their first kiss.
Rodmilla and Marguerite plan to steal Nicole's wedding gown and glass slippers for Marguerite to wear at the ball. When Marguerite insults Nicole, Danielle attacks and chases her. Marguerite retaliates by burning the copy of Utopia that Auguste had given to Danielle. Jacqueline shows sympathy towards Danielle and criticizes Marguerite for her cruelty.
Queen Marie holds a luncheon with Marguerite and Rodmilla, during which the two deduce that Danielle is Countess de Lancret. Danielle meets Henry, who reveals that she has inspired him to build a university. Unable to reveal the truth about her identity, she flees. Rodmilla confronts Danielle about her deception and locks her in the pantry when she does not reveal the whereabouts of the slippers and dress. Gustave does Maurice a favor by going to the ball to recruit Leonardo to help Danielle escape. Leonardo, Gustave, Paulette and Louise prepare Danielle in Nicole's attire which Louise kept hidden prior. Danielle arrives determined to tell Henry the truth, but Rodmilla exposes her. Furious, Henry rejects Danielle, causing her to tearfully flee. Leonardo, whom Danielle briefly encountered, leaves Henry with her lost slipper after repproaching him for his callousness.
Henry agrees to marry Gabriella. During the ceremony, realizing that she also loves someone else who's in attendance, he calls off the wedding and seeks out Danielle until Maurice and Jacqueline inform him that Rodmilla sold her to Pierre Le Pieu following the ball. Henry and Laurent set off to rescue Danielle, only to find that she has freed herself. Henry professes his love for her, and proposes marriage by fitting the slipper onto her foot. Danielle happily accepts.
The Royal court summons Rodmilla, Marguerite, and Jacqueline. As punishment for lying to Marie about Danielle's engagement, Rodmilla is stripped of her title and threatened with exile to the Americas alongside Marguerite, unless someone speaks for her. Danielle appears and instead asks that Rodmilla be shown the same "courtesy" she had shown her. Rodmilla and Marguerite are reduced to servants in the palace laundry.
Danielle and Henry built a university until it was destroyed during the French Revolution except for Danielle's portrait Leonardo painted. The Grande Dame emphasizes that while her great-great-grandparents did live happily ever after, the point is that they lived.