Dougray Scott Princess Caraboo

Film Credits
Directed by: Michael Austin
Written by: Michael Austin and John Wells
Studio: TriStar Pictures

Cast

Princess Caraboo..........	Phoebe Cates
Mrs. Worrall.................	Wendy Hughes
Mr. Worrall....................	Jim Broadbent
Frixos...................... ......	Kevin Kline
Professor Wilkinson........	John Lithgow
Gutch.............................	Stephen Rea
Prince Regent.................	John Sessions
Dragoon Captain............	Dougray Scott

Princess Caraboo mesmerized by music

Synopsis In 1817 England, during a period of general unrest among the poor, a beautiful young woman mysteriously appears in a small village. Wearing a turban and speaking a language no one has heard before, the exotic stranger, whose name seems to be Caraboo, completely baffles everyone she meets. When a Dragoon Captain (Dougray Scott) suspects she is a vagrant and
	a fraud, the Reverend Hunt takes pity on her and delivers her to the home of local aristocrats, Mr. and Mrs. Worrall. At first, Mr. Worrall will have nothing to do with the stranger, and sends her off to jail for vagrancy. There, the young woman manages to convey to the magestrate and Mrs. Worrall, that she is a Princess from a far off land. Mrs. Worrall then takes her back to her estate where
the graceful, self-assured, and regal-like young woman, captures the imagination of the local aristrocratics. Her introduction into society, brings her to the attention of several skeptics, including newspaperman, John Gutch. He suspects she might be a fraud and begins to investigate her origins, while falling under her spell as well.

Is this young woman a real Princess or a fraud? Is this a true story or a screenwriter's fancy? Watch the movie and delight in discovering the answers for yourself.

This 1994 romantic comedy is rated PG.

Dougray Scott as the Dragoon Captain

Frixos (Kevin Kline) and Princess Caraboo (Phoebe Cates)
Kevin Kline (Frixos) and Phoebe Cates (Caraboo)

Trailers

Windows Media Player: 28k

Current Results

My Rating
I give this film a 5 out of 5 on my 'Scotsmen Film Rating Scale'.

My Review
I love this film. It's entertaining, historically accurate regarding the society of the day, well written with beautiful costumes, and the acting of the entire cast is wonderful. Phoebe Cates makes the mysterious Princess believable and appealing Wendy Hughes plays the very kind and gullible Mrs. Worrall who remains fond of the Princess to the very end. Stephen Rea portrays newspaperman Gutch as a bittersweet creature, torn between the truth and true love. Jim Broadbent plays the nouveau riche Mr. Worrall and makes his character an antagonist for which you are happy when he gets his comeuppance. Kevin Kline as the Greek butler, Frixos, steals most every scene he is in and John Lithgow as Professor Wilkinson shows off his wonderful comedic talent. Although the Dragoon Captain is a minor character, Dougray Scott displays his wonderfully huge talent in this small role.

Favorite Scenes
Before I was even aware that Dougray was in this movie, I loved the scene where his character makes a grab at the Princess to discern if she was in fact a 'she'. Then later, at the ball where the Princess meets the Captain again, she returns the 'favor'!

Toward the end, after she's been 'discovered', Frixos and the maids give Caraboo a toast in absentia for being 'our princess'.

Photos
Click here for additional photo captures of Dougray Scott from "Princess Caraboo".

Trivia
This movie is based on a true story and as such, affected the fashion style during the Regency period with society women wearing turbans.

Click here to read more about the real Princess Caraboo.

In the film, it's actually revealed that Dougray's character the 'Dragoon Captain' has a name and a different military rank other than Captain. Do you know what they are? (Click and drag your mouse pointer over the empty space below to reveal the answers.)

Name: Charles Gordon
Rank: Leuitenant

Princess Caraboo's real name has been reported as Mary Baker and Mary Willcocks.

Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline are married in real life. According to Mr. Kline, "...she does bite me in this film, so I suppose that constitutes something of a love scene in a strange way"*.

* from the Princess Caraboo Press Kit

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