IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise and flee the kingdom so she won't have to marry the king who happens to be her father.A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise and flee the kingdom so she won't have to marry the king who happens to be her father.A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise and flee the kingdom so she won't have to marry the king who happens to be her father.
- Awards
- 1 win
Henri Crémieux
- Le chef des médecins
- (as Henri Cremieux)
Sacha Pitoëff
- Le premier ministre (The Minister)
- (as Sacha Pitoeff)
Jean Servais
- Le récitant
- (voice)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDonkey Skin (1970) proved to be Jacques Demy's biggest success in France with a total of 2,198,576 admissions. In France, the film is considered a cult classic. It was Demy's top box office hit of all his work.
- Quotes
La princesse: Poetry deranges you, Father.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jacquot of Nantes (1991)
Featured review
Charming, light-hearted fun
The fairy tale on which this colorful musical is based might not seem the most promising story for a light-hearted movie: as the story begins, a dying queen makes her husband promise that his next wife will be as beautiful as she, and his solution is to marry his own daughter. Fortunately, our heroine has a savvy confidante, the marcel-waved fairy godmother, whose worldly advice allows the girl to keep putting off the marriage. Finally, however, the princess has to flee her kingdom and, in a Cinderella twist, disguise herself as a lowly scullion. Fortunately, even covered in a donkey's skin, she manages to win the heart of a prince.
An enjoyably tongue-in-cheek combination of music, humor, and romance, this film features some of the most splendidly over-the-top costumes I've ever seen, and an adorable soft-focus, slow-motion duet between the two young lovers (with hilariously anachronistic lyrics). Actor Jean Marais, who distinguished himself in a very different fairy tale film --Cocteau's -La Belle et la Bete- --makes a distinguished if warped king, and Catherine Deneuve charms as she bakes a cake while singing the recipe--and daintily keeping her ruffled sleeves out of the batter. The fairy godmother is probably the most enjoyable character, a modish lady in high heels who has her own ideas about the king's proper romantic destiny. A plus for tourists is that much of the film takes place in actual French castles, including the one with the famous double-helix staircase.
Those who prefer a darker slant to fairy tales may enjoy reading Robin McKinley's novel -Deerskin-, based on the same story. But if -The Slipper and the Rose- is more your speed, or if you want something appropriate for all ages, track down -Donkey Skin-. Just be prepared if your daughter demands a dress the color of the moon next Halloween.
An enjoyably tongue-in-cheek combination of music, humor, and romance, this film features some of the most splendidly over-the-top costumes I've ever seen, and an adorable soft-focus, slow-motion duet between the two young lovers (with hilariously anachronistic lyrics). Actor Jean Marais, who distinguished himself in a very different fairy tale film --Cocteau's -La Belle et la Bete- --makes a distinguished if warped king, and Catherine Deneuve charms as she bakes a cake while singing the recipe--and daintily keeping her ruffled sleeves out of the batter. The fairy godmother is probably the most enjoyable character, a modish lady in high heels who has her own ideas about the king's proper romantic destiny. A plus for tourists is that much of the film takes place in actual French castles, including the one with the famous double-helix staircase.
Those who prefer a darker slant to fairy tales may enjoy reading Robin McKinley's novel -Deerskin-, based on the same story. But if -The Slipper and the Rose- is more your speed, or if you want something appropriate for all ages, track down -Donkey Skin-. Just be prepared if your daughter demands a dress the color of the moon next Halloween.
helpful•246
- Oriel
- Apr 19, 2000
- How long is Donkey Skin?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $59,337
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Sound mix
- Mono(original version)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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