A Cinderella Story (2004)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Mark Rosman

Writer (WGA):

Leigh Dunlap (written by)

Release Date:

16 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Romance

Tagline:

Once upon a time... can happen any time.

Plot:

Routinely exploited by her wicked stepmother, the downtrodden Sam Montgomery is excited about the prospect of meeting her Internet beau at the school's Halloween dance.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Halloween | Cinderella | Internet | Cinderella Story

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14	9:00 PM	OXYGEN
Sat. Nov. 14	11:00 PM	OXYGEN

Cast

Hilary Duff	...	Sam Montgomery
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Fiona
Chad Michael Murray	...	Austin Ames
Dan Byrd	...	Carter Farrell
Regina King	...	Rhonda
Julie Gonzalo	...	Shelby Cummings
Lin Shaye	...	Mrs. Wells
Madeline Zima	...	Brianna
Andrea Avery	...	Gabriella
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Eleanor
Paul Rodriguez	...	Bobby
Whip Hubley	...	Hal Montgomery
Kevin Kilner	...	Andy Ames
Erica Hubbard	...	Madison
Simon Helberg	...	Terry Anderson
Brad Bufanda	...	David
J.D. Pardo	...	Ryan (as JD Pardo)
Aimee-Lynn Chadwick	...	Campus D.J. (as Aimee Lynn Chadwick)
Kady Cole	...	Caitlin
Hannah Robinson	...	Young Sam Montgomery
Josh Prince	...	Swim Coach
Art LaFleur	...	Football Coach (as Art La Fleur)
James Eckhouse	...	Mr. Farrell
Jonathan Slavin	...	Vernon
John Billingsley	...	Mr. Rothman
Lilli Babb	...	Young Gabriella
Carlie Westerman	...	Young Brianna
Mike Randleman	...	Chuck
Christie Herring	...	Bachelorette #1
Lindsay Hollister	...	Bachelorette #2
Taylor Hoover	...	Beautiful Bachelorette
Brittany Weber	...	Bachelorette
Darryl Sivad	...	District Attorney
Rita Bland	...	Rollerskating Waitress #1 (as Rita Maye Bland)
Keli Murphy	...	Rollerskating Waitress #2
Alexis Raich	...	Girl at Car Wash
Sabin Rich	...	Locker Guy
Sandra McCoy	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #1
Julianne Waters	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #2
Karen Elmore	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #3
Stella Choe	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #4
Jessie Rice-Holiday	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #5
Cricket Hamar	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #6
Shannon Novak	...	Cheerleader / Dancer #7
Oscar Orosco	...	Fighting Frog Mascot
Jason Beitel	...	Halloween Dancer
Kato Bonner	...	Halloween Dancer
Carol Borjas	...	Halloween Dancer
Reshma Gajjar	...	Halloween Dancer
Molly Gosline	...	Halloween Dancer
Hunter Hamilton	...	Halloween Dancer
Richard Jackson	...	Halloween Dancer
Trey Knight	...	Halloween Dancer
Jonathan Ritter	...	Halloween Dancer
Jenny Seeger	...	Halloween Dancer
Becca Sweitzer	...	Halloween Dancer
Melanie A. Gage	...	Dancer (as Melanie Gage)
Jolene Riella	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elle Bennett	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Jason Dottley	...	Voice (uncredited)
Joe Jagatic	...	Wedding Photographer (uncredited)
Lon Michael Lee	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tarah Paige	...	Featured Dancer (uncredited)
Rory Thost	...	Young Carter Farrell (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	...	Dad at Carwash (uncredited)
Toni Wynne	...	Kitty (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Rosman

Writing credits (WGA)
Leigh Dunlap		(written by)

Produced by
Susan Duff	....	co-executive producer
Keith Giglio	....	executive producer
Ilyssa Goodman	....	producer
Peter Greene	....	executive producer
Hunt Lowry	....	producer
Michael I. Rachmil	....	executive producer (as Michael Rachmil)
Troy Rowland	....	associate producer
Dylan Sellers	....	producer
Clifford Werber	....	producer

Original Music by
Christophe Beck

Cinematography by
Anthony B. Richmond

Film Editing by
Cara Silverman

Casting by
Sarah Finn		(as Sarah Halley Finn)
Randi Hiller

Production Design by
Charles Breen

Art Direction by
Gary Diamond

Set Decoration by
Jeffrey Kushon

Costume Design by
Denise Wingate

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	key hair stylist
Jennifer Aspinall	....	makeup artist: Jennifer Coolidge (as Jennifer Aspinal)
Sean Flanigan	....	hair stylist
Lydia Milars	....	makeup department head
Ned Neidhardt	....	key makeup artist
Joseph Regina	....	makeup artist
Nacoma Whobrey	....	assistant makeup artist
Julie M. Woods	....	hair stylist (as Julie Woods)

Production Management
Ravi D. Mehta	....	executive in charge of production
Robin Mulcahy Fisichella	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daniel Silverberg	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	property master (as Michael Blaze)
Pam Brockel	....	painter
Angela Cimarusti	....	painter
Stan Cockerell	....	assistant property master
Jann K. Engel	....	set designer
Joey Genitempo	....	paint foreman
Brandon S. Gilgen	....	painter
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Robert Grbavac	....	painter
Guy Hietala	....	stand-by painter
Lita Isumu	....	painter
Melanie Mahoney	....	painter gang boss
Michael Marcus	....	art designer
Tom Miller	....	property master (as Thomas Miller)
Art Morales	....	painter
Sarah Emily Nelson	....	art department coordinator
Anthony Palazzo	....	painter
Patrick Paniagua	....	decorator gang boss
Jimmy Rudon	....	art department assistant
Greg Sanger	....	second leadman
Bryan Turk	....	propmaker foreman
Daniel Turk	....	construction coordinator (as Dan Turk)
Larry J. White II	....	leadman
Tracy Wood	....	decorator gang boss

Sound Department
Christopher S. Aud	....	supervising sound editor
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Adam Blantz	....	second boom operator
Adam Blantz	....	utility sound
Jose R. Castellon	....	re-recording engineer: Spanish and Brazilian
Eric Flickinger	....	sound recordist
Terry Garcia	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Adam Johnston	....	sound effects editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	supervising adr editor
Mark L. Mangino	....	dialogue editor
Mike Markiw	....	sound intern
Michael W. Mitchell	....	sound effects editor
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jody Thomas	....	foley artist
Mark Ulano	....	production sound mixer
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects coordinator (as John Hartigan)
Chris Walkowiak	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jeremy Appelbaum	....	digital artist
Michael Cashore	....	digital effects artist
James Coulter	....	digital artist: Digital Dimension
Jason Crosby	....	digital artist: Digital Dimension
Rif Dagher	....	digital effects artist
Chris DeCristo	....	digital compositor: CBS Digital
Eric Durst	....	visual effects supervisor
Mitch Gates	....	digital effects artist: Digital Dimension
Claire Gerety-Mott	....	visual effects assistant
Benoit Girard	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Dimension
Adam Holmes	....	digital effects artist
Allan McKay	....	technical director
Justin Mitchell	....	digital effects artist
Jerome Morin	....	visual effects producer: Digital Dimension
Andy Roberts	....	digital effects artist: Digital Dimension
Daniel Rubin	....	digital compositor
Wendy Ruiz	....	visual effects coordinator
Mark G. Soper	....	visual effects producer
Marion Spates	....	digital effects artist: Digital Dimension
Tammy Sutton	....	digital compositor
Tammy Sutton	....	rotoscope and paint supervisor: Digital Dimension
Leandro Visconti	....	compositor: Digital Dimension
Christian Zurcher	....	visual effects
Jim Rothrock	....	look development technical director (uncredited)
Chris B. Schnitzer	....	visual effects production supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Nicole Basanda	....	stunts
Maria Coloroso	....	stunt double: Andrea Avery
Richard Epper	....	stunt driver
Debbie Evans	....	stunt driver
Andy Gill	....	stunt driver
Meegan Godfrey	....	stunt performer
Mark Kubr	....	stunts
Anthony Molinari	....	stunts
Nichole Orman	....	stunt double
Marc Scizak	....	stunt double
Brandon Sebek	....	stunt double
Nancy Thurston	....	stunt double
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt coordinator
Greg Anthony	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Dan Lemieux	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bill Willens	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael D. Alvarez	....	film loader
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Gregory Beard	....	grip
Patrick Beatty	....	grip
Tyger Belton	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Vincent Contarino	....	dimmer board operator
Chris Cuevas	....	second assistant camera
Donald D. Davidson	....	electrician
Damon Doherty	....	key rigging grip
Matt Floyd	....	rigging grip
Jimmy Harritos	....	electrician
Larry Huff	....	grip
Josh Levy	....	video assist operator
Dan Ming	....	additional first assistant camera
Luis Moreno	....	electrician
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician
George Richmond	....	Steadicam operator
George Richmond	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Mike Satrazemis	....	camera operator
Bob Snowdon	....	grip
David J. White II	....	first camera assistant
Steven J. Winslow	....	aerial camera technician: Wescam camera
Andy Young	....	best boy rigging grip

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Courtney Gross	....	casting associate
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting
Erika Sellin	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anita Cabada	....	assistant costume designer
John Casey	....	costume supervisor
Linda S. Cormany	....	key costumer
Stephen Oh	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Daniel Boccoli	....	assistant editor
Chris DeLaGuardia	....	color timer (as Chris De La Guardia)
Larry Flynn	....	color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Lara Khachooni	....	assistant editor
Christopher Kroll	....	first assistant editor
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Debra Baum	....	music supervisor (as Debra A. Baum)
Thomas Bergersen	....	orchestrator (as Thomas J. Bergersen)
Mark Graham	....	music librarian
Andrew Kaiser	....	orchestrator
Will Kaplan	....	music editor
Kevin Kliesch	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Rod Bearden	....	transportation coordinator
Neil Marshall	....	driver: honeywagon
Harold L. Woods	....	driver generator operator

Other crew
Robin Anderson	....	script supervisor
Liz Biber	....	publicist
Matthew B. Chamberlin	....	key assistant location manager
Mike Crotty	....	production assistant
Heather Dennis	....	assistant: Mark Rosman
Heather I. Denton	....	extras coordinator
Brian Ellerd	....	production assistant
John Formichella	....	assistant: Clifford Werber
Evan Gaines	....	office intern
Laura Gary	....	studio teacher
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Jason Gondek	....	production accountant
Chris Hogenson	....	assistant: Dylan Sellers
Michelle Johnston	....	choreographer
Krystine Karns	....	assistant: Michael Rachmil
Aileen Kiernan	....	assistant: Hunt Lowry
Nicole Kreuzer	....	stand-in: Jennifer Coolidge
Sandy Lizaola-Hernandez	....	physical production coordinator
James E. Maddux	....	water safety
Susan Magee	....	second accountant
Eddie Merino	....	key assistant location manager
Patrick Mignano	....	location manager
Joe Morganella	....	production assistant
Jess Nunez	....	payroll accountant
Sally Potters	....	production assistant
Dara Resnik Creasey	....	assistant: Mark Rosman (as Dara Resnik)
Christina Rollo	....	production coordinator
Troy Rowland	....	dialogue coach
Julia M. Sauder	....	assistant production coordinator (as Julia Sauder)
Diana Taffolla	....	second accountant
Donna Tegan	....	set production assistant
Craig Vegas	....	production assistant
Catherine Petra Villalobos	....	production assistant
Olivia Wachsberger	....	consultant: princess
Tomoko Yamamoto	....	first accountant
Jimmy Zelinger	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Gaylord Films
• Clifford Werber Productions
• Dylan Sellers Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Net5 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Digital Dimension (visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Finn-Hiller Casting  casting
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses

Also Known As:

Une aventure de Cendrillon (Canada: French title)
Untitled 'Cinderella' Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and innuendo.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | German | Czech

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #40835) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Finland:K-7 | Germany:o.Al. | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

George's 50's Diner - 4390 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The end of Hilary Duff's character's screen name in the movie is 818. 818 is the area code for the San Fernando Valley, where the movie takes place.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When shooting sports scenes, the extras are moved from one side to the other depending where the camera is.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sam: Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom, lived a beautiful little girl and her widowed father.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Robot Chicken: Toy Meets Girl (#1.11)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Anywhere But Here

Good but Predictable

Hilary Duff stars in a modern remake of the popular fairy tale, except her Cinderella is a high school senior dealing with a self-obsessed stepmother ( Jennifer Coolidge) and two wicked stepsisters. When she meets her "prince charming" online at a Halloween dance, she has to leave their date in a hurry, leaving him her cell phone as the only clue to her true identity.

A Cinderella Story tells the oldest story in the book and it's actually not that bad. Sure, it's unoriginal and lame but there are some original lines and fun characters. Hilary Duff is the star and she gives a good performance. She isn't about to win an Oscar or anything but it was a convincing performance. Chad Michael Murray plays her love interest and he gives an okay performance. There is a problem between Chad and Hilary though, they don't really have chemistry together. If they had more chemistry then the film would have been better but they both play likable characters so it's not all bad. The supporting actors are the real reason why this film works so well. Jennifer Coolidge steals the movie as the botox evil stepmother and she gives a pretty funny performance. Regina King is also pretty good as Rhonda and she offers a decent amount of laughs.

Once you get by the good looking, mildly charming cast there isn't much else. Mark Rosman does a terrible job at directing the film, keeping it simple yet very dull. There may be a few original lines here or there but the film is pretty bland. The movie is only 95 minutes long so it's not too much of a pain to watch but it does drag during a few scenes. It is also unrealistic which is kind of surprising because this is a modern update of the story so you would expect it to be a lot more believable. Despite these flaws, the film was still mildly enjoyable and it was pretty harmless as well. It was also a lot better than Chasing Liberty and New York Minute. In the end, fans of the genre should enjoy the movie but it's more on the forgettable side. Rating 6/10