Review of Princess Caraboo (1994) by Anna M — 25 Feb 2010
Probably the best thing about this story is that it is partly true.
It is the story of Mary Baker (Phoebe Cates), a working girl who invents the character of Princess Caraboo, a ship-wrecked princess from an exotic eastern locale. She invents a language and costume to accompany her story and succeeds in duping the English royalty and upper classes.
Quietly skeptical, yet in awe of her powers of imagination is John Gutch (Stephen Rea), who succeeds in uncovering her secret, and falls in love with her in the process.
There was a Mary Baker who impersonated Princess Caraboo. After being discovered, she set sail for the U.S. There was also a journalist, John Gutch, who did uncover her story, but there doesn't appear to have been much of a relationship between them.
Anyone who has ever been bored at a boring job and dreamed of impersonating anyone else, will be sympathetic to Mary Baker's story. I also like the message that classiness (princess qualities) are something largely unrelated to wealth and station-in-life.
This review of Princess Caraboo (1994) was written by Anna M on 25 Feb 2010.
Princess Caraboo has generally received positive reviews.
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