THE MOVIE VERSION OF ELLA ENCHANTED IS NOT LIKE THE BOOK by Gail Carson Levine
RECOMMENDED MOVIE: Ella Enchanted (2004) starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Minnie Driver, and Vivica A. Fox. Study Guide compares the novel Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine to the movie version Ella Enchanted (2004) starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary, Minnie Driver, and Vivica A. Fox. The main plot line and characters survive this film even though 18 chapters of the book are omitted from the movie.
HOW ACCURATE IS THE MOVIE VERSION OF THE BOOK?
WHAT’S IN THE BOOK THAT’S NOT IN THE MOVIE?
Lady Eleanor’s funeral, Apple the centaur, Chock the parrot, gnomes, zoo, Finishing School, Hattie’s wig, Sir Peter’s financial problems, Edmund of Wolleck, sliding down the bannister, Lela, ball gowns, white mask, pumpkin coach, lost glass slipper, King Jerrold, and Queen Daria.
WHAT’S IN THE MOVIE THAT’S NOT IN THE BOOK?
Narrator, Edgar, Heston, Benny, paper boy, newspaper, escalator, Frell Community College, Prince Charmont’s fan club, poison crown, dagger, Ella in prison, fight at the coronation.
WHAT’S THE SAME?
Magic book, ogres, giants, elves, Ella and Char’s romance, Mandy, Lucinda, Sir Peter, Dame Olga, Hattie, Olive, Slannen, and Areida, Lucinda’s gift of obedience, Sir Peter’s marriage to Dame Olga, Ella’s marriage to Char.
THE MOVIE: SUMMARY
The following is a scene-by-scene comparison of the movie to the corresponding chapters in the book.
THE MOVIE: CHAPTER 1
OPENING SCENE: The voice of a narrator, a man who lives in a mythical kingdom, sets the scene. (ERROR: In the book there is no narrator) The story is set in the mythical land of Lamia. (ERROR: In the book the story is set in the land of Kyrria). Unicorns live in the kingdom. (ACCURATE) A paperboy throws a newspaper at a large house. (ERROR: Not in the book) A baby named Ella is crying. (ACCURATE) Ella’s mother Lady Eleanor and the fairy Mandy hide the baby in a closet so the fairy Lucinda won’t see her. (ERROR: Not in the book) Lucinda appears. (ACCURATE) Lucinda asks where the baby is. (ERROR: Not in the book) The closet door swings open revealing the baby. (ERROR: Not in the book) Lucinda bestows the gift of obedience on the child. (ACCURATE) The gift is a spell that makes Ella obey anyone who gives her an order. (ACCURATE) Lucinda commands the baby to go to sleep and wake up. (ERROR: Not in the book) Ella's mother Lady Eleanor and the fairy Mandy try to get Lucinda to undo the curse, but she refuses. (ACCURATE) Lucinda threatens to turn Ella into a squirrel. (ERROR: Not in the book) Ella wets Lucinda. (ERROR: Not in the book) Ella’s father, Sir Peter, is downstairs reading the Want Ads in the newspaper. (ERROR: In the book Sir Peter is away on business as usual)
A little girl named Areida is bullied by other children. (ERROR: Not in the book) Ella makes friends with Areida. (ACCURATE, but in the book they become friends as teenagers in Chapter 9) At Ella’s birthday party Mandy cuts the birthday cake and says, Eat.
(ACCURATE) Ella obeys and keeps eating cake until Mandy says, Stop.
(ACCURATE, but in the book this scene takes place when Ella is five years old and Lady Eleanor tells her to stop)
Lady Eleanor and Mandy tell Ella about Lucinda’s spell. (ERROR: Not in the book) Ella practices the mandolin. (ERROR: Not in the book)
Lady Eleanor falls ill. (ACCURATE) She tells Ella about Lucinda’s spell that makes Ella obedient. (ERROR: Not in the book) Lady Eleanor tells Ella that Mandy is the only other person who knows about Lucinda’s gift of obedience. (ERROR: In the book Lady Eleanor does not discuss the spell with Ella) Lady Eleanor tells Ella that what is inside her is stronger than the spell. (ERROR: In the book Mandy says that Lucinda may break the spell or the spell may be broken without Lucinda’s help) Lady Eleanor gives Ella a necklace. (ERROR: In the book in Chapter 5, Mandy gives Ella a necklace belonging to Lady Eleanor) The necklace has a heart-shaped pendant with a blue stone. (ERROR: In the book the necklace is made of silver and pearls and was crafted by gnomes)
OMISSIONS: When she was eight years old, Ella told her playmate Pamela about the curse. Pamela began to order Ella to lose a foot race and give her the sweetest berries. Ella feels betrayed by her friend and punches Pamela in the face. The friendship ended.
When she was fifteen years old, Ella and her mother caught colds. Mandy made a soup from carrots, leeks, celery, and unicorn tail. Ella drank the soup, unicorn hairs and all, but her
