Disney Prince Review: Prince Henry/Henri, Cinderella

Henry

Cinderella is a fun, sweet movie that once again shows exactly how far Disney goes when it comes to animation, it's a bit sad that it can't be said for it's prince. His name is Henry (Henri in French) but in a 1971 television special his name was Alto August Ferdinand. Going off of just his appearance in the first movie he honestly has a personality comparable to white bread and he's ultimately just weird in how he's placed in the film. He's honestly just there and serves the role of Prince Charming in a way similar to Florian in Snow White, though it does seem to be a bit weirder in Cinderella. It should be noted that Henry, like Florian was supposed to have a bigger role in the film as a character such an earlier scene with a deer in the forest and a song after Cinderella left him at the ball. It's also a bit off putting that we know more about his father and the Grand Duke than we do about him, other than he wasn't that interested in the ball itself.

Within this version of the film, Henry honestly feels like he really just exists within the film and while sequels flesh him out I always thought there was something weird about the first movie involving that night. If  I may branch out into the world of conspiracy theory (places tinfoil hat on), I like to think he had been enchanted just because of how right everything goes for Cinderella. She has a great dress, her step family can't recognize her, and Henry is so enchanted by her that asking for a name escapes him. Even her shoe falling off makes sense if you add to the idea that it was part of the enchantment which is why Henry becomes so obsessed with the woman who fits it. The Fairy Godmother gave Cinderella the ending she deserved over what she wanted which was honestly just one magical night for herself. Ignoring that theory we could honestly say that Henry is very much what one would expect from a prince, educated, a swordsman, humble, and a bit rebellious so he's more of an archetype for a prince than anything else. His biggest plus would be his love for Cinderella which even when magic rewrites history, it still shines through (though honestly I think Aladdin had an episode that did a better job than the movie).

Deconstructed Counterpart

"I was Raised to be charming, not sincere."

Into the Woods is not one of my favorite films but I do like/hate the dynamic between Cinderella and Prince Charming. He is honestly a bit of a likable jerk, comparable more to Brom Bones from Ichabod and Mister Toad and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Prince Charming and his relationship with Cinderella comes off as more of a rush with her constantly running off. Cinderella isn't sure what she wants but I don't think it's marriage and Charming sees her running as more of a challenge I think. It's an interesting parallel to the dynamic of Rapunzel and her Prince. At the end, their relationship ends with Charming and Cinderella parting ways after she finds out he cheated on her, he's apologetic in his own way but the realism of their relationship sells it enough. Charming feels like someone who wanted Cinderella more because she didn't seem to want him and when the chase is over, he finds himself wanting.This is of course what I think is one of the strongest parts of Into the Woods, the human element of the characters. 

Is it Robb Stark or a Disney Prince?

When Cindrella was adapted to live action, it did feel like we were traipsing familiar territory, though honestly I didn't enjoy the film myself. However, Prince Kit did feel like a version of Prince Henry that we were supposed to get in the original animated classic. Kit is very much what one would expect from a noble but as a character it his relationship with his father as well as Cinderella and others that show us someone worth liking. His first meeting with Cinderella in the woods is more similar to Sleeping Beauty but it does help set the film up as he opens the ball up to commoners with the hope of seeing her again. Honestly, I think in a lot of ways he pans out Henry's character better as his own story, like becoming king and his father play a bigger role to further his own story as well as Cinderella's.