White Lily: The Story of Queen Matilda

To: Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company, CEO

From: Caroline Propp and Associates

Regarding: White Lily: The Story of Queen Matilda

We recently came across a marvelous book called “Queenship and Sanctity” by Sean Gilsdorf that told the tale of a medieval Queen named Matilda. We immediately saw what a wonderful film this could become! After changing some details to make it more enjoyable for a wider audience, and writing several mesmerizing song and dance numbers, we realized that Disney would be the perfect production company! We have attached our character descriptions (made historically accurate with quotations from “Queenship and Sanctity) and a brief plot summary as well as our plans if you are interested in moving forward. Please enjoy!

Characters:

Duke Otto I: Duke of East Francia. Henry’s father. He is told of Matilda and sends Henry’s tutor to check her out as a wife for Henry. He “possessed great wealth, esteemed above all others on account of the virtues with which he was endowed.”

Henry: Duke Otto’s son. Later becomes King of Germany. Falls in love with Matilda at first sight. “So burned with love for her that he would [have] no delay in their betrothal.” Described as an accomplished warrior and had a deep love for charity. Father of Otto I and Bruno.

Matilda: Protagonist of this story, she is described by biographers as a beautiful girl with “snowy cheeks touched with ruddy fire, like white lilies woven with blushing roses.” Made a perfect wife for Henry, bore him five children. Devoted to her husband, children and all of her people. Spent ample time with her charities. When her son Otto ruled “she was wise in her counsel, and exceedingly gentle to the good and harsh to the arrogant.” Mother of Otto I and Bruno.

King Otto I: Son of Matilda and Henry, and named after his grandfather. “Milder and more modest in character, he was warmly embraced by the people.” He made a strong and valiant King.

Bruno: (Historically his name was Henry, but in order to avoid confusion we have renamed him) Antagonist of the story. The son of Matilda and Henry who becomes overwhelmed with jealousy when his brother Otto II takes the throne rather than himself. He is the “instigator of all evil, jealous enemy… who gathered some of the leading men and spurred them” to kidnap Matilda.

Henry’s Tutor, Theodor: (Historically, his name is Thietmar, but we have changed it so that modern moviegoers will understand it) Henry’s tutor who is sent by Duke Otto to check out Matilda, and later returns with Henry to claim his bride.  

Judith the Mouse: A church mouse whom Matilda befriends. She becomes a source of guidance who follows Matilda throughout her life. Many she is the comic relief in the movie. She gives Matilda help that is instrumental in her escape from her kidnappers.

Plot Summary

(Note: as this is a summary of the story, we have not included music and lyrics to the five planned musical numbers, but do know that this will be a classic Disney musical!)

Long, long ago in a land known as East Francia, there lived a beautiful royal girl named Matilda who grew up at an abbey under the watchful eye of her grandmother to learn poise and grace.

In the neighboring kingdom, Duke Otto I of East Francia was dying, and he knew he must chose a wife for his son Henry so that there would be hope for an heir. He sent Henry’s trusted tutor, Theodor on a long journey to this abbey, which sat upon a gorgeous hilly stretch of land. Theodor traveled as quickly as possible and upon reaching the abbey and seeing this woman he determined she would make a wonderful wife for Prince Henry. He traveled back to East Francia as fast as his horse could run in order to tell Duke Otto the good news. Thrilled, Otto gathered and entourage to take Henry to see his new bride.

Theodor and Henry practically flew back to the abbey. At first sight, Henry was besotted with this gorgeous young woman. Her skin was as fair as white lilies with blushing cheeks as red as roses, her poise and virtue clear as day. Caught up in love at first sight the young couple was whisked back to the castle and married the very next day. Soon, Otto was dead and Henry became King, making Matilda his Queen. It was a picture perfect marriage out of which five children were born. But tragedy struck the kingdom when Henry died after just a decade of ruling.

The royal couple’s first-born son, named for his grandfather, became King Otto I ruling under the steady watchful eye of his mother. For a time, peace and tranquility came over the land.  Sadly, a dark cloud came rolling over the kingdom, this evil showed itself in the form of Matilda’s other son, Bruno who kidnapped his mother, in order to try and over throw his brother Otto I. For several months she was kept in a dark cellar until she finally outwitted and defeated her captors. Bruno was banished from East Francia, and the kingdom returned to its former glory lead by the triumphant King Otto I. Matilda lived out her days devoted to her people, and quietly guiding her son making him a truly remarkable King.***

End of Plot Summary

Above are the main plot points for the story as a whole, and we will kindly send a more detailed script should you be interested! This is intended to be a musical, with five planned song and dance numbers. We have also added a friendly old mouse who befriends Matilda when she was a small child growing up in the abbey.  Judith the mouse pops up now and again to give Matilda advice, and is instrumental in helping her escape the kidnapping. We will also send along our storyboards for animation; to give you an idea, there will be vivid colors and picturesque villages, rolling green hills and clear blue lakes. Matilda will have fair skin (like white lilies, but with blushing red cheeks) and chocolate brown hair. She will dress modestly, and transition to more elegant garb fit for a Queen! Any other questions you have, we will be more than happy to answer.

***It is important to note that while this is based on the actual story of Matilda von Ringelheim, we have changed many details in order to reach a broader audience. Matilda was a godly woman who later became a Saint, but we felt that might alienate some of the population. Likewise, we added some suspense with the kidnapping; in reality Matilda was merely banished and later invited home. The majority of the movie is meant to focus on the beautiful love story between Henry and Matilda, with the kidnapping coming to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. At the end we will see Matilda fighting against her nefarious son Bruno, and returning to the kingdom to help her other son, King Otto rule successfully. Her return to the palace is met with tears of joy and cries of elation from the townspeople, signaling what a beloved figure she was. We felt that the triumph of Frozen represents a new inclination towards strong independent women, but we understand the appeal of a classic love story. We hope this short summary of our new feature film will excite you enough to get this movie made!