This was an interesting take on 'The Prince and the Pauper.' Stephanie Powers stars as a bored and financially stressed housewife of a college professor (Barry Boswick) with rumors of taking liberties with his students.Ironically we learn in an early scene that Boswick is actually one of the few professors NOT trading grades for sex.Stephanie stressed for a vacation ends up celebrating her birthday with her twin Sabrina whom lives life in the fast and glamorous world of the rich Euro trash.Just as in the original story, as the two share complaints about their lives the start to see the grass on the other side looking greener and decide to trade places. Stephanie will experience all the glitz and glamour of Europe, while Sabrina will return to the stable life of an American housewife and mother of two (Fairuza Balk and Tobey Maquire).Also predictably the two learn to actually enjoy life on the other side. Sabrina ends up falling in love with Prof. Boswick and being the caring and involved mother Stephanie did not want to be.Logically this plot shouldn't work. It's not like 'The Prince and the Pauper' or 'The Prisoner of Zenda' where coworkers/royal subjects could be easily duped. But children know knowing their own mother? A husband and boyfriends not noticing any differences in the bedroom? Surely they could not be so easily fooled.The storyline really is very exciting and keeps you enthralled enough to hang on to every scene. I can't write any more without giving away some key plot twists. Just be assured the story takes some real twists.Not so realistic is the scene where Sabrina finally tells Boswick the truth about her identity. Sure he's angry and kicks her out but realistically anyone else wouldn't be as nice. They'd throw her out the window or bury her in the backyard.There's also a great performance be a young Fairuza Balk as Stephanie's daughter. A scene where she is teased and traumatically kicked out of the school play may be the childhood trauma which turned her into the Goth skinhead she's better known as in films like 'American History X.' Yes, that is Tobey Maquire as the son. Although IMDb and the open credits do no credit him. There's no doubt it is him.

Great movie. I have it on VHS from T.V. Watched it 4 times. Love Powers and Bostwick is super romantic. Hope it is coming to DVD soon. It's time. We need good movies like this to make a comeback. If you have ever wanted to see Venice, it's a good one to see. Anyone interested in elaborate costume design - good one too. Ever wanted to tell off a teacher... hear you go. And tastefully done too. Definitely worth a date night on the couch with a big tub of popcorn. Sights, sounds and full of excitement.If you get the chance to see it...go for it! It is a two parter.CLA

I was not expecting much out of this made-for-TV film but found myself enjoying it mostly on account of its production values. The scenes filmed on location in Venice, Rome and London were especially exciting, and the finale was definitely very well done. The only fault: Southern California is unmistakable and cannot pass for Portofino (the yacht scene). Other than that, we are very noticeably in the 80's (hairstyles, fashion), the story has its originality and most of the acting is adequate. Gina Lollobrigida as a sexy movie star-turned-princess is highly enjoyable and glamorous as always. Stefanie Powers does very well as the twin sisters, registering both roles with credibility.

I hope and pray that this movie is released on DVD in the not too distant future. This is one of the very few made-for-television movies that has really stood the test of time. It could have been made yesterday. I found the carnival scenes filmed in Venice to be especially exciting. The costumes were beautiful and the setting, being Venice, added an air of "magic" to the whole thing. Stephanie Powers was superb in both parts - two very different characters with very different lifestyles - both of which she made very credible. I have this on video and it always cheers me up when I'm feeling low. I have always been a big fan of Stephanie Powers - ever since "Girl from Uncle / April Dancer.