Glass Slipper on the Other Foot

from The New York Times

Troy Duffy’s original Hollywood story was a fractured fairy tale. As recounted in the documentary “Overnight,” Mr. Duffy reacted to the instant success that came with a multimillion-dollar deal with Miramax for the thriller “The Boondock Saints” by abusing his friends, family and new corporate partner, doing it all on camera, and then alienating the filmmakers who had the footage. As Cinderellas go, he was the type who would smash the glass slipper and kick Princess Charming down the stairs. Yet a decade later the glass slipper is on the other foot.

A once-maligned film director--who went from rags to riches--is the object of two converging footwear metaphors. Since he's currently having the last laugh, the "shoe is on the other foot." And due to his "Cinderella" status, that shoe is the elusive "glass slipper."

But the glass slipper is the bit of evidence that leads the Prince back to Cinderella, not the girl's source of greatness or her reward in having been chosen. And working filmmakers surely opt for more comfortable shoes, right?