Gulliver's Travels (TV 1996)

A Englishman returns after a long time abroad and tells his strange stories about the lands he visited which are allegories about the real world.

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers:

Simon Moore (screenplay), Jonathan Swift (novel)

Stars:

Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, James Fox

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Danson	...	Lemuel Gulliver
Mary Steenburgen	...	Mary Gulliver
James Fox	...	Dr. Bates
Ned Beatty	...	Farmer Grultrud
Edward Fox	...	General Limtoc
Robert Hardy	...	Dr. Parnell
Nicholas Lyndhurst	...	Clustril
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Empress of Lilliput
Karyn Parsons	...	Lady-in-Waiting
Edward Petherbridge	...	Dr. Pritchard
John Standing	...	Admiral Bolgolam
John Wells	...	Flimnap the Treasurer
Alfre Woodard	...	Queen of Brobdingnag
Edward Woodward	...	Drunlo
Peter O'Toole	...	Emperor of Lilliput

Storyline

All star adaptation of Jonathan Swift's satirical tale about a normal man who, after returning home following eight years of absence, relates fantastical tales about how he was thought to be giant in the Land of Lilliput, but was only six inches high in the Land of Brobdingnag. He also tells of his visit to the floating island of Laputa populated by scientists who are so obsessed with reason that they act with no common sense. Finally, he tells of his journey to the land where his disturbing likeness to the bestial Yahoos and his inferiority to the intelligent horses there makes him question the very worth of his humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | giant | liliputian | father son relationship | flashback | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Viagens de Gulliver

Filming Locations:

Ajuda National Palace, Ajuda, Lisbon, Portugal

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment, Channel 4 Television Corporation, Jim Henson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

186 min 186 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first screen version of Jonathan Swift's 1726 novel "Gulliver's Travels" to adapt all four of its parts.

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Goofs

When Dr. Bates is tearing pages from Gulliver's journal and throwing them on the fire the pages change position between shots.

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Quotes

Gen. Limtoc: [Gulliver, who is looking into the window of Lilliputian Great Chamber of War, blows off Clustril's hat] Giant's a bloody menace!

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Connections

Version of Gulliver's Travel (2005)

User Reviews

A quality film - must see, must have.

This film is wonderful example of the quality dramas that Channel 4 and the BBC have produced over the years. Ted Danson delivers a powerful performance of a man tormented by memories noone will accept, and a society that believes he is insane. It is a remarkable performance by a man most known for his role in Cheers, a TV comedy sitcom. The supporting cast are all very well chosen, not least Mary Steenbergen, Danson's wife, who acts the part of Gulliver's wife in the film. But above all it is the seamless and very delicate shifts between our world and Gulliver's world that make this film. The difference in perspective between giants and midgets, all acted by real actors is beautifully captured. A rare treat of cinematography and direction.