Gulliver's Travels (1996) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers:

Simon Moore (screenplay)
Jonathan Swift (novel)

Release Date:

4 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Giant | Horse | Sergeant | Surrealism | Horse Actor

Awards:

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

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
Warwick Davis	...	Grildrig
Kate Maberly	...	Glumdalclitch
Tom Sturridge	...	Tom Gulliver (as Thomas Sturridge)
Annette Badland	...	Farmer Grultrud's Wife
Mac McDonald	...	Farmer
George Harris	...	Brobdingnag scientist
Ricco Ross	...	Brobdingnag scientist
Gordon Sterne	...	Brobdingnag scientist
John Bardon	...	Bedlam admission warden
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Empress Munodi
Graham Crowden	...	Professor of Politics
John Gielgud	...	Professor of Sunlight (as Sir John Gielgud)
Isabelle Huppert	...	Mistress (voice)
Shashi Kapoor	...	Rajah
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Immortal Gatekeeper
Omar Sharif	...	The Sorcerer
Richard Wilson	...	Professor of Language
Navin Chowdhry	...	Prince Munodi
Stefan Kalipha	...	Laputa Intellectual
Sandeep Sharma	...	Laputa Intellectual
Badi Uzzaman	...	Flapper
Simon Tyrrell	...	Sorcerer's Servant
Mike Savage	...	Fat Tradesman - Bedlam
Anne Lambton	...	Visiting Lady - Bedlam
Cyril Shaps	...	Mad Old Man - Bedlam
Ian Dunn	...	Alexander the Great
Sylvester Morand	...	Archimedes
Philip McGough	...	Plato
Malcolm Stoddard	...	Struldbrugg Horseman
Wolf Christian	...	Struldbrugg Guard
Ailsa Berk	...	Yahoo Consultant
Claire Adams	...	Yahoo
Gary Barber	...	Yahoo
Billy Burke	...	Yahoo
Jud Charlton	...	Yahoo (as Judd Charlton)
Jonathan Coyne	...	Yahoo
Matthew Cullum	...	Yahoo
Roger Ennals	...	Yahoo
Anna Godsiff	...	Yahoo
Mark Hopkins	...	Yahoo
Graham Kern	...	Yahoo
Kosh	...	Yahoo
David Larkin	...	Yahoo
Steve Nankervis	...	Yahoo (as Steve Nankeris)
Steven Russell	...	Yahoo (as Stephen Russell)
Kieron Smith	...	Yahoo
Phoebe Sotiriades	...	Yahoo
Brendon Stapleton	...	Yahoo
Antonio Susinni	...	Yahoo
Alexis Thomas	...	Yahoo
Dionne Waters	...	Yahoo
Freya Westdal	...	Yahoo
Steen Young	...	Yahoo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abdul Razac Seco	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Sturridge

Writing credits
Simon Moore		(screenplay)
Jonathan Swift		(novel)

Produced by
Robert Halmi Sr.	....	executive producer
Brian Henson	....	executive producer
Duncan Kenworthy	....	producer
Chris Thompson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Howard Atherton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Coulson

Casting by
Celestia Fox

Production Design by
Roger Hall

Art Direction by
Frederic Evard
John Fenner		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Ethel Robins Richards
Rosalind Shingleton

Costume Design by
Shirley Russell

Makeup Department
Sian Grigg	....	assistant hair stylist
Sian Grigg	....	assistant makeup artist
Ivana Primorac	....	assistant hair stylist
Ivana Primorac	....	assistant makeup artist
Aileen Seaton	....	hair designer
Aileen Seaton	....	makeup designer
Karen Turner	....	hair assistant
Karen Turner	....	makeup assistant

Production Management
Patricia Vieira	....	production manager: Portugal

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Hanley	....	third assistant director
Guy Heeley	....	second assistant director
João Milagre	....	second second assistant director
Stuart Renfrew	....	co-second assistant director
Rupert Ryle-Hodges	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ron Burkett	....	supervising painter
Bob Eames	....	stand-by carpenter (as Robert Eames)
Andy Evans	....	construction manager
Gary Freeman	....	junior draughtsperson
James Gemmill	....	scenic artist
John Greaves	....	storyboard artist
Ian Green	....	supervising carpenter
Bernie Hearn	....	stand-by props
Kevin Herbert	....	dressing props
Andrew Holder	....	sculptor
Margaret Horspool	....	art department assistant
Charles Ixer	....	property storeman
Jonathan Lee	....	assistant art director
Tom Lowen	....	stand-by rigger (as Tommy Lowen)
David Lusby	....	production buyer
John Palmer	....	dressing props
Peter Risi	....	dressing props
Colin Smith	....	supervising stagehand
Bob Stagg	....	stand-by stagehand
Tony Teiger	....	dressing props
Alan Tomkins	....	art director: UK
Charles Torbett	....	property master
Jason Torbett	....	stand-by props
Kevin Welch	....	supervising rigger
Paul Wiltshire	....	stand-by painter
Paulo Routier	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Philip Alton	....	dialogue editor
John Downer	....	sound editor
Russell Edwards	....	sound assistant
Michael Feinberg	....	dialogue editor (as Mike Feinberg)
Paul Hamblin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Simon Kaye	....	production sound mixer
John Lewis	....	sound assistant
James Manning	....	assistant sound engineer
Sarah Morton	....	sound editor
Clive Pendry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tommy Staples	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Adam Aldridge	....	special effects technician
Jonathan Bullock	....	special effects trainee
John Clarke	....	special effects technician
Ian Corbould	....	special effects technician
Paul Corbould	....	special effects supervisor
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects coordinator
Jeremy Hunt	....	visual artist: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
John Palmer	....	special effects coordinator
Andy Roberts	....	animatronic designer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Neal Scanlan	....	project supervisor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Visual Effects by
William Bartlett	....	effects editor: FrameStore
Matthew Cope	....	visual effects coordinator
Scott Griffin	....	effects assistant: FrameStore
Tim Osborne	....	effects editor: FrameStore
Fiona Walkinshaw	....	producer: FrameStore
Timothy Webber	....	visual effects supervisor (as Tim Webber)
Jerry Andrews	....	motion control assistant (uncredited)
Lloyd Bettell-Higgins	....	motion control second assistant (uncredited)
Roma O'Connor	....	effects production coordinator (uncredited)
Richard Stammers	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
George Theophanous	....	motion control operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Trevor Brooker	....	director of photography: second unit
Steve Burgess	....	focus puller: second unit
John Clark	....	electrician (as Johnny Clark)
Nick Coward	....	video coordinator
Harry Eckford	....	grip: second unit
Alfie Emmins	....	best boy
Jeremy Gee	....	camera operator
Ray Hall	....	grip
Cedric James	....	focus puller
Paul Kemp	....	electrician
Brad Larner	....	second focus puller
Mike Lloyd	....	focus puller: second unit
Simon Lucas	....	electrician
Barry Miller	....	gaffer
Stephen Morley	....	still photographer
Neil Munro	....	electrician (as Neil Monroe)
Robert Palmer	....	clapper loader
Stuart Reid	....	electrician (as Stewart Reid)
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator
Terry Townsend	....	electrician
Oliver Upton	....	still photographer
Simon Werry	....	aerial camera operator
Jason Wingrove	....	camera trainee: FT2
Jon Wood	....	clapper loader: second unit
Paul Woods	....	electrician

Casting Department
Sophie Lane Fox	....	casting assistant
Lynn Kressel	....	casting: US

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Hughes	....	wardrobe master
Rosemary Lis	....	wardrobe assistant (as Rosemary Worth)
Richard Pointing	....	wardrobe supervisor
Pat Williamson	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Bridgette Corbett	....	assistant editor
Steve Farman	....	negative cutter
Steve Mercer	....	editor trainee: FT2 (as Stephen Mercer)
Richard Milward	....	assembly editor
Gary Szabo	....	telecine colorist

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	conductor
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Julian Kershaw	....	additional orchestrations
Simon Rhodes	....	music recordist
Victoria Seale	....	music coordinator
Kirsty Whalley	....	music mixer
Toby Wood	....	assistant recording engineer
Toby Wood	....	score recording engineer

Other crew
Keith Addis	....	creative consultant
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Richard Bernard	....	party band
Tim Bricknell	....	production runner
Lesley Broderick	....	location accountant
Paul Cadiou	....	production accountant
Dale Clarke	....	armorer (as Dale Clark)
Wendy Dade	....	assistant to producer
Rita Dean	....	accounts assistant
Steve Dent	....	horse master
Keith Hatcher	....	location manager: Portugal
John Ketteringham	....	utility stand-in
Maggie Lewty	....	script supervisor
James Linton	....	stand-in: Mr Danson
Andrew Litvin	....	production contact: London
Simon Marsden	....	assistant location manager: Portugal
Cassius Matthias	....	assistant to director
Angus More Gordon	....	location manager
Tori Parry	....	production coordinator
Kevin Phelan	....	producer: video to film transfer
Janet Riddoch	....	assistant location manager
Patric Scott	....	unit publicist
Mary Stark	....	floor runner
June Whitaker	....	stand-in: Ms Steenburgen (as June Whittaker)

Production Companies

• Hallmark Entertainment (presents)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (in association with) (as Channel Four Television)
• Jim Henson Productions (producer)
• Jim Henson Company, The
• RHI Entertainment

Distributors

• Hallmark Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (animatronic wasp)
• Framestore (digital effects by) (as FrameStore - London)
• Effects Associates
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Other Companies

• A1 Animals  animals
• Animedia  production services: Portugal
• Broad Casting  child casting
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements.

Runtime:

186 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Ontario) | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bridport, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Adm. Bolgolam: [the Emperor, his sons, General Limtoc and Admiral Bolgolam, Clustril and other s are in the Lilliputian campaign room, discussing Gulliver's 'inventive' way of extinguishing a fire] This is an outrage! He made water in the royal grounds! It's a treasonable offence!
Emperor of Lilliput: But he saved the Empress' life!
Gen. Limtoc: At what cost? Our stepmother may never go out in public again, convinced that she's the laughing stock of Lilliput!
Emperor of Lilliput: But she's not that...
[to Clustril]
Emperor of Lilliput: Is she?
[Clustril sniggers]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Seriously Funny: An Argument for Comedy" (1996)

Very underrated

We all know bits and pieces of Gulliver's travels. Tiny people, yeah, sure. Liliputians. Giants too, some of us may recall. Some might remember the word yahoo comes from here. That's were it stops for most people.

Swift's book is omnipresent in school libraries. That's were i first read it, and there's were a lot of people read it for the last time. It is treacherously lightly written, like many of the old adventure books. Children can read it. Still, it's dripping with satire, black and uncompromising. That's something I think most screen writers forget when they adapt this movie.

This movie remembers, however. Our hero, Ted Danson, gives a credible and serious performance as the world-adjusted man who's thrown to mysterious countries so like our own. Gulliver's travels criticizes everything. Theists, scientists, government, commonfolk, ethnicity, humanity itself. Few are spared, and most of the satire is just as fresh today.

While very faithful to the story, the movie also dares adding new angles, all which work very well. The screen writer deserves all credit for managing to balance so well between time and activity(it's not boring, that is).

Production values are way beyond a TV movie. With some marketing this movie would have done well at the box office. All of the fantastic worlds Gulliver visits are well-made, explained in detail and often very funny, much like Swift's book.

Actors are all pros, since this is a British production. Mary Steenburgen stands out, along with James Fox's Dr. Bates, the chillingly cruel doctor who, much like nurse Ratched, only wants the patient's best.

So, a modest proposal, if you ever get the chance to get this movie, do so. It's a real treat.