Matilda (1996)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writers (WGA):

Roald Dahl (book)
Nicholas Kazan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

A little magic goes a long way.

Plot:

Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.

Plot Keywords:

Little Girl | Reading | Psionic Power | Directed By Star | Federal Bureau Of Investigation

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Mara Wilson	...	Matilda Wormwood
Danny DeVito	...	Harry Wormwood / Narrator
Rhea Perlman	...	Zinnia Wormwood
Embeth Davidtz	...	Miss Jennifer 'Jenny' Honey
Pam Ferris	...	Agatha Trunchbull
Paul Reubens	...	FBI Agent Bob
Tracey Walter	...	FBI Agent Bill
Brian Levinson	...	Michael 'Mikey' Wormwood
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Miss Phelps
Sara Magdalin	...	Matilda at 4 Years
R.D. Robb	...	Roy
Gregory R. Goliath	...	Luther (as Goliath Gregory)
Fred Parnes	...	Waiter
Kiami Davael	...	Lavender
Leor Livneh Hackel	...	Julius Rottwinkle

Also Known As:

Roald Dahl's Matilda

MPAA:

Rated PG for elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language.

Runtime:

98 min | USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Netherlands:MG6 | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

In the making segment on the DVD, Danny DeVito reveals that for the chalk to write by itself, they wrote the letters backwards on the opposite side of the chalkboard and put a magnet on the chalk. They then had someone stand behind the chalkboard and wrote the words backwards with a device that attracted magnets.

Goofs:

Continuity: The FBI agent's camcorder opens twice.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. Some will grow to be butchers, or bakers, or candlestick makers. Some will only be really good at making Jell-O salad. One way or another, though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse.
[Harry takes his first look at Matilda, grunts, and leaves]
Narrator: Most parents believe their children are the most beautiful creatures ever to grace the planet. Others take a less emotional approach:
Harry Wormwood: What a waste of time!
Zinnia Wormwood: And painful!
Harry Wormwood: And expensive... $9.25 for a bar of soap?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Magic Within (1996) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Little Bitty Pretty One

Best Roald Dahl adaptation

I believe this film best represents the themes behind Roald Dahl's rather subversive children's literature. It follows the continuity of both "The Witches" and "James and the Giant Peach," casting repulsive Trunchbull into the roles of Grand High Witch and repulsive evil aunt, with a bit of the ogre (especially during the chase in Magnus House).

It's also pretty obvious that J.K. Rowling had read Roald Dahl long before she wrote the first of her Harry Potter books. I find it very odd how few people have noted Roald Dahl's literary influence on the spate of children's fantasy authors today. All the elements for Harry are here, in Matilda, right down to her unpleasant 'Muggle' family -- the Wormwoods -- and a brutish, Dudley-like brother.

And for the record, Mara Wilson does a good job!