The Borrowers (1997)

A secret family of four-inch people living inside the walls of a house must save their home from an evil real estate developer.

Director:

Peter Hewitt

Writers:

Mary Norton (novels), Gavin Scott (screenplay),

Stars:

John Goodman, Mark Williams, Jim Broadbent

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Goodman	...	Ocious P. Potter
Mark Williams	...	Exterminator Jeff
Jim Broadbent	...	Pod Clock
Celia Imrie	...	Homily Clock
Flora Newbigin	...	Arrietty 'Ett' Clock
Tom Felton	...	Peagreen Clock
Raymond Pickard	...	Spud Spiller
Bradley Pierce	...	Pete Lender
Aden Gillett	...	Joe Lender
Doon Mackichan	...	Victoria Lender
Hugh Laurie	...	Police Officer Steady
Ruby Wax	...	Town Hall Clerk
Andrew Dunford	...	Dustbunny Binn
Bob Goody	...	Minty Branch
Patrick Monckton	...	Swag (as Patrick Monkton)

Storyline

The Borrowers are four-inch high "little people" who live under the floorboards. When the owner of the house they live in dies and evil realtor Ocious Potter wants to destroy the house to build luxury apartments on its place, they start to fight him with the help of the son of house owner, Pete.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | little people | deception | family relationships | lifting person in air | 

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Taglines:

Little People. Big Trouble. Lots of fun.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild peril and some crude humor

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lånerne

Filming Locations:

Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$29,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$16,600,000 (Non-US) (20 February 1998)

Gross:

$22,359,293 (USA) (8 May 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second time that Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams star together,they first starred in Disney's 101 Dalmatians.

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Goofs

Although the film is set in "a fictitious time and place", they are driving on the wrong side of the road. When we see an aerial view of the streets, the junctions are marked out for driving on the left-hand side of the road UK style, but the cars are driving on the right.

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Quotes

Peagreen Clock: [Repeated Line] I don't like milk.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, there is a scene shown where Potter tries to explain to the police about seeing the Borrowers.

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Connections

References Taxi Driver (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Weird"
Written by Desmond Child and Hanson
Performed by Hanson
Courtesy of Mercury Records
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

A good film

I honestly don't understand all the bad reviews this show has gotten. I think it's a great flick. Their sets and props were amusing (i.e., using birthday cake candles for torches and credit cards for doors), and it was interesting to see the world from a little person's point of view. The plot was very good, as was the acting, and the Borrowers' accents just added to their charm. You really should give this film a try.