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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

The screen's smallest heroes in the year's biggest adventure.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

---

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

The villain's name is Ocious P. Potter. Costars Jim Broadbent, Mark Williams, and Tom Felton later starred prominently in the "Harry Potter" series of movies.

---

Goofs

When the insecticide foam is removed from Potter's face, it has burned off his moustache, however it covered his face and his fringe, yet it hasn't burned off his eyebrows or any of his hair.

---

Quotes

Pod Clock: We may be small but heaven help anyone who thinks he might squish us.

---

Crazy Credits

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

---

Connections

Version of The Borrowers (1992)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Nice adaptation, well worth watching

I loved the "Borrowers" books when I was a kid, and the movie is a quite good adaptation of the concept. There were a few minor bafflements [such as what time period the movie was supposed to be in, and where it was set], but those aren't major. Overall, quite enjoyable.