Madeline (1998)

Director:

Daisy von Scherler Mayer

Writers (WGA):

Ludwig Bemelmans (books)
Malia Scotch Marmo (screen story) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Tagline:

In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines...

Plot:

Redheaded young girl Madeline is very good at getting into trouble, but she's also fantastic in solving problems as well...

Plot Keywords:

School | Motor Scooter | Mouse | Ransom | Circus

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Frances McDormand	...	Miss Clavel
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Lord Covington (segment "Lord Cucuface")
Hatty Jones	...	Madeline
Ben Daniels	...	Leopold the Tutor
Arturo Venegas	...	Mr. Spanish Ambassador
Stéphane Audran	...	Lady Covington
Katia Caballero	...	Mrs. Spanish Ambassador
Chantal Neuwirth	...	Helene the Cook
Kristian de la Osa	...	Pepito (as Kristian De La Osa)
Clare Thomas	...	Aggie
Bianca Strohmann	...	Vicki (as Bianca Strôhman)
Christina Mangani	...	Chantal
Rachel Dennis	...	Lucinda
Pilar Garrard	...	Beatrice
Jessica Mason	...	Serena

Also Known As:

Madeline (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG for momentary language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 (video premiere) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company:

Jaffilms

Goofs:

Continuity: When the girls are choosing their dresses to wear to Pepito's party, you see Vicky dancing around with a blue dress. But, in the next scene, Vicky goes to Pepito's party in a pink dress.

Quotes:

Pepito: The only clown here was you.

Movie Connections:

Version of Madeline (1952)

Soundtrack:

The Cuckoo and the Nightingale

Lively, endearing and sweet; what a Children's film SHOULD BE!

Whether or not this film was critically acclaimed by the "so-called" experts or not, is irrelevant. The REAL experts are the children who watch, are captivated and endeared by Madeline's well casted characters. Every child I know (including my own) that has seen this film loved it and has begged for it on video.

Parents may not see this as a daring, frolicking action adventure; but rather as a sweet and funny children's film, which is after all, what is was designed to be.

There are so few films that really MEET a parent's expectations for what they WANT their children to see and can TRUST to not be "profane" (many older children's films that were "G-rated" are being remade now as "PG" under the guises that parents will "want" to watch them to; but do the kids really need the addition of bad language and sexual innuendo?).

Madeline, the movie, is true to the author's original story-line and keeps its poetical, lyrical style and flavor. The children and adults in the cast are true to what the author's characterizations were intended to be.. rather than a so-called "modern version" of it.

It is childhood at its best and its worst, with "realistic" villains (instead of the monstrous or far-fetched) and more of the genuine fun and whimsy that childhood is supposed to possess.

Children everywhere adore this film! As an adult, I appreciate it and APPLAUD it. I wish filmakers would TAKE NOTE and produce MORE films like this... TRULY for Children and SOLIDLY "G-rated". After all... children are the best experts on what they like.. and they LOVE THIS... so do I.