Danny the Champion of the World (1989)

Somewhere in England, in the Autumn of 1955, widowed father William Smith (Jeremy Irons) and his son Danny (Samuel Irons) live an idyllic life together. Only their gas station happens to ... See full summary »

Director:

Gavin Millar

Writers:

Roald Dahl (novel), John Goldsmith (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Robbie Coltrane, Samuel Irons

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Irons	...	William Smith
Robbie Coltrane	...	Victor Hazell
Samuel Irons	...	Danny
Cyril Cusack	...	Doc Spencer
Michael Hordern	...	Lord Claybury
Lionel Jeffries	...	Mr. Snoddy
Jean Marsh	...	Miss Hunter
Jimmy Nail	...	Rabbetts
Ronald Pickup	...	Captain Lancaster
John Woodvine	...	Tallon
William Armstrong	...	Springer
Ceri Jackson	...	Mrs. Clipstone
James Walker	...	Vicar
Phil Nice	...	Postman
Anthony Collin	...	Wheeler

Storyline

Somewhere in England, in the Autumn of 1955, widowed father William Smith (Jeremy Irons) and his son Danny (Samuel Irons) live an idyllic life together. Only their gas station happens to sit on a piece of land that a local developer wants to buy, and when he won't take no for an answer, and sets government inspectors and social works onto Danny and his father. Danny and his father decide to get even with Victor Hazell (Robbie Coltrane) and his pheasant-shooting friends in a manner in keeping with their own family tradition.

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Plot Keywords:

hunting | pheasant | real life father and son playing father and son | poaching | single father | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Anthony Horowitz novel "Russian Roulette", a former headmaster likes to drink. That may have been inspired by the headmaster of this story Mr. Snoddy, who drinks gin to cope with his abusive wife.

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Quotes

William Smith: What's the matter with your hand?
[he looks at Danny's hand and sees the mark from the caning given to him by his teacher Captain Lancaster]
William Smith: Who did this? Who did this, Danny?
Danny: Dad...
William Smith: Was it Lancaster?
Danny: He thought me and Sid were cheating.
William Smith: Cheating? You? Right!
[he gets up, angrily]
Danny: Where are you going?
William Smith: I'm going to see this Captain Lancaster!
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

User Reviews

Champion book champion Movie

This movie is listed as TV, yet in Austrlia it was shown in cinemas where I saw it with my family, The movie was true to the Roald Dahl book and was as enjoyable and whimsical, the acting and direction was what was needed for such a classic and I never felt let down or became conscious of the fact that I was watching a movie, but rather was taken away with the story , which is something I long for in movies. I would so enjoy seeing this again, it is in my psyche with such movies as "The railway children" and "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" of which all were British. If your a lover of children's literature and wish to be taken away by a wonderful and endearing movie with values not often contained in entertainment today, this movie is for you.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Daantje de wereldkampioen

Filming Locations:

Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Children's Film and Television Foundation (CFTVF), Portobello Pictures, Thames Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1