Nanny McPhee (2005)

A governess uses magic to rein in the behavior of seven ne'er-do-well children in her charge.

Director:

Kirk Jones

Writers:

Emma Thompson (screenplay), Christianna Brand ("Nurse Matilda" books)

Stars:

Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emma Thompson	...	Nanny McPhee
Colin Firth	...	Mr. Brown
Kelly Macdonald	...	Evangeline
Thomas Brodie-Sangster	...	Simon (as Thomas Sangster)
Eliza Bennett	...	Tora
Jennifer Rae Daykin	...	Lily
Raphaël Coleman	...	Eric
Samuel Honywood	...	Sebastian
Holly Gibbs	...	Christianna
Hebe Barnes	...	Baby Agatha
Zinnia Barnes	...	Baby Agatha
Angela Lansbury	...	Aunt Adelaide
Celia Imrie	...	Mrs Quickly
Imelda Staunton	...	Mrs Blatherwick
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Letitia

Storyline

In this dark and witty fable, Dame Emma Thompson portrays a person of unsettling appearance and magical powers who enters the household of recently widowed Mr. Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children have managed to drive away seventeen previous nannies, but as Nanny McPhee (Thompson) takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences.

---

Plot Keywords:

nanny | widower | magic | family relationships | 1800s | 

---

Taglines:

Behave or Beware

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

It took five years for Dame Emma Thompson and her partner Lindsay Doran to look for the source material. At that time of scouting, the books were already out of print. This explained the reason that it took nine years to make this movie.

---

Goofs

When Cedric starts to plump the cushion for Mrs Quickly, in the tea scene, it changes from a brown tapestry cushion to a bright yellow cushion.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Brown: We must begin our story, sad to say with an empty chair. If it were not empty, we would not have a story. But, it is. And we do, and it is time to tell it.

---

Crazy Credits

"This film is dedicated only to the truly naughty - and their children."

---

Connections

Referenced in Single Father: Episode #1.1 (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Wedding March
(1842) (uncredited)
Written by Felix Mendelssohn
Played before the wedding ceremony

User Reviews

Don't let the trailers fool you

I almost missed this one because I was turned off by the commercials and previews, with their emphasis on the silliest parts (the dancing donkey, etc.). What a mistake that would have been -- I'd have missed one of the driest, archest, loveliest scripts in years. Emma Thompson can do more with a slightly quirked eyebrow and a quiet "Hm" than most actresses can with an entire Shakespearean soliloquy. The whole cast, children and adults alike, is pretty near perfect, some of the best of the British theater even in the tiniest roles (Derek Jacobi, Imelda Staunton et al). The kids are tough and tart, without a simper in the lot, unlike most US child stars.

Don't let the trailers keep you away -- this is well worth seeing, sort of what Lemony Snicket should have been but wasn't.

Details

Official Sites:

Universal [United States]

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nanny McPhee

Filming Locations:

L Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,503,650, 29 January 2006

Gross USA:

$47,144,110

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$123,276,807

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1