Matilda (1996)

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writers (WGA):

Roald Dahl (book)
Nicholas Kazan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

A little magic goes a long way.

Plot:

Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.

Plot Keywords:

Little Girl | Reading | Directed By Star | Adoption | Precocious Child

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Jan. 2

8:00 PM

ABCF

Cast

Mara Wilson	...	Matilda Wormwood
Danny DeVito	...	Harry Wormwood / Narrator
Rhea Perlman	...	Zinnia Wormwood
Embeth Davidtz	...	Miss Jennifer 'Jenny' Honey
Pam Ferris	...	Agatha Trunchbull
Paul Reubens	...	FBI Agent Bob
Tracey Walter	...	FBI Agent Bill
Brian Levinson	...	Michael 'Mikey' Wormwood
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Miss Phelps
Sara Magdalin	...	Matilda at 4 Years
R.D. Robb	...	Roy
Gregory R. Goliath	...	Luther (as Goliath Gregory)
Fred Parnes	...	Waiter
Kiami Davael	...	Lavender
Leor Livneh Hackel	...	Julius Rottwinkle

Also Known As:

Roald Dahl's Matilda

MPAA:

Rated PG for elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language.

Runtime:

98 min | USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Netherlands:MG6 | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

One of the lunchboxes reads, "Greeting from Asbury Park, New Jersey", a reference to Danny DeVito's hometown. "Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey" is also the name of Bruce Springsteen's first album.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of the film, baby Matilda writes her name in the mess she made on the counter. The last "A" gets shorter right after she writes it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. Some will grow to be butchers, or bakers, or candlestick makers. Some will only be really good at making Jell-O salad. One way or another, though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse.
[Harry takes his first look at Matilda, grunts, and leaves]
Narrator: Most parents believe their children are the most beautiful creatures ever to grace the planet. Others take a less emotional approach:
Harry Wormwood: What a waste of time!
Zinnia Wormwood: And painful!
Harry Wormwood: And expensive... $9.25 for a bar of soap?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#32.4)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Little Bitty Pretty One

"A wonderful and partly scary adaption of Roald Dahl's classic novel"

I can't say 'Matilda' was one of my favorite Roald Dahl books as a child but the movie adaption isn't that bad.

Matilda is a very bright and intelligent for a girl of her age. She's quite different from her grouchy and ignorant parents. Danny DeVito was good as Matilda's

father, he often plays very grouchy characters. Mrs Trunchbull was scarier than I remember her from the book. She's worse than mean. She's a deranged,

aggressive freak! She's an absolute monster! She hates children and does

nothing except bully and intimidate them.

As for Mrs Jennifer Honey she's the exact opposite of Mrs Trunchbull. She's

kindest and sweetest teacher you could find. She's like a mother to her school children and tries to protect them, but unfortunately she to is intimidated by Mrs Trunchbull. So when Matilda develops these telekinetic powers, it is up to her to teach Mrs Trunchbull an ultimate lesson.

I really liked the relationship Matilda has with Mrs Honey. It reminds me of the relationships I had with certain teachers at school. So I would say this movie is both frightening and touching at the same time.