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 | Female Athlete | Child Abuse | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

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:

Sadly, Mara Wilson's mother died of breast cancer during filming. Mara pressed on bravely, impressing her adult co-stars.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At one point in the film, Miss Trunchbull eats one of the candies without removing the wrapper.

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:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Nick Kazan (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Send Me On My Way

Americanized, but still good

One of my most highly-anticipated films, 'Matilda' is both a treat and a disappointment. The casting of Mara Wilson as the title character is ingenious - the little girl exudes the qualities set forth in Roald Dahl's classic. Unfortunately, the filmmakers apparently could not resist the urge to alter the book, in which Matilda is British and lives in a small village. The movie version, of course, depicts Matilda as American, but what's worse, that she lives in a larger area. This detracts somewhat from the bucolic setting of the book, although not enough to create a starkly different environment.

The casting of Embeth Davidtz as "Miss Honey" was another great choice. While not what I had pictured from the book, Miss Davidtz captures the warmth and energy of the young teacher. Pam Ferris, as the grotesque "Miss Trunchbull," is simply outstanding. Both her demeanor and her looks bring the book's character alive.

'Matilda,' while straying from the book's true form, is still highly enjoyable to watch, especially for those of us who have read the Dahl's masterpiece. Those who enjoy 'Matilda' should also enjoy the movie adaptation of ``The Witches," another Roald Dahl classic.