Madeline (1998)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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 | Precocious Child | Museum | Child's Point Of View | Mouse

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: Madeline's bed is on the right side of the bedroom at the start, but, later, it is on the left side.

Quotes:

Leopold the Tutor: I'm teaching him Latin, I'm teaching him biology, algebration, calculometry, physiconomy, and astrology.
Mr. Spanish Ambassador: But he doesn't even know how to read!

Movie Connections:

Version of Madeline (1989) (TV)

Soundtrack:

In Two Straight Lines

A kid's movie done right!

I've seen my share of summer movies, but I have to say "Madeline" is one of the best I've seen yet, or even, in my life.

Here we have a child character who talks like an actual kid and does not seem overly "cute" in her acting, although she could be said to be cute on the exterior. She has a charming lack of common sense, and her attitude (she has a strong sense of justice, and adventure) make her an enjoyable character, and the plot has surprisingly many connections between early events and things that happen later on.

Surprisingly, the child characters can act rather convincingly, including Madeline herself. I've never felt that Madeline acted "fake" or without enough emotion, myself. As for the adult characters, I believe that the nun that runs Madeline's school is rather convincing at her job, but some of the other characters are a little too "silly", mainly the "villain" characters. Others put up a fine enough performance.

To try to end this "review" here, I'll say this: MADELINE is how I would make a childrens' movie myself if I could make one. It does not rely on star power to sell it (Before this movie, Hatty Jones was never before heard of) and it doesn't have any fancy special effects, or even a big production budget seemingly. It took only three months to film, as well! For such an unconventional film, I have to say Madeline turned out very well.

Madeline!