.gif)
Matilda (1996 film)
Encyclopedia
Matilda is a 1996 fantasy film
directed by Danny DeVito
, based on the novel of the same name
by Roald Dahl
. The film was released by TriStar Pictures
.
(Mara Wilson
) is an extremely gifted young girl; however, her gifts go unappreciated by her uncaring, unpleasant family. After her father, crooked car dealer Harry Wormwood
(Danny DeVito
), refuses to buy her a book, among other things, she takes matters into her own hands and begins to visit the library. After two years, she has read every book in the library and, as a result, has become extremely knowledgeable for a girl her age about a variety of subjects.
Eventually, after constant pleas by Matilda, her parents agree to send her to school. Matilda is enrolled at Crunchem Hall Elementary School, where children are routinely terrorized by the oppressive and cruel principal, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris
). However, Matilda's teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey (Embeth Davidtz
), is, by contrast, kind and caring, and she quickly recognizes Matilda's intellectual gifts. Matilda develops a warm friendship with Miss Honey, who is revealed to be Miss Trunchbull's step-niece. Miss Trunchbull lives in Miss Honey's childhood home, after moving in there when Miss Honey's father died (strongly implied to have been murdered by Miss Trunchbull), causing Miss Honey to run away to a small cottage.
Constantly terrorized and unappreciated by almost everyone in her life, Matilda begins to develop powerful telekinetic abilities as a result of her unused brain ability. She uses these powers to attempt to trick Miss Trunchbull into believing that Magnus (Miss Honey's deceased dad) is haunting her, as well as retrieving Miss Honey's childhood treasures from her house. But Matilda accidentally leaves her red hair ribbon behind, giving Miss Trunchbull a clue as to the intruder's identity. The next day, Miss Trunchbull confronts the entire class, but Matilda uses her powers to write a message on the chalkboard, pretending to be Miss Honey's father, demanding that Miss Trunchbull move out of Miss Honey's house or he will "get [Miss Trunchbull] like [she] got [him]". She then humiliates Miss Trunchbull, causing the children, no longer scared of her, to run her out of town. Miss Trunchbull quickly drives away, never heard from again. Miss Honey, made new principal of the school, then moves back to her father's house, where Matilda is a frequent guest.
Some time later, Matilda's father becomes wanted by the police because of his illegal dealings, and the family decide to flee to Guam
. When Matilda protests, Matilda's parents agree to have Matilda adopted by Miss Honey. Matilda's mother says goodbye to her daughter, explaining "You're the only daughter I've ever had — but I never understood you, not one little bit."
's novel. Various plot points are shortened or removed, while new details and action sequences are added.
Nominations
" by Rusted Root
, is played twice: when the four-year-old Matilda is left alone at her house, making pancake
s, and at the end of the film, set to a montage of Matilda and Miss Honey playing at Miss Trunchbull's former house. The other song us Thurston Harris
's "Little Bitty Pretty One
", played when Matilda first discovers her psychokinetic powers.
The film's score was composed by David Newman
.
it holds a "fresh" rating of 90%. The film fared moderately at the box office, earning $33 million in contrast to its $36 million budget
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
directed by Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
, based on the novel of the same name
Matilda (novel)
Matilda is a children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape in London, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. The story is about Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary child with ordinary and rather unpleasant parents, who are contemptuous of their daughter's...
by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
. The film was released by TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. is an American film production/distribution studio and subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, itself a subdivision of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, which is owned by Sony Pictures...
.
Plot
Matilda WormwoodMatilda Wormwood
Matilda Wormwood is a fictional character in the children's novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. She is a highly precocious six-year old girl who has a passion for reading books. Matilda's parents do not recognise their daughter's great intelligence and show little interest in her, particularly her father,...
(Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson
Mara Elizabeth Wilson is an American former child actress best known for her roles as a child star, particularly in Mrs. Doubtfire , Miracle on 34th Street , and Matilda . She was born in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and Suzie Wilson . She has three older brothers, Danny, Jon, and Joel, and...
) is an extremely gifted young girl; however, her gifts go unappreciated by her uncaring, unpleasant family. After her father, crooked car dealer Harry Wormwood
Mr. Wormwood
Mr. Harry Wormwood is a fictional character in the British book Matilda, by Roald Dahl, and lead character in the film based on the book. He is the father of title character Matilda Wormwood and her older brother Michael, and the husband of Mrs Wormwood. While he treats Michael nicely, he treats...
(Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
), refuses to buy her a book, among other things, she takes matters into her own hands and begins to visit the library. After two years, she has read every book in the library and, as a result, has become extremely knowledgeable for a girl her age about a variety of subjects.
Eventually, after constant pleas by Matilda, her parents agree to send her to school. Matilda is enrolled at Crunchem Hall Elementary School, where children are routinely terrorized by the oppressive and cruel principal, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris
Pam Ferris
Pamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
). However, Matilda's teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey (Embeth Davidtz
Embeth Davidtz
Embeth Jean Davidtz is an American-born actress who spent much of her early life in South Africa.-Early life:Davidtz was born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then...
), is, by contrast, kind and caring, and she quickly recognizes Matilda's intellectual gifts. Matilda develops a warm friendship with Miss Honey, who is revealed to be Miss Trunchbull's step-niece. Miss Trunchbull lives in Miss Honey's childhood home, after moving in there when Miss Honey's father died (strongly implied to have been murdered by Miss Trunchbull), causing Miss Honey to run away to a small cottage.
Constantly terrorized and unappreciated by almost everyone in her life, Matilda begins to develop powerful telekinetic abilities as a result of her unused brain ability. She uses these powers to attempt to trick Miss Trunchbull into believing that Magnus (Miss Honey's deceased dad) is haunting her, as well as retrieving Miss Honey's childhood treasures from her house. But Matilda accidentally leaves her red hair ribbon behind, giving Miss Trunchbull a clue as to the intruder's identity. The next day, Miss Trunchbull confronts the entire class, but Matilda uses her powers to write a message on the chalkboard, pretending to be Miss Honey's father, demanding that Miss Trunchbull move out of Miss Honey's house or he will "get [Miss Trunchbull] like [she] got [him]". She then humiliates Miss Trunchbull, causing the children, no longer scared of her, to run her out of town. Miss Trunchbull quickly drives away, never heard from again. Miss Honey, made new principal of the school, then moves back to her father's house, where Matilda is a frequent guest.
Some time later, Matilda's father becomes wanted by the police because of his illegal dealings, and the family decide to flee to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. When Matilda protests, Matilda's parents agree to have Matilda adopted by Miss Honey. Matilda's mother says goodbye to her daughter, explaining "You're the only daughter I've ever had — but I never understood you, not one little bit."
Cast
- Mara WilsonMara WilsonMara Elizabeth Wilson is an American former child actress best known for her roles as a child star, particularly in Mrs. Doubtfire , Miracle on 34th Street , and Matilda . She was born in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and Suzie Wilson . She has three older brothers, Danny, Jon, and Joel, and...
as Matilda WormwoodMatilda WormwoodMatilda Wormwood is a fictional character in the children's novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. She is a highly precocious six-year old girl who has a passion for reading books. Matilda's parents do not recognise their daughter's great intelligence and show little interest in her, particularly her father,...
, the protagonist. - Embeth DavidtzEmbeth DavidtzEmbeth Jean Davidtz is an American-born actress who spent much of her early life in South Africa.-Early life:Davidtz was born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then...
as Miss Jennifer "Jen" "Jenny" Honey, the DeuteragonistDeuteragonistIn literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
. - Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
as Harry Wormwood, the secondary antagonist. DeVito was also the narrator - Rhea Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are real-life husband and wife.
- Pam FerrisPam FerrisPamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
as Agatha Trunchbull, the primary antagonist. - Brian LevinsonBrian LevinsonBrian Levinson is an American film and television actor.-Career:He was active as a child actor in film and on television from 1990 until 1997.Levinson's first role was in the film Predator 2...
as Michael "Mikey" Wormwood - Paul ReubensPaul ReubensPaul Reubens is an American actor, writer, film producer, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor...
as FBI Agent Bob - Tracey WalterTracey WalterTracey Walter is an American character actor. He has appeared in over 100 films and television shows.-Life and career:Walter was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a truck driver....
as FBI Agent Bill - Kiami DavaelKiami DavaelKiami Davael , sometimes credited as Kiami Davael Daugherty, is an American actress. She is known mostly for her debut role as Lavender in the fantasy film Matilda .-Career:...
as Lavender - Jacqueline Steiger as Amanda Thripp
- Kira Spencer Hesser as Hortensia
- Jimmy Karz as Bruce Bogtrotter
- Jean Speegle HowardJean Speegle HowardJean Speegle Howard was an American actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard made appearances in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as Married.....
as Mrs. Phelps - Marion Dugan as Cookie
- Emily Eby as Maggie
- Jon LovitzJon LovitzJonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
as Million Dollar Sticky Host (uncredited)
Differences from the novel
The film is a modernized and Americanized version of Roald DahlRoald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
's novel. Various plot points are shortened or removed, while new details and action sequences are added.
- There are some changes in characters' motivations, for example, in the novel, Matilda's pranks against her father are purely done as acts of revenge. However, in the film, she gets the idea that when a person is bad, that person has to be taught a lesson, and interprets this as justification for punishing her parents. In the novel, Matilda plays three tricks on her parents, such as mixing her mother's hair bleach with her father's hair dye, hiding a parrotParrotParrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
in the chimney tricking the family into thinking there is a ghost in the house, and lining her father's hat with extra-strength glue. In the film, she only plays two tricks, the hair dye (With Matilda replacing it with Hydrogen peroxide), and the glue-in-the-hat tricks, with both tricks being done on the same day.
- In the novel, Matilda's father destroys the library book The Red PonyThe Red PonyThe Red Pony is an episodic novella written by American writer John Steinbeck in 1933. The first three chapters were published in magazines from 1933–1936, and the full book was published in 1937 by Covici Friede. The stories in the book are tales of a boy named Jody Tiflin. The book has four...
by John SteinbeckJohn SteinbeckJohn Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
out of pure malice and that he thinks American authors are morally bankrupt, while in the film, the book he destroys is Moby-DickMoby-DickMoby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...
by Herman MelvilleHerman MelvilleHerman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
, and his reasons for destroying it are that he thinks the book is trash due to the title (possibly due to the film being set in the US).
- In the novel, Mrs Wormwood is described and illustrated as being tall and podgy, and Mr Wormwood is described and illustrated as being small and wiry. In the film, their body shapes are reversed, but their heights are still the same as in the novel.
- Smaller changes are those of ages, TV programs and the like; Matilda's brother is turned from an ordinary boy into a bullying child, and her mother shows some humanity by giving her daughter away because she is better suited to a life with Miss Honey, while in the novel, both parents drop their daughter without a second thought.
- Matilda's mother is named "Zinnia" in the film, as she has no name in the novel. Also, Amanda Thripp is ten years old in the novel, but is Matilda's age and in Miss Honey's class in the film. In addition to this, there is no Nigel, Rupert, Eric or Wilfred in the film. However there is a scene in which Miss Trunchbull holds a boy upside down by his ankle as she does with Wilfred in the novel. This boy also appears to have long hair as Rupert does in the novel. Miss Trunchbull also drops the boy on the floor like she does with Rupert in the novel.
- In the film, it is revealed that Miss Trunchbull is superstitious, but this is not mentioned in the novel.
- At the end of the film, Miss Honey is made the principal of the school after Miss Trunchbull vanishes; in the novel, however, the job goes to Mr. Trilby, the sympathetic Deputy Head, who has a minor role in the novel and does not appear in the film at all.
- In the film, when Mr. Wormwood sells Miss Trunchbull a car, it shows them talking. In the novel, it does not. Also, in the novel, when Miss Trunchbull says she is glad she was never a child, she says it during Miss Honey's class. In the film, she says it when Mr. Wormwood sells her the car. In the film, the car Harry Wormwood sold to Miss Trunchbull was a barely functional red and black 1970 Buick Electra 225Buick ElectraThe Buick Electra was a full-size premium automobile built by the Buick division of General Motors. The Electra name was used by Buick between 1959 and 1990.- 1959–1960 :...
sedan. In the novel, Miss Trunchbull jokes to Miss Honey that Harry Wormwood sold her a car that was almost new, and previously owned by a woman who drove the car once a year and had 10,000 miles (in actuality, it was doctored by Mr. Wormwood using a drill).
- In the film, Matilda's psychokinesis is treated more as a conventional superpower and less as a miracle. Also, she only uses her telekinetic powers after remembering all the mean things her family and Miss Trunchbull have said to her or about her. In the novel, Matilda rigorously practises her psychokinetic powers, which leaves her mentally drained. In the novel, Matilda loses her psychokinetic abilities after the incident with Miss Trunchbull. In the film, Matilda still has her powers in the end, but almost never uses them. The final confrontation with Miss Trunchbull is turned into a match of physical force versus mental powers. In contrast, characters in the novel have a sense of awe at supernatural forces whereas in the film, they are unaffected by these. In the novel, when Matilda attempts to show Miss Honey her powers, she does it sitting at her desk. Then she knocks over the glass with ease, without telling the glass to tip. In the film, she fails to lift the glass of water, however she manages to lift the pitcher of water later in the film to show Miss Honey her powers. In the film she practices her powers by moving every loose object around the house, such as playing cards and poker chips, however in the novel she steals one of her father's cigars and practices her powers with it alone.
- Miss Honey's story about her childhood remains the same. However, the nickname her father used in the novel is "Jenny", while in the film, it is said he called her "bumblebeeBumblebeeA bumble bee is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. There are over 250 known species, existing primarily in the Northern Hemisphere although they are common in New Zealand and in the Australian state of Tasmania.Bumble bees are social insects that are characterised by black...
". In the film, her father has chocolateChocolateChocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
s which he shared with Miss Honey as a girl, and Miss Honey had a dollDollA doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
which she called "Liccy Doll", likely a reference to author Dahl's daughter, Liccy, a co-producer of the film. She has none of these items in the novel. In the film, they visit the Trunchbull's house while she is temporarily gone. In the novel, they never visited Miss Trunchbull's house.
- Hortensia has a boil on her nose and is eating potato chips in the novel. She does not have or do either in the film. She is also revealed to have done bad deeds to Miss Trunchbull in the novel. She never does this in the film, although she mentions that she has been put in the chokey twice. When she meets Matilda and Lavender in the novel, it is at a time when Matilda has settled in at school. In the film, she meets them when Matilda walks around the playground. In the novel, Hortensia repeatedly insults Matilda and Lavender and is a bully, while she is friendly and protective over them in the film.
- Lavender catches the newtNewtA newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
all by herself in the novel; she was with Matilda, Bruce and Hortensia in the film when it was caught, and mistook it for a frogFrogFrogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
. When Miss Trunchbull throws the newt out to the class, it falls on a light, then a boyBoyA boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
catches it. In the novel, the newt landed right next to Lavender's desk, where she put it in her pencil case.
- In the novel, when Miss Honey asks the class if they know their multiplication tables, Matilda is the only one to raise her hand. In the film, the whole class knows their multiplication tables, Matilda's special ability is discovered when Miss Honey jokes that they could soon solve 13x379, which Matilda solves immediately.
- There is a large food fightFood fightA food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made to harm or damage others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food throwing. Food fights may be impromptu examples of rebellion or...
between the school children and the Trunchbull near the end of the film, while there is no food fight in the novel. Miss Trunchbull faints in one of the classes in the novel, and is carried out of the classroom. In the film, she flees after the food fight.
- Miss Trunchbull's violence and cruelty towards children is slightly mitigated in the film. When Miss Trunchbull hurls Amanda Thripp into the air, she lands safely gathering flowerFlowerA flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s (however narrowly missing a spiked fence) in the film. In the novel, she bounces three times but ultimately trots back to the playground. In the film, Matilda is locked in the chokey while the device is only described in the novel. In the scene where Trunchbull throws the boy out of the window, he was eating two M&M'sM&M'sM&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
during a literature class. In the novel, he was eating Liquorice AllsortsLiquorice allsortsLiquorice allsorts consist of a variety of liquorice sold as a mixture. These confections are made of liquorice, sugar, coconut, aniseed jelly, fruit flavourings, and gelatine. They were first produced in Sheffield, England, by Geo...
during a BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
study class. In another scene, after Bruce Bogtrotter successfully eats an entire chocolate cake without throwing up, Miss Trunchbull then demands that everyone stay for five extra hours after school and copy from the dictionaryDictionaryA dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
as punishment, while in the novel, she tells them furiously to leave the assembly room.
- The sub-plot about Mr. Wormwood's shady deals landing him in trouble with the police is hardly mentioned at all in the novel, but in the film, this plot thread is expanded and built upon; Matilda notices the two FBI agents spying on them and repeatedly tries to tell her family without any of them believing her that they are (reiterating that no-one takes any notice of her despite her trying to help them) copsPolice officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
, with her parents insisting that they are speed boat salesmen. She even comes into direct confrontation with the two agents on one occasion, when they are searching the family garage for stolen car parts. She confronts them for searching without a warrant. When they offer her a chance to co-operate with them against her father, she takes the handbrake off their car, causing it to roll off, and the FBI agents to end their search prematurely. When the Wormwoods are found out to have used car parts, the locations they went to were different in both the novel and the film: it was SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the novel and GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
in the film.
- In the novel, Matilda ran to her parents' house to find out they were moving. In the film, the family dropped by Miss Honey's house and told Matilda that they were leaving.
- In the novel, the Wormwoods' car as seen at the very end was a black Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
saloon. In the film, the Wormwoods' cars were a red Chrysler LeBaronChrysler LeBaronThe Chrysler LeBaron was originally a classic luxury car of 1930s manufactured by Chrysler which competed with other luxury cars of the era such as Lincoln and Packard....
convertible and a faded green Ford LTDFord LTDThe Ford LTD was a car produced by the Ford Motor Company in North America. A range of full-size cars wore various forms of the LTD nameplate from 1965 to 1991 in the United States...
station wagon, the latter being the getaway vehicle.
- In the novel, Mrs. Wormwood simply asks her husband for permission to allow Matilda to live with Miss Honey, while in the film, Matilda's parents need to sign official legal adoption forms, which were Xeroxed from a book. At the end of the novel, Michael is the only family member to say goodbye to Matilda when the family flees the country, but in the film, Matilda's mother is the one who says goodbye.
- In the film, Matilda refers to Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
mistakenly as "Dahl's Chickens." This spoonerismSpoonerismA spoonerism is an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched . It is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner , Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency...
comes not from the Matilda novel but from another Roald Dahl novel, The BFGThe BFGThe BFG is a children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, first published in 1982. The book was an expansion of a story told in Danny, the Champion of the World, an earlier Dahl book...
.
Awards
Wins- YoungStar Awards
- Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film — Mara WilsonMara WilsonMara Elizabeth Wilson is an American former child actress best known for her roles as a child star, particularly in Mrs. Doubtfire , Miracle on 34th Street , and Matilda . She was born in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and Suzie Wilson . She has three older brothers, Danny, Jon, and Joel, and...
- Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film — Mara Wilson
- Cinekid LionCinekid FestivalThe Cinekid Festival is the largest international film, television and new media festival for children aged 4 to 14 held at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It started as a small children's film festival and has now grown into a large organisation that develops activities for...
Audience Award- Best Director — Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
- Best Director — Danny DeVito
- Oulu International Children's Film Festival Starboy Award
- Best Director — Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
- Best Director — Danny DeVito
Nominations
- Satellite AwardsSatellite AwardsThe Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical (Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical (Danny DeVito
- Young Artist AwardYoung Artist AwardThe Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
- Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress (Mara WilsonMara WilsonMara Elizabeth Wilson is an American former child actress best known for her roles as a child star, particularly in Mrs. Doubtfire , Miracle on 34th Street , and Matilda . She was born in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and Suzie Wilson . She has three older brothers, Danny, Jon, and Joel, and...
) - Best Performance in a Feature Film — Supporting Young Actress (Kira Spencer Hesser)
- Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress (Mara Wilson
Music
Two songs are featured in the film. One of them, "Send Me on My WayWhen I Woke
When I Woke is the second album and major-label debut of the American world rock band, Rusted Root. It has since been certified Platinum in the United States.-Track listing:All songs written by Michael Glabicki and Rusted Root except where noted....
" by Rusted Root
Rusted Root
Rusted Root is a band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania known for their unique fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music, with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American, Native American, and Indian influences...
, is played twice: when the four-year-old Matilda is left alone at her house, making pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
s, and at the end of the film, set to a montage of Matilda and Miss Honey playing at Miss Trunchbull's former house. The other song us Thurston Harris
Thurston Harris
Thurston Harris was a male American singer, briefly popular in the early to mid 1950s.-Career:Harris first appeared on record as the featured vocalist recording with the Lamplighters in 1953 one of the many groups on the early R&B scene in South Central Los Angeles, during that time. The group...
's "Little Bitty Pretty One
Little Bitty Pretty One
"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a rock and roll song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day, and popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957. His version reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It has most notably been covered by Frankie Lymon in 1958, Clyde McPhatter in 1962, the Jackson Five in...
", played when Matilda first discovers her psychokinetic powers.
The film's score was composed by David Newman
David Newman (composer)
David Louis Newman is an American composer and conductor known particularly for his film scores. In a career spanning nearly forty years, he has composed music for nearly 100 feature films.-Life and career:...
.
Reception
Matilda received critical acclaim at the time of its release. On Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
it holds a "fresh" rating of 90%. The film fared moderately at the box office, earning $33 million in contrast to its $36 million budget