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Five
Children and It
adapted
from the book by E. Nesbit; screenplay by David Solomons
A Capitol Films, Jim Henson Productions and Sandfairy
production.
Released in October 2004.
Director: John Stephenson
Producers: Samuel Hadida, Lisa Henson and
Nick Hirschkorn
Cinematography: Mike Brewster
Production Designer: Roger Hall
Costume Designer: Phoebe De Gaye
Makeup Designer: Suzanne Jansen
Original Music: Jane Antonia Cornish
Running time: approx. 85 mins
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Cast
(main
characters, in
alphabetical order) |
Johnathan Bailey.....Cyril
Kenneth Branagh.....Uncle Albert
Jessica Claridge.....Anthea
Tara Fitzgerald.....Mother
Freddie Highmore.....Robert
Eddie Izzard.....Voice of the Psammead
Alex Jennings.....Father
Alec and Zak Muggleton.....Lamb
Alexander Pownall.....Horace
Poppy Rogers.....Jane
John Sessions.....Sergeant
Zoë Wanamaker.....Martha
Norman Wisdom.....Nesbit |
Production |
While their parents
help with the war effort, five young children are sent to stay
with their eccentric uncle and his peculiar son. Martha,
their uncle's batty housekeeper, warns the siblings to stay out
of the greenhouse. Curious, they explore it anyway, and
are amazed to discover a secret pathway leading to a beautiful
cove, where the sandfairy - a mystical creature able to grant
wishes - awaits them. Perhaps
shrewder than she initially seems, Martha may well know more
about the children's magical discovery than she lets on, and lends a helping hand when their wishes wreak havoc!
E
Nesbit's classic children's story is here adapted for the big screen,
using modern special effects to give the young siblings'
adventures a contemporary edge. With a budget of $20
million, the Capitol
Pictures film 'blend[s] live action, with animatronics
and CGI', and harnesses the talents of the Jim
Henson Creature Shop. Made partly on the Isle
of Man, principal photography for the film began on 1st
July 2003. The film premiered at the Toronto
International Film Festival and was then shown at the Boston
Fantastic Film Festival, before going on general release in the UK on 15th October 2004. |
Pictures |
| Click
thumbnails to enlarge (images will open in a new window): |
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Thanks to Zoë, Vanessa and Kerrie
for these polaroids.
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Notes |
| Zoe's
work on this production was completed during breaks from
her His
Girl Friday schedule. Her co-star in that
play, Alex Jennings, appears in the film as the
children's father. |
Nesbit's Five Children and It has previously been
adapted as a
BBC TV series, scripted by Helen Cresswell. |
Reviews |
| Five
Children and It review - Peter Bradshaw, The
Guardian |
| Five
Children and It review - Neil Smith, BBC Movies |
| Five
Children and It review, pictures and information -
Daniel Etherington, Channel 4 Film |
| Five
Children and It review - David Cornelius,
eFilmCritic |
| Five
Children and It review - Ollie Richards, Empire |
| Five
Children and It review - icHuddersfield |
| Five
Children and It review - Damon Smith, Manchester
Online |
| Five
Children and It review - Caroline Hennessey, RTE.ie |
Links |
| Five
Children and It official website (France) |
| Five
Children and It official website (UK) |
| Five
Children and It guide - Cake or Death: an Eddie
Izzard site |
| Five
Children and It guide - FemaleFirst.co.uk |
Merchandise |
| Five
Children and It (Region 1) DVD |
| Five
Children and It (Region 2) DVD |
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