Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World (1989) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Gavin Millar

Writers:

Roald Dahl (novel)
John Goldsmith (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

Somewhere in England, in the Autumn of 1955, a widowed father and his son live an idyllic life together...

Plot Keywords:

Greedy Developer | Garage | Father Son Relationship | Pheasant | English Countryside

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	William Smith
Robbie Coltrane	...	Victor Hazell
Samuel Irons	...	Danny
Cyril Cusack	...	Doc Spencer
Michael Hordern	...	Lord Claybury
Lionel Jeffries	...	Mr. Snoddy
Jean Marsh	...	Miss Hunter
Jimmy Nail	...	Rabbetts
Ronald Pickup	...	Captain Lancaster
John Woodvine	...	Tallon
William Armstrong	...	Springer
Ceri Jackson	...	Mrs. Clipstone
James Walker	...	Vicar
Phil Nice	...	Postman
Anthony Collin	...	Wheeler

Also Known As:

Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Norway:7 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Children's Film and Television Foundation (CFTVF)

Trivia:

Samuel Irons (Danny) is the real life son of Jeremy Irons (William Smith) and grandson of Cyril Cusack (Doc Spencer). The idea to cast Samuel in the film was Jeremy's own idea. They had just finished acting together in a production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and Jeremy thought the experience of a film set would be good for Samuel.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl (2005) (TV)

Fabously feel-good stuff!

Some say it's a little overly sentimental and perhaps a little dated but to me this film ranks as one of the best family films going. Maybe it's the nostalgia of watching it as a child or how calm and wonderful village life looked to a young city slicker. It tells the story of Danny Smith and the life he lives as a mechanic's son whose home is a caravan. Jeremy Irons plays William Smith, a widower who raises his son a bit more unconventionally than most

SPOILERS

The plot is set around the Smiths' struggle against a greedy baron who wants the land that the garage sits on. After a few confrontations - one which ends up with the plucky Danny going after his father when he doesn't return from his midnight poaching - They come up with quite an ingenious idea to rid the village of the baron once and for all.

I can't praise this film enough, it's a perfect coming-of-age tale with a wonderful portrayal of a love between father and son. All he more charming when the leads are played by Jeremy and Samuel Irons. It's endearing and delightful to watch - Make sure you see it!