Matildathe movie of Danny DeVito about the girl who suffers so much from her parents and Tronchatoro, the school principal, is well remembered by many viewers, now adults, and continues to gain followers even among children.
Netflix is about to release not so much a remake, but an adaptation of the musical, itself based on the book by Roald Dahl, on Sunday, December 25, Christmas.
So let’s take advantage and review 20 trivia from the film.
1. Was it a success?
No. Its production cost was estimated at $36 million, and what it raised in North America (US and Canada) didn’t cover it: US$33,459,000. It has become a cult film.
2. The death of Matilda’s mother
Mara Wilson’s mother, Suzie Shapiro Wilson, died of breast cancer during the filming of the film, dedicated to her memory. For years it was believed she had never seen the completed film, but Danny DeVito revealed that he showed him a rough cut of what they filmed shortly before her death.
3. I’m mean and I like it
Pam Ferris, director Trunchbull or Tronchatoro, stayed in character when DeVito yelled “Cut!” She did this in an attempt to scare the kids on set so that their fear would be genuine during filming.
4. Where else have we seen this?
Pam Ferris (Tronchatoro) will appear later Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) as Aunt Marge. In both films, Ferris plays a villain in stories involving children who can perform magic. And in both she is defeated by those children. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry turns Marge into a human balloon.
5. Based on real life
It is believed that Tronchatoro was based on the principal of Liccy Dahl’s school (she was the wife of Roald Dal and producer of the film), an extremely creative woman when it comes to punishment. Liccy and a friend once tried to get ice cream into their rooms. When they were discovered, the director made them wait until dawn while the ice cream melted.
6. Matilda, with obsessive-compulsive disorder
In her teens, Mara Wilson was diagnosed with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. She found out by reading a book entitled Kissing doorknobs, noting the similarities between her and the protagonist. Years later, she discovered that the book was written by the mother of her co-star, Kira Spencer Hesser, who played Hortensia.
7. The magic chalk
In the DVD edition, Danny DeVito reveals that in order for the chalk to write on its own, they wrote the letters backwards on the reverse side of the chalkboard, then attached a magnet to the chalk. They had someone stand behind the blackboard and write the words backwards with a device that attracted magnets.
8. Magic Chalk II
For Matilda to write on the blackboard with the power of her mind was an idea she then put to use Stephen King in medical sleepsequel to his book The glowto send a message to someone.
9. A fan of the first hour
Mara Wilson had been a fan of the book since it was read to her at the age of four. After the success of Milagro en la calle 34, in which she acted, Matilda was one of the many scripts she was offered. And she chose him right away.
10. That doll
Mara Wilson designed the homemade doll Matilda has in the film. Her name is Vanda.
11. Matilda would not have been Matilda
Director Danny DeVito originally wanted Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for the lead role, as their children were big fans of them on the series. three by three (1987), and his wife Rhea Perlman worked with them on the telefilm Let’s go to grandma’s house (1992). But they couldn’t, because they were rolling doubler (1995). Another candidate was Michelle Trachtenberg (later Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Georgina Sparks gossip Girl).
12. And Danny DeVito wouldn’t have directed it.
DeVito wasn’t the producers’ first choice to direct the film. Nor to stay in it. To make it happen, they thought of Richard Donner, who passed away on July 5 this year, who had already directed three gods deadly weaponhe, the Goonies Y Supermanand Robert Zemeckis, who had already made the three Back to the Future and won an Oscar for Forrest Gump.
13. Actors famous for playing the father
Robert DeNiro, Bill Murray, Bob Hoskins (Who betrayed Roger Rabbit?), Tim Allen, Joe Pesci and John Goodman were all considered for the role of Harry Wormwood. Also Chevrolet Chase. And also Richard Dreyfuss.
14. The mother who almost changed her face
Before casting Rhea Perlman, his real-life wife, to play Matilda’s mother, DeVito discovered Bette Midler. Catherine O’Hara, Kevin’s mom, was also considered for the role of Zinnia Wormwood My poor angel and Emmy winner for Schitt’s Creekand Kathy Bates, Miriam Margolyes and Magda Szubanski.
15. Many probably lose honey
Winona Ryder was considered after Danny DeVito worked with her Generation X (1994), which he produced, but turned down the offer because he was filming Witches of Salem (nineteen ninety six). And they also thought about Helen Hunt and Tori Amos. Rosie O’Donnell also came down, because she was filming Harriet the Spy (1996), and Mariska Hargitay herself, Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit he declined the offer.
16. And Arnold Schwarzenegger almost made it
The role of one of the FBI agents was originally intended as a cameo by Arnold, a friend of Danny DeVito. They had worked together Twins (1988), last great hero (1993) and Junior (1994). But he refused because he was busy with The protector (nineteen ninety six).
17. The chocolate cake scene
Perhaps it is most famous in the film, in which Bruce Bolaños is forced to eat it. Well, it took so long to film that the cast call sheet had an Infinity symbol written at the beginning and end.
18. Wink a Jurassic Park
When Matilda steals the doll and hides, Miss Tronchatoro puts her face to the window and wets her nose. It’s a tribute to the velociraptors that are after the grandchildren of J’s ownerurassic parkwhich had been released three years earlier.
19. That little music…
Another curiosity is that the musician Randy Newman, a specialist in comedies of the 90s and turn of the century, has chosen as a leitmotif the chords of the catchy Send Me On My Way, by Rusted Root… And six years later he would repeat it again Also use for Ice Age.
20. What changes from the original book by Roald Dahl
In the film Matilda lives in the United States and not in England. And she keeps her powers to the end. However, in the book, published in 1988, she loses them when she transfers to a class where she is much more intellectually challenged. Miss Honey attributes this to the fact that she is now happy and focuses her skills on stimulating reading and learning.
and two of yapa
. The rules of Crunchem Hall. According to the sign hanging in Miss Honey’s classroom, they are: 1. No Talking 2. No Laughing 3. No Whispering 4. No Chewing Gum 5. No Late Homework 6. No Running in Hallways 7. Don’t braid your hair 8. Don’t eat 9. Don’t paint 10. Don’t pray 11. Don’t play 12. Don’t daydream 13. It’s not fun.
. Portrait of Roald Dahl. The picture of Miss Honey’s father Magnus is actually of Roald Dahl, the author of the book Matildafrom which the film is based.
Source: Clarin
