UK, USA, 1997
89m, 2446 metres
35mm film, Technicolor, 1.85:1
Dolby Digital, English
A British/American fantasy film directed by Peter Hewitt.
Plot Summary
The four inch tall Clock family are Borrowers, living undetected beneath the floorboards of the Lender family’s home. But the ownership of the house comes into dispute when greedy lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will that granted the house to the Lenders and plans to demolish it, making way for a new development. The Clocks have to find to save their home and avoid being revealed to the world.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Director: Peter Hewitt
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films
Executive Producer: Walt deFaria
Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Rachel Talalay
Script: Gavin Scott, John Kamps
Novels: Mary Norton
Directors of Photography: Trevor Brooker, John Fenner
Editor: David Freeman
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams, P.J. Hanke *
Sound Mixer: David Stephenson
Costume Designer: Marie France
Hair and Makeup Designer: Joan Hills
Special Effects Supervisor: Digby Milner
Digital Effects: The Magic Camera Company; Digital Film Company; Framestore; The Film Factory; Cinesite (uncredited); The Computer Film Company *
Production Designer: Gemma Jackson
Cast
John Goodman (Ocious P. Potter)
Jim Broadbent (Pod Clock)
Mark Williams (Exterminator Jeff)
Celia Imrie (Homily Clock)
Hugh Laurie (Police Officer Steady)
Ruby Wax (Town Hall clerk)
Bradley Pierce (Pete ‘Petey’ Lender)
Flora Newbigin (Arrietty ‘Ett’ Clock)
Tom Felton (Peagreen Clock)
Raymond Pickard (Spud Spiller)
Aden Gillett (Joe Lender)
Doon Mackichan (Victoria Lender)
Andrew Dunford (Dustbunny)
Bob Goody (Minty Branch)
Patrick Monkton (Swag)
Dick Ward (milkman)
George Yiasoumi (Wrigley, The chauffeur)
Alex Winter (TV gangster)
Michael Hewitt (TV sergeant)
Simon Hewitt, David Freeman (TV constables)
Alternative Titles
Csenö manók – Hungary
Ein Fall für die Borger – Germany
En Fall für d’Borger – Switzerland (German)
Kätkijät – Finland
Lånarna – Sweden
Lånerne – Denmark
Pequenos Heróis, Grandes Sarilhos – Portugal
Le petit monde des Borrowers – France
Le petit monde des emprunteurs – Canada (French)
I rubacchiotti – Italy
References
- British Film and TV Facilities Journal no.9 (Winter 1998) pp.29-33 – illustrated article
- Broadcast 19 December 1997 pp.S21-S22 – illustrated article, production report
- Ciné Live October 1998 p.31 – review (by Olivier Rajchman)
- Cinema no.235 (December 1997) pp.82-85 – reprinted reviews (by Gunter Goeckenjan)
- Empire no.103 (January 1998) p.40 – illustrated credits, review (by Angie Errigo)
- Film Review January 1998 p.16 – review (by Anwar Brett)
- Screen International no.1133 (7 November 1997) p.30 – credits, review
- Sight and Sound vol.7 no.12 (December 1997) pp.39-40 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Total Film January 1998 p.97 – review (by Dan Rider)
- Variety 8 December 1997 p.112 – illustrated review
Newspapers
- Expresso, Cartaz 13 February 1999 (Portugal) – review (by Manuel Cintra Ferreira)
- La Repubblica 8 April 1999 – review (by Roberto Nepoti)
- Svenska Dagbladet 11 September 1998 – review (Lyckad film om och för de små by Jeanette Gentele)
