Danny, the Champion of the World is a 1989 British drama film starring Jeremy Irons, with his son, Samuel, in the title role. It is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, and tells of a father and son who conspire to thwart a local businessman's plans to buy their land by poaching his game pheasants. It was filmed on location in Oxfordshire, with Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, being a prominent feature in the film.

Plot

In 1955 in the English Countryside, impoverished widower William Smith lives with his precocious 9-year-old son Danny in an old vardo behind the garage and filling station they operate together. Wealthy profiteer Victor Hazell, who has bought all of the surrounding land, tries to convince the Smiths to sell as well. William refuses; in response, Hazell sends inspectors to harass William, claiming the Smiths are selling inferior gasoline. When this fails, Hazell suggests to local Child Welfare agents that William may be an unfit parent. However, after noticing how well William keeps the vardo and the shop, and watching Danny fix their rattling old car, the agents agree not to investigate further. One agent tips off William that Hazell sent them.