Matilda
Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy film co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, based on the 1988 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film stars Mara Wilson as the title character, with DeVito himself (who also served a dual role as the narrator), Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles. The plot centers on the titular child prodigy who develops psychokinetic abilities and uses them to deal with her disreputable family and the tyrannical principal of her school.
Plot
Six-year-old genius Matilda Wormwood is neglected and mistreated by her car dealer father Harry and mother Zinnia, and her older brother, Michael. Smart and independent, she finds solace in books at the public library. When Matilda's parents refuse to enroll her into school, she puts bleach in her father's hair tonic and glues his hat to his head. Harry catches Matilda reading Moby-Dick, rips it up, and forces her to watch game shows on television. Matilda becomes increasingly enraged until the television explodes.
More details
| author | Nicholas Kazan Robin Swicord |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | California |
| director | Danny DeVito |
| editor | Brent White Lynzee Klingman |
| events | dysfunctional family telekinesis |
| genre | comedy fantasy |
| keywords | abuse adopt belong bleach car dealer cheer chocolate cake elementary school fbi fbi agent federal bureau of investigation game show guam hair conditioner hair tonic hydrogen peroxide iron maiden lock matilda wormwood middle school miss agatha trunchbull miss trunchbull moby-dick newt older brother psychokinesis read steal telekinetically vengeful ghost vengeful spirit warn water balloon will will and testament |
| musicBy | David Newman |
| producer | Danny DeVito Felicity Dahl Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher |
| productionCompany | Jersey Films TriStar Pictures |
| publisher | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| recordedAt | California Long Beach |
| theme | children's children's comedy |