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 by Roald Dahl. The film stars Mara Wilson as the title character, with DeVito himself (who also served in a dual role as the narrator and Harry Wormwood), 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 Matilda Wormwood has been neglected and mistreated by her parents (corrupt car dealer Harry Wormwood and his bingo-loving wife Zinnia) and older brother Michael all her life. They frequently leave Matilda home alone to fend for herself and refuse to enroll her in school. Smart and independent, Matilda finds solace in books at the public library from the age of four. Matilda seeks revenge by punishing her father by putting hydrogen peroxide in his hair oil, which bleaches his hair. Next, she glues Harry's hat on his head when her father encourages Michael into his illegal car dealings. After Harry destroys one of Matilda's library books and forces her to watch mindless television, Matilda becomes angry, and 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 belong car dealer car dealing car parts closet elementary school fbi fbi agent federal bureau of investigation guam home alone iron maiden lock matilda wormwood middle school miss agatha trunchbull miss trunchbull newt older brother public library search steal stolen car vengeful ghost vengeful spirit warn 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 telekinesis |