Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Chris Columbus |
| Produced by | David Heyman |
| Screenplay by | Steve Kloves |
| Starring | |
| Music by | John Williams |
| Cinematography | John Seale |
| Editing by | Richard Francis-Bruce |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 4 November 2001 (Odeon Leicester Square) 16 November 2001 (United Kingdom and United States) |
| Running time | 152 minutes |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $125 million |
| Money made | $1.002 billion |
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a 2001 fantasy film. It was directed by Chris Columbus. The movie is based on the 1997 book of the same name by J. K. Rowling. In the United States and India, it was called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
This film is the first part of the popular Harry Potter film series. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. Also starring are Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The story follows Harry's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He discovers he is a famous wizard and begins his magical education.
Warner Bros. bought the rights to make the film in 1999. Production started in the United Kingdom in 2000. J. K. Rowling wanted all the actors to be British. The main actors were chosen in August 2000. Filming took place at Leavesden Film Studios. It also used historic buildings across the UK.
The movie came out in cinemas on November 16, 2001. It was a huge success, earning over $1 billion worldwide. It became the highest-grossing film of 2001. The film was nominated for many awards. Seven more Harry Potter movies followed this one. The last film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was released in 2011.
Contents
The Magical Story Begins
Harry's Early Life
The film starts with Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid. They deliver baby Harry Potter to his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. Harry's parents were killed by the evil wizard Lord Voldemort. Harry survived, making him famous as "The Boy Who Lived."
Ten years later, Harry lives a hard life with the Dursleys. Strange letters start arriving for him by owls. Hagrid soon appears and tells Harry he is a wizard. Harry is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley to buy his school supplies. He also gives Harry a pet owl named Hedwig.
First Year at Hogwarts
Harry goes to King's Cross station to catch the train to Hogwarts. There, he meets Ron Weasley, who quickly becomes his best friend. He also meets Hermione Granger, a very smart witch. She was born to non-magical parents, called Muggles. Harry also meets Draco Malfoy, a boy from a rich wizard family. They become rivals right away.
At Hogwarts, new students are sorted into four houses by the Sorting Hat. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The Sorting Hat thinks about putting Harry in Slytherin. But Harry is placed in Gryffindor with Ron and Hermione.
Adventures and Discoveries
Harry starts learning magic spells at Hogwarts. He also learns more about his past. Harry joins the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Seeker. This is very rare for a first-year student. One night, Harry, Ron, and Hermione find a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy. Fluffy is guarding a forbidden area of the school.
Ron upsets Hermione, and she hides in the girls' bathroom. A large troll attacks her, but Harry and Ron save her. This makes them all good friends.
The Philosopher's Stone
The friends soon learn that Fluffy is guarding the philosopher's stone. This stone can turn any metal into gold. It can also make a potion that grants immortality. Harry thinks that Severus Snape, the Potions teacher, wants the stone. He believes Snape wants to bring Voldemort back to life.
Hagrid accidentally tells them that Fluffy falls asleep if music is played. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to find the stone before Snape does. They find Fluffy asleep and face many challenges. These include a deadly plant called Devil's Snare. They also face a room full of aggressive flying keys. Finally, they play a giant chess game, which knocks out Ron.
Facing Voldemort
Harry gets past the challenges alone. He discovers that it was Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Quirinus Quirrell who wanted the stone. Snape had actually been protecting Harry. Quirrell removes his turban, revealing a weak Voldemort on the back of his head.
Harry finds the stone in his pocket because of Dumbledore's magic. Voldemort tries to trade the stone for Harry's parents' lives. Harry refuses, and Quirrell tries to kill him. Harry burns Quirrell's skin, which kills him. Voldemort's soul leaves Quirrell's body. Harry then falls unconscious.
Harry wakes up in the hospital wing with Dumbledore. Dumbledore explains that the stone has been destroyed. He also says that Ron and Hermione are safe. Dumbledore reveals that Harry's mother's love protected him from Voldemort. Harry, Ron, and Hermione get house points for their bravery. This helps Gryffindor win the House Cup! Harry goes home for the summer, happy to have a real home at Hogwarts.
Meet the Cast
Main Characters
- Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter: An 11-year-old orphan. He learns he is a famous wizard who survived Voldemort's attack. Chris Columbus wanted Daniel for the role after seeing him in David Copperfield. Daniel's parents agreed after being promised he would be safe from too much media attention.
- Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley: Harry's first best friend at Hogwarts. He is a younger member of the Weasley wizarding family. Rupert sent in a video of himself rapping about wanting the part.
- Emma Watson as Hermione Granger: Harry's other best friend and the smartest of the trio. Emma's drama teacher suggested her for the role. She had to do many interviews before getting the part. Producers were impressed by her confidence.
Other Key Actors
- John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick: The ghost of Gryffindor House.
- Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid: A half-giant and Hogwarts' gamekeeper. J. K. Rowling wanted Robbie for this role. He was already a fan of the books.
- Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick: The Charms Master and head of Ravenclaw House. Warwick also played a Goblin at Gringotts.
- Richard Griffiths as Vernon Dursley: Harry's non-magical uncle.
- Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore: Hogwarts' Headmaster. He is one of the most powerful wizards ever. Richard first said no to the role. He changed his mind when his granddaughter said she would never speak to him again!
- Ian Hart as Quirinus Quirrell: The stuttering Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ian also voiced Lord Voldemort.
- John Hurt as Mr. Ollivander: A famous wandmaker.
- Alan Rickman as Severus Snape: The Potions Master and head of Slytherin House.
- Fiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley: Harry's non-magical aunt.
- Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall: The Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor. J. K. Rowling also wanted Maggie for this role.
- Julie Walters as Molly Weasley: Ron's kind mother. She helps Harry find Platform 9+3⁄4.
More Characters
- Zoë Wanamaker as Madame Hooch, the flying instructor.
- Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Harry's rival in Slytherin.
- Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin.
- David Bradley as Argus Filch, Hogwarts' caretaker.
- Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom.
- Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan.
- James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley, Ron's twin brothers.
- Chris Rankin as Percy, Ron's older brother.
- Bonnie Wright as Ginny, Ron's sister.
- Sean Biggerstaff as Oliver Wood, Gryffindor's Quidditch Keeper.
- Jamie Waylett and Joshua Herdman as Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's friends.
- Leslie Phillips voices the Sorting Hat.
- Derek Deadman as Tom, the innkeeper of The Leaky Cauldron.
- Elizabeth Spriggs as the Fat Lady, a painting at Hogwarts.
Film vs. Book: What's Different?
The film tries to be very true to the book. The director, Chris Columbus, often checked with J. K. Rowling. She even approved new lines of dialogue. One line had to be removed because it would have spoiled a future book!
Some smaller characters were removed from the movie. For example, Peeves the poltergeist was cut. The book's first chapter, told from the Dursleys' view, is not in the film. Harry and Draco's first meeting in the robe shop is also missing.
Some events were changed for the movie:
- In the book, Harry and Hermione take Norbert the dragon to Charlie Weasley's friends. In the film, Dumbledore takes Norbert away.
- The reason for detention in the Forbidden Forest is different. In the book, Harry and Hermione get detention for being out late. In the film, Harry, Hermione, and Ron get detention after Malfoy catches them. Malfoy also gets detention for being out of bed.
- The Quidditch pitch looks different. In the book, it's a traditional stadium. In the film, it's an open field with towers for viewers.
The film's timeline is also a bit different from the book. In the book, Harry's eleventh birthday is in 1991. But in the film, Dudley's school certificates show the year 2001.
Images for kids
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Alnwick Castle was used as a principal filming location for Hogwarts.
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The store in London used as the exterior of The Leaky Cauldron.
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John Williams composed the film's score.
See also
In Spanish: Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal (película) para niños
