James and the Giant Peach (movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James and the Giant Peach |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Henry Selick |
| Produced by | Denise Di Novi Tim Burton |
| Screenplay by | Karey Kirkpatrick Jonathan Roberts Steve Bloom |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Randy Newman |
| Cinematography | Pete Kozachik Hiro Narita |
| Editing by | Stan Webb |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures Allied Filmmakers Skellington Productions |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures (Global) Guild Film Distribution (United Kingdom) |
| Release date(s) | April 12, 1996 (United States) August 2, 1996 (United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $38 million |
| Money made | $28.9 million (U.S.) |
James and the Giant Peach is a fun musical fantasy film from 1996. It mixes live action with amazing stop-motion animation! The movie is based on a famous book by Roald Dahl called James and the Giant Peach. It was directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi. The story is about a young boy named James who goes on an incredible adventure inside a giant peach with some friendly insects.
Contents
Story of James and the Giant Peach
James's Early Life
The movie starts with a young boy named James Henry Trotter. He lives happily with his parents by the sea in England. For James's birthday, they plan a special trip. They want to visit New York City and see the Empire State Building. Sadly, a strange event involving a ghostly rhinoceros takes James's parents away.
After this, James has to live with his two very mean aunts. Their names are Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. They make him work hard all day. They also threaten him and tell him scary stories. James lives in their old, run-down house on top of a big hill.
The Magic Peach
One day, James saves a spider from his aunts. Soon after, he meets a mysterious man. This man gives James a bag of magic green "crocodile tongues." He tells James these will make his life better. The man also warns James not to lose them.
As James heads back to the house, he trips. The magic "tongues" spill out and disappear into the ground. This causes a withered old peach tree to grow a huge, enormous peach! Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge decide to make money from the giant peach. They sell tickets for people to come and see it.
An Amazing Journey Begins
James finds a large hole in the peach and crawls inside. There, he meets a group of life-sized, talking insects. These new friends are Mr. Grasshopper, Mr. Centipede, Earthworm, Miss Spider, Mrs. Ladybug, and Glowworm. When they hear the aunts looking for James, Mr. Centipede quickly cuts the peach stem. The giant peach then rolls away and floats into the Atlantic Ocean.
James remembers his dream of visiting New York City. So, he and his new insect friends decide to travel there on the peach. Mr. Centipede helps steer the peach. Miss Spider uses her strong silk to tie a hundred seagulls to the peach stem. This helps the peach fly through the air! They even have to fight a giant robotic shark along the way. Miss Spider tells James that she was the spider he saved earlier.
Adventures on the Way
The next day, James and his friends wake up in the Arctic. Mr. Centipede had fallen asleep while on watch. Mr. Grasshopper wishes they had a compass. So, Mr. Centipede bravely jumps into the icy water to find one in a sunken ship. But he gets captured by skeletal pirates! James and Miss Spider work together to rescue him. After that, their amazing journey continues.
Reaching New York City
Finally, they reach New York City! But a big storm appears, and the ghostly rhino returns. James is scared, but he bravely faces the rhino. He makes sure his friends are safe. The rhino then strikes the peach with lightning. James and the peach fall down into the city. They land right on top of the Empire State Building!
Police officers, firefighters, and a huge crane rescue James. But then, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge arrive. They try to claim James and the peach as theirs. James has had enough of their meanness. He bravely tells the crowd how cruel his aunts have been to him. Everyone is shocked! Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge get very angry and try to hurt James. But the bugs arrive and tie them up with Miss Spider's silk. Both aunts are arrested.
James introduces his wonderful insect friends to the people of New York. He then lets the children eat the delicious giant peach.
A New Family
The large peach pit is turned into a cozy house in Central Park. James lives there happily with his insect friends. They become his new family. The bugs also get important jobs in the city. James celebrates his ninth birthday with his new family and friends, living a happy life.
Main Characters
This film features a mix of live-action actors and voice actors for the animated insect characters.
Live-Action Cast
- Paul Terry plays James Henry Trotter, the young boy on the adventure.
- Miriam Margolyes plays Aunt Sponge, one of James's mean aunts.
- Joanna Lumley plays Aunt Spiker, James's other cruel aunt.
- Pete Postlethwaite is the Narrator and also plays the mysterious Magic Man.
- Steven Culp plays James's Father.
- Susan Turner-Cray plays James's Mother.
- Mike Starr plays a Beat Cop.
Voice Cast
- Simon Callow is the voice of Mr. Grasshopper.
- Richard Dreyfuss is the voice of Mr. Centipede.
- Jeff Bennett provides Mr. Centipede's singing voice.
- Jane Leeves is the voice of Mrs. Ladybug.
- Susan Sarandon is the voice of Miss Spider.
- David Thewlis is the voice of Earthworm.
- Miriam Margolyes also voices Glowworm.
See also
In Spanish: James and the Giant Peach (película) para niños
