Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2425 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-07-18
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Synopsis
Nine year-old Danny lives in a gypsy caravan with his father William. Lord of the manor Victor Hazell is determined to own the land on which their caravan stands anyway he can. When William is snared by a man-trap Danny devises a plot that will see the obnoxious Victor Hazell off. Based on the story by Roald Dahl.

Customer Reviews

Made for 1989 television, 4:3 ratio is all you need
This is a wonderfully-realised television version of Roald Dahl's novel. It evokes a golden age of pastoral 1950s England as Dahl does in his book. The chemistry here between real-life father and son Jeremy and Samuel Irons rings true, and Robbie Coltrane's performance creates a suitably vulgar, nasty and stupid Victor Hazell for the viewer to hate.

I would suggest that the admittedly upsetting bloodsport scenes at the film's opening are an essential part of underlining the stupidity and cruelty of men like Hazell and what they like to do for fun, which was surely one of Dahl's key points for comment in the original novel. These scenes are not enough to take away from the film's appropriateness or enjoyability for a family audience, which scores highly indeed.

Regarding Judy Lewis' comment on the aspect ratio of this transfer, the Internet Movie Database lists the original aspect ratio for this film as 1.33:1 (or 4:3). This was a made-for-television film in 1989, so 4:3 would have indeed been the original aspect ratio for this film, and no widescreen edition could therefore exist without severe cropping. This means you are missing nothing of the film with this transfer.

Danny the Champion of the World
I have been waiting for years for the release on DVD of this delightful and timeless film, based of course on Roald Dahl's book. Set in the 1950s, and featuring excellent performances from three generations of the one family (the great Jeremy Irons, his son Sam and Sam's grandfather Cyril Cusack), it is a charming and often amusing tale of poaching, bullying and revenge. The only disappointment - its aspect ratio is 4:3, something not mentioned in the technical specs.

One of Dahl's greatest
Not as extravagant or as fantastical as some other Dahl fictions, Dahl's gentle tale of a loving Father/Son relationship is definitely one of his best. With the lead roles being given to a Father and Son this film can't go wrong. Both Irons actors give a superb performance.