Madeline Movie Review 1998

Adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans' classic 1939 children's book about the trouble-finding orphan Madeline (Jones), her schoolmates, and their patient teacher Miss Clavel (McDormand). As the credits open, Bemelmans' familiar paintings are animated. After the live action starts, you'll wish that the producers had animated the entire film. Travelling through the plots of four of the six Madeline books, the acting seems a little flat, even for kids. McDormand and Hawthorne as Lord "Cucuface" Covington are unable to act to their fullest, and the child actors are mostly forgettable. If you liked the books as a kid, you may be disappointed; but it's a good way to introduce your own children to the series.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 90 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Childhood Visions, Paris, Nuns & Priests, Adoption & Orphans

Screenplay

Marc Levin, Jennifer Flacket, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Cast

Hatty Jones, Frances McDormand, Nigel Hawthorne, Ben Daniels, Arturo Venegas, Stephane Audran, Katia Caballero

Cinematography

Pierre Aim

Director

Daisy von Scherler Mayer

Music

Michel Legrand

Other

Jeffrey Wolf

Producer

Pancho Kohner, Allyn Stewart, Saul Cooper, Stanley Jaffe, TriStar Pictures