| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that there's a kidnapping that younger children might find scary, and the overall absence of parents. Pepito's parents are loving but rather neglectful, and Madeline is an orphan.
One of the most beloved heroines of children's literature is brought to life in this movie based on the classic series of books by Ludwig Bemelmans about the "twelve little girls in two straight lines" who live in "a small house in Paris that was covered with vines," and especially "the smallest one," Madeline (Hetty Jones). Bemelmans' gorgeous water colors turn into gorgeously photographed Paris, set vaguely in the 1950s, setting the stage for Madeline's night-time race to the hospital for an appendectomy, her fall into the Seine and rescue by the brave dog Genevive, and her adventures with Pepito, the son of the Spanish ambassador. Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand plays Miss Clavel, the nun who cares for her charges with imagination, wisdom, and love, and courage. Veteran British actor Nigel Hawthorne is stern Lord Covington, who wants to sell the small house covered with vines and close down the school.
Young children, especially fans of the books, will enjoy the film. Newcomer Hetty Jones is a spunky Madeline, brave enough to say "Pooh Pooh" to a tiger, smart enough to know that if she asks Pepito to be extra quiet he will find some way to do something noisy, and determined enough to find a way to stop Lord Covington from selling the school his late wife loved so dearly.
Families can talk about how the film compares to the book. Which do you like better? Would you have done anything differently if you were making this film?
| Topics: | book characters |
| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Daisy von Sherler Mayer |
| Cast: | Frances McDormand, Hatty Jones, Nigel Hawthorne |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 88 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 10, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | December 15, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | momentary language |