On November 4, 2001, the premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first part of a film franchise based on the novels of the same name by British writer J.K. Rowling, took place in London. In the center of the plot is a schoolboy Harry Potter with round glasses and a scar on his forehead in the form of a lightning bolt. Harry's parents died many years ago (allegedly in a car accident), and the boy himself lives with harmful relatives - his uncle, aunt and cousin. When Potter turns 11, he learns that he has magical powers. From that moment on, the hero's life changes dramatically. He soon enters the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he meets his first friends in his life and learns to control his power. In the future, Harry will have to repeatedly meet with Voldemort - the dark wizard who killed his parents - and save the world from him.
Rowling got the idea for the book in 1990 on a train from Manchester to London.
The author said that she had been writing constantly since the age of six, but previously no story had so fascinated her.
“All four hours, for which the train was late, I just sat and thought, and all the details arose in my mind, and this puny black-haired boy with glasses, who had no idea that he was a magician, became more and more real for me,” she recalled Rowling.
Over the next five years, the writer made many sketches for the future seven books.
In 1993, the first three chapters were ready.
At that time, Rowling got a job as a teacher, and in her free time continued to work on "Harry Potter".
When the book was written, the author began to send it to publishers, but was refused from everywhere - until the manuscript was not interested in Bloomsbury.
The work was first published in 1997 and immediately received critical and wide audience acclaim.
In subsequent years, six more novels in the series were published.
The books have been translated into more than 80 languages and sold over 500 million worldwide. The Harry Potter series is currently the best-selling book series in history.
On-screen embodiment of the wizarding world
The film adaptation of "Harry Potter" was initiated by British producer David Hayman. Before collaborating with Rowling, he released several walk-through films, now his filmography includes such high-profile projects as "I Am Legend", "Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood" and "Always Say Yes." In 1997, the filmmaker began looking for a children's book that could form the basis of the popular film. Hayman's assistant drew his attention to J.K. Rowling's increasingly popular work. The producer was fascinated by the book.
“This is a very humane and touching story.
Harry is very similar to everyone.
He comes from a dysfunctional family.
Not the most diligent student.
Moreover, Hogwarts is a school that each of us would like to go to.
The book was not sentimental.
There was a sharpness in her.
She was ridiculously funny.
Her imagination was seething.
That's why I liked it, "- quoted Hayman Entertainment Weekly.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Soon, the producer agreed on a film adaptation with J.K. Rowling. Following the release of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hayman presented the project to Warner Bros. Studios. and received $ 700 million - a budget for two films at once. Stephen Cloves ("Geeks") has joined the team as screenwriter. In his own words, the filmmaker was afraid of meeting Rowling. She also had a negative attitude, perceiving the writer as someone who was going to "stab" her "child". However, in the end, Cloves and Rowling found a common language and worked together on all the Harry Potter films.
Choosing a director for the film was a daunting task.
Brad Silberling ("City of Angels", "Casper") was the first to declare his desire to film "Harry Potter", and then Steven Spielberg became interested in the film.
At that time, he considered three more projects and in the end chose the one that had been put into production earlier.
Then the leadership of Warner Bros.
organized a meeting with a number of directors.
The candidates were invited to share their vision of the future project.
The most suitable producers seemed to be the ideas of Chris Columbus ("Home Alone"), as a result, approved for two films in the series.
The director found the scenes in the Muggle world to be gloomy and dull, and the episodes related to wizards, Columbus saw bright and rich.
He cited the 1940s films by David Lean "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist" as references.
“When we entered the Magic Land - as we have always called Hogwarts - I wanted every shot to be filled with the feeling of a miracle,” said the director.
Chris Columbus was faced with a difficult task: to come up with a visual embodiment of the story already beloved by millions and not to disappoint its fans from all over the world.
On the shoulders of the director lay the selection of actors who starred in subsequent sequels.
The filmmaker was aware of the responsibility and was very nervous on the set - and at first he expected to be fired at all: “The reality is that the whole world put pressure on us and on me in particular, because I knew that if I screwed with this movie, it will be over.
This book cannot be spoiled.
Therefore, I had to come to the set every day as if with tunnel vision - that is, without thinking about the outside world. "
A significant part of the filming took place at the Leavesden Studios, located near London.
The sets were built there under the direction of production designer Stuart Craig (The English Patient).
These include Diagon Alley and the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
The latter's entourage is inspired by the architecture of English cathedrals.
This location has been used for all the films in the franchise.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Some scenes were filmed on location.
The walls of Hogwarts and the episodes on the Quidditch pitch have been recreated on the grounds of Alnwick Castle.
In Durham Cathedral, a class was found to teach transfiguration classes, and the Australian Embassy in London temporarily became a Gringotts bank.
Also on the screen appeared the University of Oxford, Harrow School and Gloucester Cathedral.
The scenes on Platform 9 3/4 were filmed at King's Cross Station in London.
However, if in the movie the passage to the Hogwarts Express train is in the brick wall between platforms 9 and 10, then in reality they are separated by a railroad track.
For this reason, the filmmakers chose a wall between platforms 4 and 5 for filming.
The painting often used computer graphics, the possibilities of which were more limited in the early 2000s.
Among other things, we had to draw candles floating under the ceiling of the Great Hall.
Initially, the filmmakers planned to work with hundreds of real candles and even managed to hang them on a wire, but the fire melted the metal, and the candles fell on the tables.
Quidditch-related scenes were created using a chroma key, and during post-production the CGI specialists changed the green fabric to the required background.
Instead of 142 moving stairs at Hogwarts, only one was used on the set.
A layout of several small stairs was also prepared.
The actors were filmed on real steps, and the scenes were also finalized in post-production.
To create the moving portraits, both real paintings and images of the producers who worked on the project were used.
But the half-giant Hagrid did not have to be enlarged with the help of computer technology.
For filming, they found a stunt double with a height of more than two meters and built two versions of the hero's hut.
In the small one they filmed an actor who, in fact, seemed like a giant within these walls, and in the big one - the rest of the heroes.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Music has become an important element of the adaptation.
The first film was composed by Oscar-winning John Williams for his work on Schindler's List, Fiddler on the Roof, Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope, Alien and Jaws.
Before hiring a composer, he was asked to write music for a film advertisement.
Soon he presented a composition called Hedwig's Theme.
As a result, she not only entered the picture, but also formed the basis for the soundtracks of the next Harry Potter films, as well as the Fantastic Beasts spin-off.
“I remember when I first heard the title theme song.
It became immediately clear that this was what was needed.
She felt very appropriate, majestic and magical enough, ”said one of the film's producers.
John Williams also wrote such memorable compositions as Leaving Hogwarts, Harry's Wondrous World, Nimbus 2000. He worked on the first three films in the series.
Long casting and difficulties in working with children
Casting for the role of Harry Potter took almost a year.
The studio has received about 40 thousand applications from children wishing to star in a promising film.
For the role, including such famous child actors as Jake Lloyd ("Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace"), Liam Aiken ("Stepmother"), Haley Joel Osment ("Forrest Gump", "The Sixth Sense") ...
However, they are US citizens, and J.K. Rowling insisted that all roles in the project be played by the British (with the exception of those whose different nationalities are due to the plot).
The role of Potter went to Daniel Radcliffe, who by that time had starred in the mini-series "David Copperfield".
Chris Columbus argued that Radcliffe was exactly who he needed, and the boy himself dreamed of an acting career.
However, Radcliffe's parents opposed his participation in the filming, because they believed that fame could adversely affect the child.
Columbus and Hayman had to personally persuade them to meet the filmmakers halfway.
After the director promised that he would protect their son from pressure, the parents agreed.
Friends of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, were played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who, prior to filming, only participated in school plays.
Chris Columbus noted that working with children was not easy at first, because, as newcomers to the cinema, they "uttered a line, looked at the camera and smiled."
“In the first week, they were just in awe of being filmed in Harry Potter, it meant a lot to them, so they just smiled as if spellbound,” the director said.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Key roles in the film are also played by Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy).
In the sequels, the project team was joined by such famous British actors as Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Miranda Richardson, Helena Bonham Carter and many others.
Movie
vs
Book
J.K. Rowling took an active part in the adaptation of "Harry Potter", and therefore the film is a fairly accurate reproduction of the book.
However, fans found many differences from the novel in the film.
According to the book, Potter inherits the green eyes of his mother Lily, which is repeatedly noticed by other characters.
However, in the film, Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, has blue eyes.
Upon learning that the actor was showing a severe allergic reaction to the green lenses, J.K. Rowling agreed on a new eye color for the protagonist.
At the same time, the writer noted that the similarity between mother and son is the most important aspect of the book and should be taken into account when casting for the role of Lily Potter: “[It was very important] that he had the eyes of his mother.
So there must be a similarity when selecting [an actress] for the role of Lily. "
Later, Rowling's demand was still violated: in the movie “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Part II "young Lily was played by brown-eyed Ellie Darcy-Alden.
The error did not hide from users of social networks, who made a subject for jokes out of it.
My life is a lie.
pic.twitter.com/JUjmaqQl4T
- Harry Potter Memes ™ (@typicalmuggle) May 3, 2013
Among other changes related to the appearance of the characters, one can note the smile of Hermione Granger: in the book she is described as a girl with long front teeth, which is why Emma Watson was first asked to wear a special patch on the set.
Soon the director abandoned this idea, because with the overlay the actress could hardly say: "I realized that she would not be able to play the whole film with these huge artificial teeth in her mouth."
Among the more serious differences between the film and the book is the absence of the poltergeist Peeves in the story.
In the film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" the character could be played by the English comedian Rick Mayal, who even managed to play in several scenes.
However, footage of Peeves was not included in the film, and a petition to Warner Bros. subsequently appeared on change.org.
Pictures demanding to show the cut scenes.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
The film also did not include some of the trials that the wizards had to overcome on the way to the philosopher's stone.
In the film adaptation, Harry and his friends face fewer obstacles than in the book: among the excluded scenes is the logical riddle of Professor Snape, which Hermione solves.
Film critics' reaction
The first Harry Potter film received many reviews from audiences and critics - and not all of them were positive.
Some experts noted the accuracy with which the director approached the film adaptation of the book.
Time's film critic Richard Corliss called the film "a remarkably accurate version with well-typed actors," while Jamie Bernard of the Daily News described the film as "too correct."
The authors agreed that Columbus' desire to literally reproduce the book did some of the damage to the film.
"It is made exclusively from the book, and in this role of a companion he lacks at least a piece of his own soul," - Bernard believed.
Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan described the painting as a copy, imitating a great work: “From gold in Gringotts, a secure bank run by goblins, to a centaur hiding in the Forbidden Forest, which adjoins Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, everything is shown in the same way. as it is written that "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" begins to resemble one of those fantastically accurate copies of the great works of art that amateur artists are working on in the galleries of museums. "
At the same time, Variety critic Todd McCarthy pointed to the highest level of expectations that the authors of the film adaptation of Harry Potter had to face: in his opinion, the same pressure from the printed original was typical only for Gone with the Wind.
In his opinion, Chris Columbus coped with the task.
Despite the comments, experts almost unanimously recognized the importance of the first film for the fate of the entire franchise.
Moreover, the filming of the second part began two days after the release of the debut tape.
The Philosopher's Stone is only the first part, more magic awaits us in the coming years.
But the first appearance of Harry Potter on the screen is a powerful blockbuster, ”wrote Jamie Bernard.
Continuation of a story
A total of eight films based on the seven Harry Potter books were released (the last part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was divided into two films).
After the events of the first film, the main characters continue their studies at Hogwarts school and face new challenges in the fight against Lord Voldemort.
As the young wizards improve their knowledge and skills, the confrontation becomes more serious - soon Harry and his friends find themselves at the center of a new war for the wizarding world.
Fans of the series note that with each new film, the story became more and more dark - not so much in terms of the plot, but also visually.
The viewers' sentiment was confirmed when Moviebarcode published compressed frames from all the films in the franchise: the color of the resulting tape transitions from warm tones to cold and dark frames of the finale.
© Still from the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
After Chris Columbus, several directors were involved in the adaptation of the books.
The Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment of the franchise, was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and The Goblet of Fire was directed by Michael Newell.
Then David Yates took up the Potterian.
He owns the last four Harry Potter films, as well as the spin-offs Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018).
The sequel to the zoological magician Newt Scamander tells a story that happened long before Potter was born.
The films feature some familiar characters from the older generation of wizards, such as Albus Dumbledore.
At the moment, two tapes have been released, three more are in development.
Interestingly, not a single Harry Potter film ever won an Oscar.
Of all the paintings associated with the magical universe of Rowling, the statuette was given only to the spin-off "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" - for the best costumes.
Box office fees
Despite some comments from the reviewers, the collection of "Harry Potter" demonstrated the unequivocal success of the film.
During its first weekend in the USA, Great Britain and Taiwan, where the film was released first of all, the film grossed almost $ 114.2 million.
The total gross of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" at the box office was $ 974,755,371, then the film was re-released several times.
After re-launching in China in 2020, the box office surpassed $ 1 billion.
“We're thrilled that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is appealing to a new generation of audiences,” said Andrew Cripps, Head of International Distribution, Warner Bros.
Pictures.
"The popularity of the film among viewers in China who discover it for the first time confirms the versatility and timelessness of these stories."
Among the box office billionaires, there is another film about a wizard: the final part of the story "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" raised $ 1,342,321,665. In total, Warner Bros.
more than $ 7.7 billion and became one of the highest grossing series in the history of cinema.
Commercial successes and high popularity of the franchise ensure its constant development.
Thus, The Hollywood Reporter reported that HBO Max and Warner Bros.
plan to launch a series based on the Harry Potter books and films.
While the company hasn't confirmed these rumors, the media are calling expanding the magical universe a top priority for the studio.
Proof of this thesis can be considered the imminent launch of the role-playing game "Hogwarts.
Heritage ”, the release of which is scheduled for 2022.
The action takes place at Hogwarts in the 1800s, before the birth of Harry Potter and before the events described in the Rowling books.
The writer did not take a direct part in the creation of the plot.
The game will be released by Warner Bros.
Games branded as Portkey Games.