Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Timing: 2:32 (152 min)

7.898/10
29389

8.299/10
1101838

7.7/10
945000

All about film

Video 48

Photo 198

Actors and characters

Release date

2001-11-16

Country

United Kingdom, United States

Production

Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures

Genre

Adventure, Fantasy

Budget

$125 000 000

Revenue

$976 475 550

Website

https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/harry-potter-and-sorcerers-stone

Director

Chris Columbus

Actors

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Richard Griffiths, Ian Hart
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

David Heyman, Duncan Henderson, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan

Operator

John Seale

Composer

John Williams

Artist

Dominic Masters

Audition

Susie Figgis, Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins

Editing

Richard Francis-Bruce, Russell Lodge, Janine Modder
All team (222)

• The film is based on J.K. Rowling's novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (1997).
• J.K. Rowling sold the rights to create films based on the first four books of the Harry Potter adventures in 1999 for a modest sum of one million pounds sterling (at that time, a little over $1.5 million). More importantly, it was stipulated that the author would receive a certain percentage of the box office receipts for each film and would have significant control over all stages of production.
• J.K. Rowling made it an absolute condition that all actors in future films must be British. Only in the fourth film of the franchise, where it was necessary according to the content of the book, did actors from other countries appear.
• Initially, Steven Spielberg was the main contender for the director's position. Negotiations with him lasted for several months, and in February 2000, they ended with his refusal. Steven Spielberg initially considered creating an animated film where Haley Joel Osment would voice the main character. This option did not appeal to either the film studio or the author of the books. Subsequently, the famous director continued to insist on an American actor in the main role. He also cited a lack of creative interest in the project as another reason for his refusal. According to Steven Spielberg, the film was doomed to colossal commercial success, regardless of how successful his work would be.
• After Spielberg's refusal, negotiations began immediately with several directors. Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, Mike Newell, Alan Parker, Wolfgang Petersen, Rob Reiner, Tim Robbins, Brad Silberling, and Peter Weir were considered as the main candidates.
• In March 2000, Wolfgang Petersen and Rob Reiner dropped out of the running for various reasons, reducing the number of candidates to four: Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Alan Parker, and Brad Silberling. J.K. Rowling preferred Gilliam. Despite this, on March 28, 2000, it was announced that Chris Columbus had been given the director's chair. Subsequently, Terry Gilliam openly expressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment, saying he was the ideal candidate for the role and calling Columbus's film simply terrible, boring, and banal. The studio's decisive factor was the director's extensive experience working with young actors and the success of his previous family-oriented films, "Home Alone" (1990) and "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993). On the other hand, one of the main reasons for Chris Columbus's agreement was the tireless requests of his daughter, a big fan of J.K. Rowling's books.
• Steven Kloves was given the honor of writing the screenplay; he had previously negotiated and met with Steven Spielberg when he was being considered as the main director. According to the screenwriter, he was sent a series of short book synopses for adaptation, from which he immediately singled out Harry Potter. He went outside, bought the book, and instantly became a fan of Rowling's work. He also took on the commitment to write the screenplays for subsequent films in the franchise.
• Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg also wrote his own version of the screenplay, but Kloves's version was preferred. However, his work impressed producer David Heyman, and he was remembered when Steven Kloves, for personal reasons, declined to work on the screenplay for the fifth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007).
• Initially, Warner Bros. studio planned to release the film on Independence Day, July 4, 2001. Time constraints ultimately forced the premiere to be moved to November 16, 2001.
• Susie Figgis was appointed head of casting. Working with Columbus and Rowling, she held numerous auditions for the three main roles. Thousands of potential candidates were viewed, but none received approval from the director and producers. Simultaneously, a search began in America, which caused discontent among Susie Figgis, who left the project on July 11, 2000, stating that many of the children she had seen were worthy of the role, but were rejected by the director and producers.
• At the end of May 2000, the official website of the upcoming film posted a notice about an open casting call for the three main roles. Only British children between the ages of 9 and 11 were considered as candidates. At the auditions, the children were first asked to read aloud a page from the book, then to improvise a scene of students arriving at Hogwarts, and in the third stage, to read aloud several pages from the script.
• In July 2000, numerous reports emerged that American young actor Liam Aiken, who had previously worked with this director on the film "Stepmom" (1998), had become the leading candidate for the role at Chris Columbus’s insistence. He flew to the UK and even received an official offer to play the role of Harry Potter, which, however, was withdrawn the next day at Rowling’s insistence, who firmly maintained that the role should go to a British actor.
• Finally, on August 8, 2000, it was announced that the three main roles went to virtually unknown Britons at the time: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
• Robbie Coltrane, who received the role of Hagrid, was the first of the adult actors to have a contract signed for participation in the project. The second was Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall).
• Tim Roth, a British actor but a resident of America since 1990, was long considered the main contender for the role of Severus Snape. Tim Roth declined the offer, opting for Tim Burton's 'Planet of the Apes', after which the role went to Alan Rickman, whose invitation was personally approved by J.K. Rowling.
• Despite Rowling's requirements, the role of Mrs. Weasley could have gone to American actress Rosie O'Donnell, who was in negotiations with Chris Columbus. The role went to Julie Walters, who had previously been considered the leading candidate for the much less significant role of Madam Hooch, the flying instructor.
• The role of Professor Quirrell could have gone to David Thewlis, who later played Professor Lupin in the third film of the young wizard's adventures, 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (2004).
• Rick Mayall provided the voice for the annoying poltergeist Peeves, although all scenes with his participation were cut and did not make it into the final version of the film.
• Warwick Davis, who played Professor Flitwick, also voiced the second of the goblins in Gringotts bank, a role performed by Verne Troyer.
• Richard Harris initially declined the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore. He was persuaded to reconsider and accept it by his eleven-year-old granddaughter, who threatened to never speak to him again if he refused.
• Director Chris Columbus was determined to have John Seale as the film's cinematographer and requested the studio to involve him in the project, but he was already contractually obligated to film 'The Time Machine' (2003) at the time. Fortunately, numerous delays in its production allowed John Seale to be free by the time filming of 'Harry Potter' began, and he accepted Columbus's invitation.
• One scenario for the film included a cameo for Drew Barrymore, who declared herself a big fan of the Harry Potter books.
• J.K. Rowling's requirement that all significant roles in the film be given to British actors was fully met, nevertheless, the film features several non-British actors. Richard Harris was Irish, and Zoë Wanamaker, although she made a name for herself as a British actress, was a US citizen at the time of filming. The role of the goblin in Gringotts bank, accompanying Harry and Hagrid to the vault, went to American Verne Troyer, and one of Hogwarts students, Susan Bones, was played by Eleanor Columbus, the daughter of director Chris Columbus.
• Filming began on October 2, 2000, in the Leavesden Studios pavilions, located approximately 50 kilometers from London, and in the city itself. Most of the scenes taking place at Hogwarts and near the school were filmed in the cathedrals of Gloucester and Durham. Scenes in the hospital and school library were filmed in two historic buildings at Oxford University: Oxford Divinity School and the Duke Humfrey Library.
• The decision to film in Gloucester Cathedral sparked widespread protests from local residents. Numerous indignant letters were published in the local press, accusing the filmmakers of sacrilege and threatening to prevent the film crew from entering the cathedral. However, on the day filming was scheduled to begin, only one protesting local resident appeared.
• The Australian High Commission in London was used as the location for Gringotts Wizarding Bank. In accordance with the book, filming also took place at London Zoo and King's Cross Station. Filming wrapped up in July 2001.
• Director Chris Columbus deemed it necessary to use both specially designed moving mechanical models (animatronics) and computer graphics in creating the magical creatures for the film. Computer special effects were primarily used in creating the cave troll and the dragon Norbert.
• Everywhere in the world except the US, the film was released under the title “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” In North American distribution, the title was changed to “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” For this reason, all scenes mentioning the Philosopher’s Stone were filmed twice: in one case, the actors say Philosopher’s Stone, and in the other, Sorcerer’s Stone.
• In one scene in the film, when Harry, Ron and Hermione approach Hagrid’s hut, he plays a homemade flute. At that moment, he plays the Hedwig’s Theme from the film’s soundtrack.
• The GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall steam locomotive, formerly owned by the British Great Western Railway and built in 1937, was used as the Hogwarts Express in this and subsequent films. Since 2004, the private tour operator Beyond Boundaries Travel has been organizing tours around Britain on it exclusively for Harry Potter fans.
• On the Quidditch Cup, in addition to Harry's father's name, the names of M. McGonagall and R.J.H. King are also engraved. The latter character was named in honor of John King, who was responsible for the production and use of props in the project.
• In the Trophy Room, to the right of the Quidditch Cup, one can see an award 'for special services to the school'. A portion of the name Tom M. Riddle engraved on it is also visible.
• Among the portraits on the vanishing staircase, one can notice a painting depicting Anne Boleyn, the English queen, second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. Many contemporaries of Anne Boleyn believed she was a witch.
• The striped cat used during filming went missing and was found only after two days of intensive searching.
• One of Robbie Coltrane's stunt doubles was former English national rugby team player Martin Bayfield.
• Three owls – Ook, Gizmo, and Sprout – were used to play Hedwig, Harry Potter's owl.
• Nicolas Flamel, mentioned as the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, was in reality a famous alchemist who, according to some of his contemporaries, actually created the Philosopher's Stone, and whose death was shrouded in mysterious circumstances. A legend exists that he is still alive, and if so, would be approximately as old as he is in the film and book.
• In the book, students travel to Hogwarts from Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station, a platform usually invisible to the naked eye and accessible through a barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. However, it turned out that at King's Cross Station, Platforms 9 and 10 are not in the main building, but in a separate structure, and are separated not by a barrier, but by two railway tracks. In one interview, J.K. Rowling admitted her mistake and said she had confused King's Cross and Euston stations, although at the latter station as well, Platforms 9 and 10 are separated by tracks, not a barrier. Platforms 4 and 5, located in the main part of King's Cross Station, were used for filming and were temporarily renamed 9 and 10. Subsequently, a cast iron sign reading 'Platform 9 ¾' was placed on the wall of the building where the real Platforms 9 and 10 are located, with a quarter of a luggage trolley embedded beneath it, the remaining part appearing to have disappeared into the wall.
• The actor who played the station attendant at King's Cross Station, to whom Harry turns for help, actually works as a railway employee in a different capacity: he is a train conductor.
• The Dumbledore surname translates from Old English as bumblebee.
• The motto of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus,” translates from Latin as “Never tickle a sleeping dragon.”
• During filming, Daniel Radcliffe decided to prank Robbie Coltrane and changed the interface of his mobile phone to Turkish. The actor struggled with it for a long time and was forced to ask for help from Eytan Fenell, the father of the makeup artist, who was of Turkish origin.
• Before the film's release, a computer game of the same name was released, created by Electronic Arts and becoming a major hit. American toy manufacturer Mattel Inc. won the competition for the right to produce toys based on the upcoming film. Shortly thereafter, another industrial giant in the industry, Hasbro, also gained this right.
• Composer John Williams wrote a musical piece specifically for the film's trailer. It later appeared on the film's soundtrack under the title “Prologue,” which is quite rare.
• The film set a new record for opening weekend box office takings in the American and British markets. In America, the weekend gross was $90,294,621, and in Britain, £16,335,627.
• The film became the highest-grossing film of the year in the US, earning $317,575,550 during its entire run, and achieved the same success internationally, earning $658.9 million. According to worldwide box office results, the film came in second place in history with a total of $976.5 million, second only to James Cameron's 'Titanic' at that time.
• Anna Popplewell auditioned for the role of Hermione Granger.
• The wizard chess set that Harry and Ron play was based on the Lewis Chessmen, the most famous chess pieces in the world, found in the sand on the beach of the Isle of Lewis, Hebrides, and dating back to the 12th century.
• Actor Anton Yelchin auditioned for the role of Harry Potter.
• The scene depicting the murder of Harry's parents by Voldemort was written personally by J.K. Rowling, as she alone knew precisely what happened then.
• In the scene with the troll in the girls' bathroom, Daniel Radcliffe was not actually suspended by the troll's neck, as the troll's abrupt movements could easily have broken his neck. The image of the actor was added using computer graphics.
• The inscription on the Mirror of Erised reads: “Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.” If read backwards, it says: “I show not your face but your heart's desire,” which translates to “I show not your face but your deepest desire.”
• The film is based on the novel by J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” (1997).
• In March 2000, Wolfgang Petersen and Rob Reiner withdrew from consideration for the vacancy for various reasons, reducing the number of candidates to four: Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Alan Parker, and Brad Silberling, with J.K. Rowling favoring Gilliam. Despite this, on March 28, 2000, it was announced that Chris Columbus had been given the director's chair. Subsequently, Terry Gilliam openly expressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment, saying he was the ideal candidate for the role and calling Columbus's film simply terrible, boring, and banal. The studio's decisive factor was the director's extensive experience working with young actors and the success of his previous family-oriented films, “Home Alone” (1990) and “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993). On the other hand, one of the main reasons for Chris Columbus's agreement was the relentless requests of his daughter, a great fan of J.K. Rowling's books.
• Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg also wrote his own version of the script, but Cloves' version was preferred. However, his work impressed producer David Heyman and he was remembered when Steven Kloves, due to personal reasons, declined to work on the screenplay for the fifth Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007).
• In July 2000, numerous reports emerged that young American actor Liam Aiken, who had previously worked with the director on “The Stepford Wives” (1998), was the leading candidate for the role at Chris Columbus's insistence. He flew to the UK and even received an official offer to play the role of Harry Potter, which, however, was withdrawn the next day at Rowling’s insistence, who firmly believed that the role should go to a British actor.
• Tim Roth, of British origin but living in America since 1990, was the main contender for the role of Severus Snape for a long time. Tim Roth declined the offer, preferring Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes,” after which the role went to Alan Rickman, whose invitation was personally approved by J.K. Rowling.
• Despite Rowling's requirements, the role of Mrs. Weasley could have gone to American actress Rosie O’Donnell, who was in negotiations with Chris Columbus. The role went to Julie Walters, who had previously been considered the main contender for the much less important role of Madam Hooch, the flying instructor.
• The role of Professor Quirrell could have gone to David Thewlis, who later played Professor Lupin in the third film of the young wizard's adventures, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004).
• Director Chris Columbus insisted that John Seale be the film's cinematographer and asked the studio to involve him in the project, but he was already under contract to shoot "Timeline" (2003) at the time. Fortunately, numerous delays in its production allowed John Seale to be free by the time filming of "Harry Potter" began and to accept Columbus' invitation.
• Worldwide, except in the US, the film was released under the title "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." In North American distribution, the title was changed to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." For this reason, all scenes mentioning the Philosopher's Stone were shot twice: in one case, the actors say Philosopher's Stone, and in the other, Sorcerer's Stone.
• In one scene of the film, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione approach Hagrid's hut, he plays a homemade flute. At that moment, he plays the Hedwig's Theme from the film's soundtrack.