Figure 1.--Harry and his school mates at Hogarth's wear contemporary English school uniforms.
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Figure 1.--Harry and his school mates at Hogarth's wear contemporary English school uniforms. |
The Harry Potter films are based on the Harry Potter series of books by British writer J.K. Rowling. A HBC reader reports that the film is "Great fun". Another reader writes, "he boy's do not wear the traditional English short trouser uniforms or caps. This is not a decission by the film makers, but reflects the illustrations in the Rowlings books. Presumably as Rowkings wrote the books at a time when British school boys mostly wore long pants, that must have reflected her decisssion." As the story is sent in contemorary times, the uniform does accurately reflect what British school children were wearing at the time the books were published.
Poor Harry leads a horrible life with his cruel aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley, who is a fat, spoiled bully. Harry as a closet for a room at the foot of
the stairs. His aunt and uncle haven't even given hum a birthday party in 11 years. All of that changes when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger--an invitation to an incredible place that will change Harry for ever.
The film is of course based on the Harry Potter series of books by talented British writer J.K. Rowling. She has the wonderful ability of drawing children to her books that would not normally want to read. Given the popularity of the books, there was emense hype about the films, especially the first one--Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone. Both proced to be blockbuster hits. Steven Spielberg was one possibility as director, but in the end Chris Columbus got the job.
The whole world now knows (except for those brave few who have not read one of Rowling’s fantasy adventures) that the world is divided into two. In Rowking's world fantasy and magic are everything. The rest of the world lives ordinary rather humdrum humans, or as Harry and the other aptrtice wizards learn are Muggles. Harry Potter is a poor boy who makes good and there is a bit of Harry in all of us some way or rather.
Harry is played by Daniel Radcliffe. Harry's two friends Ronald 'Ron' Weasley and Hermione Granger are played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. There are wondful supporting casts in both films.
There have been two Harry Potter movies made and a third is in the works. There may be more as Rowling has written four Harry Potter books and is working on a fifth.
Poor Harry leads a horrible life. Since the tagic death of his parents, 11-year old Harry has lived under the staircase with his cruel aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley, who is a fat, spoiled bully. Harry as a closet for a room at the foot of the stairs. His aunt and uncle haven't even given hum a birthday party in 11 years. All of that changes when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger--an invitation to an
incredible place that will change Harry for ever. The plot follows the adventures of the young aprentice wizzard as he discovers Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At Hogwart's Harry and his friends learn to fly, cast spells, and perform other amazing feats of sorcery in a world where nothing seems totally impossible. The film has a fine cast. Daniel Radcliffe who has made several TV films as well as has new comers Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry’s best friends, Ron and Hermione. The supporting cast includes Richard
Harris as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Maggie Smith as Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape, Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid and John Cleese as Sir Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington (aka Nearly Headless Nick). The film is directed by Chris Columbus.
The adventures continue in Hogwart land. Mamy of the old faces are back and several new characters are added from Rowling's second book. Of course Harry, Ron, and Hermione are back.
Movie magazines are already carrying stories about the third Harry Potter film, The Prisoner of Azkabanome, One rerport suggests that it may be shot in part in North Wales. The Daily Post reports that the location manager for the film has spent a week in Snowdonia to check on possible set venues. The three Hogwarts stalwarts (Daniel
Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger). Richard Harris was to play Albus Dumbledore. It also introduces several new characters from
Hogwarts School.
The children where a lot of school uniform garments, including sweaters with school color trim, school scarves, and school ties. The boys do not wear the traditional English short trouser uniforms or caps. This is not a decission by the film makers, but reflects the illustrations in the Rowlings books. Presumably as she wrote the books at a time when British school boys mostly wore long pants, that must have reflected her decisssion.
A HBC reader complains, "Because the boys wear an otherwise rather traditional outfit, the decission seems somewhat incorrect." Anyone who thinks about the period in which the film is set, i.e. modern day, and the age of the pupils, i.e. modern senior school, will realise that the uniform worn by the pupils at Hogwarts is accurate. American readers will be confused by the fact that the school uniform worn by Harry and his friends looks traditional because it is so much more formal than the school clothes worn in America. Indeed the tie and blazer are traditional British school garments. In other ways, however, the school uniform worn is modern in that the Hogwarts pupils do not wear the caps, short trousers, kneesocks, and sandals that British boys once wore to school.
The school uniforms for the wardrobe for the movie were done by Frank Bee Enterprises Inc. They have done many motion pictures. [Craig F. Baker, e-mail message, October 22, 2002.] Never in any of the books has Joanne Rowling even suggested that shorts would be worn by the pupils at the school. In fact if you read the clothing list in the first book, there is not even a mention of any sort of uniform to be worn under the wizard robes. Further study of the books also reveals that the movie has taken some liberties with wizarding outfits. Rowlings in the books seems to suugest that wizard robes are just that, enclosed robes and not the cloaks that are worn in the movie.
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