An agent of Warner Brothers bought the movie rights to the film at a relatively low price soon before the book's incredible success. The movie was made at Leavesden Film Studios and released in 2001. The second, third and fourth books have also been made into films. The rest of the series will follow. It is planned that the rest of them will use the same main cast for continuity purposes, although it is commonly speculated that the child actors and actresses will eventually grow too old for their respective parts.
The film made in excess of $950 million at the worldwide box office (third only to Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) and received three Oscar nominations.
J. K. Rowling insisted that the entire cast be British, in keeping with the cultural integrity of the book and the movie. Exceptions are Irish character Seamus Finnigan (Devon Murray), Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris is also Irish), and Madam Hooch (American-born Zoe Wanamaker).
She also approved the screenplay, written by Steve Kloves.
Taglines: The Magic Begins Soon and Let The Magic Begin.
Synopsis
Harry Potter, a seemingly ordinary eleven-year-old boy, is actually a wizard and survivor of Lord Voldemort's attempted rise to power. Harry is rescued from his horrible Muggle relatives and takes his place at Hogwarts, where he becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.Cast
| Role | Actor |
| Harry Potter | Daniel Radcliffe |
| Ron Weasley | Rupert Grint |
| Hermione Granger | Emma Watson |
| Draco Malfoy | Tom Felton |
| Albus Dumbledore | Richard Harris |
| Minerva McGonagall | Maggie Smith |
| Severus Snape | Alan Rickman |
| Rubeus Hagrid | Robbie Coltrane |
| Neville Longbottom | Matthew Lewis |
| Uncle Vernon | Richard Griffiths |
| Aunt Petunia | Fiona Shaw |
| Dudley Dursley | Harry Melling |
| Professor Quirrell | Ian Hart |
| Mr. Ollivander | John Hurt |
| Filius Flitwick | Warwick Davis |
| Molly Weasley | Julie Walters |
| Madam Hooch | Zoe Wanamaker |
| Lord Voldemort (voice) | Richard Bremmer |
United States naming
Both the movie and book ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone were released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the U.S., a name change some fans consider unnecessary or even insulting to those familiar with the philosopher's stone legend.Alterations from the book
There are many differences between the film and book, some of which are more prominent than others, including:* The characters of Peeves the Poltergeist, Professor Binns and Pansy Parkinson are omitted entirely.
** A scene with Peeves was filmed but left out of the theatrical cut: it is rumoured that a forthcoming extended "director's cut" will restore his scene.
* Harry doesn't find out that Lord Voldemort killed his parents until after he buys his wand.
* Harry never goes back to the Dursleys' between Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express.
* Harry doesn't meet Malfoy until after they get to Hogwarts.
* The scene at the hotel with the Dursleys is omitted.
* In the book, the man who gave Hagrid Fluffy is Greek, whereas in the movie, he is Irish.
* The Christmas Day scene with dinner, the Weasleys, and all Harry's presents other than the Invisibility cloak was cut from the theatrical release, but was included as a deleted scene on the DVD version.
* In the book, wizard chess involves the pieces calling out (oft-times contradictory) advice to the players. In the movie, it involves the pieces fighting and destroying each other when a piece is captured.
* Harry, Ron and Hermione discover Fluffy in a different way than stated in the book; rather than being tricked by Malfoy into going out of their dormitory at night and running from Argus Filch, they get lost when the staircase they are on changes direction.
* The book has Harry seeing his extended family in the Mirror of Erised, where in the film he only sees his parents.
* Ron joins Harry, Hermione, and Draco during their detention in the Forbidden Forest, rather than Neville.
* Quirrell's and Snape's protections for the Philosopher's Stone are omitted, cutting down Hermione's role in the final scenes.
* Norbert the dragon's hatching scene is in the film (just like the book), but Norbert isn't seen being taken to Romania by Harry & Hermione (in the book, Harry & Hermione take the crated dragon up to the astronomy tower where one of Charlie Weasley's friends wisks Norbert off to Romania on his broom). In the film, Hagrid does say that Norbert had to be sent off, though.
* Of the centaurs, only Firenze is shown. The others, Ronan and Bane, are cut.
* Firenze is shown as a dark haired centaur in the movie. He is a blond, blue eyed palomino-colored centaur in the book.
* The climax is far more dramatic than in the book. For example, Quirrell gets turned to ash, which then crumbles, in the places that Harry touches him, rather than simply being burned. Harry also has a moment of hesitation, where it looks as though he might actually give the stone to Voldemort. Since Harry actually sees Quirrell die, rather than passing out before the professor's death, this could possibly lead to a plot contradiction in the fifth movie.
* The explanation that Snape dislikes Harry because of Snape's relationship to James (Snape hated him, even though James saved his life) is omitted.
* In the book, one of Dudley Dursley's friends, Piers Polkiss, comes along with him to the zoo. In the film, Piers is totally omitted.
* In the book, Dumbledore tells Harry that he sees himself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks in the Mirror of Erised, which was omitted in the movie.
* The majority of the first chapter is cut out, as in the following three films.
* Hermione says Voldemort's name (after the Forest part). She isn't supposed to say it until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
*Petunia and Dudley are blond in the Book
Music
The film features a score composed by John Williams, being the fourth collaboration between the composer and director Chris Columbus. The score re-established John Williams as the top film composer, and leader of the leitmotif style. The score features many themes. The main theme, or Hedwigs Theme, is featured at the beginning of every Harry Potter film insofar.External links
*Official site* Movie Tour Guide.com - Maps and directions to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Filming Locations
Category:2001 films
bs:Harry Potter i kamen mudraca (film)
ms:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (filem)
