Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (movie)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Directed by	Chris Columbus
Screenplay by	Steve Kloves
Based on	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Produced by	David Heyman
Starring	Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint Emma Watson John Cleese Robbie Coltrane Warwick Davis Richard Griffiths Richard Harris Ian Hart John Hurt Alan Rickman Fiona Shaw Maggie Smith Julie Walters
Cinematography	John Seale
Edited by	Richard Francis-Bruce
Music by	John Williams
Production companies	Warner Bros. Pictures Heyday Films 1492 Pictures
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates	4 November 2001 (2001-11-04) (Odeon Leicester Square) 16 November 2001 (2001-11-16) (United Kingdom and United States)
Running time	152 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$125 million
Box office	$1.002 billion

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States and India as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) is a 2001 fantasy movie directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, based on J. K. Rowling's 1997 novel of the same name.

Plot

One night, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, professors at Hogwarts, with Rubeus Hagrid deliver orphaned infant named Harry Potter to his remaining relatives, the Dursleys.

Ten years later, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins receiving strange letters by owls. He and the Dursleys escape to an island from intrusive letters. There appears Hagrid and informs Harry that he is wizard and his parents were wizards too. Harry has been accepted into Hogwarts, a school where young witches and wizards are taught magic.

Hagrid also tells Harry that his parents were killed by an evil wizard called Lord Voldemort when he was just a baby. Because Harry's mother let herself die to protect Harry, Voldemort could not kill Harry and died instead. Harry is well-known as "The Boy Who Lived".

Alnwick Castle was used as a principal filming location for Hogwarts.

Harry enters King's Cross station to board a train to Hogwarts, where he meets Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After arriving at school the students gather in the Great Hall, where the first-years are sorted by the Sorting Hat among four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Harry is placed into Gryffindor despite the fact that the Sorting Hat offers him Slytherin, where Voldemort studied.

At Hogwarts, Harry begins learning magical spells, plays Quidditch. One night the stair cases change paths leading Harry, Ron and Hermione to the forbidden floor of Hogwarts. There is a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy which guards the Philosopher's Stone, as it turns out later. Harry suspects that the Potions teacher Severus Snape is trying to obtain the stone to return Voldemort to physical form.

One day Hagrid reveals to Harry, Ron and Hermione that Fluffy will fall asleep if the music is played to him. The trio decide to find the stone before Snape does. They discover an already asleep Fluffy and face a series of obstacles before Harry find the stone.

After getting past the tasks, Harry find out that it is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell, who is trying to claim the stone. Snape had been protecting Harry all along. Quirrell removes his turban and reveals that Voldemort's face is living on the back of his head. Harry manages to get the Philosopher's Stone by looking into a magic mirror. Voldemort/Quirrell tries to kill Harry but because Harry is still protected by his dead mother's love, Quirrell cannot touch Harry and he turns to dust. Voldemort's soul escapes.

Harry recovers in the school's hospital wing. The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore explains him that the stone is destroyed and his friends are safe. He also reveals the cause of defeat Quirrell by Harry: because of his mother Harry has love-based protection from Voldemort.

Harry, Ron and Hermione are rewarded with house points for their heroic performances. Harry returns home for the summer, happy to finally have a real home in Hogwarts.

Main cast

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
• Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
• Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
• Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid
• Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore
• Alan Rickman as Severus Snape
• Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
• Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon
• Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia
• Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley
• Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall
• Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell
• Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
• Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan

Production

Producer David Heyman searched for a children's book for well-received adaptation. His staff decided that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was a "cool idea". Heyman suggested the idea to Warner Bros. In 1999, Rowling sold the company the rights to the first four Harry Potter books for a reported £1 million.

Casting

J.K.Rowling insisted that the cast be kept British. Susie Figgis was appointed as casting director, working with both Columbus and Rowling in auditioning the lead roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Music

John Williams composed the film's score

John Williams was selected to compose the score.

Distribution

Promotion

The first teaser poster was released on 1 December 2000.

Release

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone had its world premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 4 November 2001.

Reception

Awards

Philosopher's Stone received three Academy Award nominations. The film was nominated for seven BAFTA Awards.