I waited ages (probably half an hour at least) for the trailer for this much-anticipated film to buffer on dial-up internet, watching the yellow bar creep along the little window so I could play the video. The Harry Potter books were my favourite series and along with millions of other fans, I was super-excited for the movie adaptation of the first book. I particularly remember the first few minutes of watching it on the big screen, utterly entranced. I saw it twice, maybe thrice at the cinema, and had a copy on VHS. There is a reluctance among many people now, even those who were involved with the movies, to even mention the name of the author, J K Rowling. I am always in favour of separating art from the artist. If we studiously avoided every creator whose opinions we didn’t completely agree with, there wouldn’t be much left to enjoy. Read the books you love, watch the films you love, if they make you happy.

It was always going to be a huge challenge to bring the best-selling 1997 novel for children, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the US) to the big screen, directed by Chris Columbus, produced by David Heyman, with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. The result is fantastic, though not perfect. The cast (Rowling insisted they be British and Irish), costumes, settings, special effects and music are wonderful. There are real locations too, including King’s Cross Station, which you can see before it had a revamp.

The book is short, compared to the later instalments in the series, so much of the story is in the film. A few things are missed out, such as scenes with the Dursleys, the character of Peeves the poltergeist (Rik Mayall actually filmed this and was cut), the trials of looking after Norbert the dragon, a couple more enchantments through the trap door, and an explanation as to why Quirrell has a face on the back of his head! Sometimes scenes are extended to heighten the drama. For example, the python escape, where Dudley falls into the enclosure and get trapped behind the glass. Another example is the denouement. In the book, Harry’s touch burns Quirrell, but then the pain in Harry’s head is too much and he blacks out. When he wakes up in the hospital wing, Dumbledore explains he got there just in time to save Harry. In the film, Quirrell is not only burned, but crumbles into ashes, releasing the spirit of Voldemort which rushes through Harry and knocks him unconscious.

The film took over a billion dollars at the box office! It won some awards and although not all of the critics liked it, the public loved it. The enthusiasm for the movies undoubtedly pushed many people towards the books.

You can watch the film instead of reading the book, but for more detail about the wizarding world and a fuller story, the book is always the best option!

Image credit: https://www.vintagemovieposters.co.uk/shop/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-movie-poster/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57699271