Madame Doubtfire
Encyclopedia
Madame Doubtfire, known as Alias Madame Doubtfire in the United States, is a 1987 novel
for young adults, about a family with divorced
parents. It was adapted into the film Mrs. Doubtfire
, starring Robin Williams
, in 1993
.
, is allowed to spend with their three children. When Miranda decides to hire a nanny
, however, Daniel disguises himself as a woman and gets the job. The two eldest children immediately know who "Madame Doubtfire" is, but the youngest and Miranda are fooled. Daniel uses his disguise to spend time with his children. Miranda comments that the house has never been run better.
After Miranda discovers Daniel's secret — and after one more terrible fight — both parents admit to mistakes and make arrangements for Daniel to see his children more often.
, with a budget of $25 million, and was released on November 24, 1993. The adaptation was by Leslie Dixon
and Randi Mayem Singer
, and directed by Chris Columbus
. Robin Williams
played the eponymous character, and Sally Field
played his wife, Miranda. In the film, his disguise is so well-done that no one in his family recognizes him at first. Likewise, Greg Cannom
, Ve Neill
and Yolanda Toussieng received the Academy Award for Best Makeup for creating it.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
for young adults, about a family with divorced
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
parents. It was adapted into the film Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Sally Field and based on the novel Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It was directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup...
, starring Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, in 1993
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
.
Plot
Daniel and Miranda Hilliard are separated, and Miranda, a successful businesswoman, severely limits the amount of time her husband, an impractical, out-of-work actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, is allowed to spend with their three children. When Miranda decides to hire a nanny
Nanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
, however, Daniel disguises himself as a woman and gets the job. The two eldest children immediately know who "Madame Doubtfire" is, but the youngest and Miranda are fooled. Daniel uses his disguise to spend time with his children. Miranda comments that the house has never been run better.
After Miranda discovers Daniel's secret — and after one more terrible fight — both parents admit to mistakes and make arrangements for Daniel to see his children more often.
Awards
- 1987 Guardian Children's Fiction PrizeGuardian AwardThe Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
(shortlist) - 1987 Observer Teenage Fiction Prize (shortlist)
- 1987 Whitbread Children's Book AwardCosta Book AwardsThe Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
(shortlist)
Film adaptation
The feature film adaptation was produced by 20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, with a budget of $25 million, and was released on November 24, 1993. The adaptation was by Leslie Dixon
Leslie Dixon
Leslie Dixon is an American screenwriter and producer. Some of the screenplays she has written include: Outrageous Fortune, Overboard, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Thomas Crown Affair, Pay It Forward, and Hairspray. She was nominated for a Saturn Award for her Freaky Friday screenplay...
and Randi Mayem Singer
Randi Mayem Singer
Randi Mayem Singer is a writer and producer.Singer is an American screenwriter best known for writing the screenplay to the 20th Century Fox blockbuster Mrs. Doubtfire....
, and directed by Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
. Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
played the eponymous character, and Sally Field
Sally Field
Sally Margaret Field is an American actress, singer, producer, director, and screenwriter. In each decade of her career, she has been known for major roles in American TV/film culture, including: in the 1960s, for Gidget or Sister Bertrille on The Flying Nun ; in the 1970s, for Sybil , Smokey and...
played his wife, Miranda. In the film, his disguise is so well-done that no one in his family recognizes him at first. Likewise, Greg Cannom
Greg Cannom
Greg Cannom is a Hollywood special makeup effects artist. Cannom has been nominated for nine Academy Awards and has won three times. He has also been nominated for seven Saturn Awards and received one.-Partial filmography:...
, Ve Neill
Ve Neill
Ve Neill is an American makeup artist. Her real name is Mary Flores. She has won three Academy Awards, for the films Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire and Ed Wood...
and Yolanda Toussieng received the Academy Award for Best Makeup for creating it.