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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Synopsis

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has not had a good summer. Not only has he had to put up with his overbearing Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths) and their dread of his magical abilities, but it seems as if Harry's best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) have forgotten him as they haven't replied to a single one of his letters. Then, suddenly and mysteriously, house-elf Dobby appears in Harry's bedroom and warns him of great danger if he should attempt to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Dobby is so eager to prevent the young Gryffindor from returning to Hogwarts, he has blocked all of Ron and Hermione's correspondence from reaching Harry. But despite the elf's mischievous efforts, the ever-determined Harry is rescued from the Dursleys' dreary clutches by Ron and his brothers - with the aid of a flying car! - and whisked into the warmth of the Weasley household.
But when Harry and Ron are suspiciously prevented from entering Platform 93/4 and boarding the Hogwarts Express back to school, the boys take emergency action to avoid being late for the new term - only to incur the wrath of Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), who calls for their expulsion after they crash the flying Ford Anglia into Hogwarts' enchanted Whomping Willow tree.
Meanwhile, news of Harry's first year heroism has spread throughout Hogwarts and he finds himself the centre of much unwanted attention. His new fans include Ron's little sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright); first year would-be photographer Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell); and most irritatingly, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh).
Outshone only by his own vanity, Lockhart craves the attention that Harry shuns and is all too willing to associate himself with Hogwarts' young hero. But not even Lockhart can offer an explanation for the sinister new terror that is gripping the school. Now all eyes are on Harry, and his friends are beginning to doubt him. Everyone, that is, except Ron, Hermione and fragile young Ginny, whose focus has turned to her mysterious new diary.
But Harry is not about to let his friends down and, with or without the support of Gilderoy Lockhart, he will confront the dark force lurking in his beloved school.

Details

Year
2002
Type of film
Features
Running Time
161 mins
Format
35mm, Kodak
Director
Chris Columbus
Producer
Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, David Barron
Editor
Peter Honess
Screenwriter
Steve Kloves
Director of Photography
Roger Pratt
Sound
John Midgley
Music
John William
Principal Cast
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman

Genre

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 8th March 2005

Production Company

UK, US coproduction

Heyday Films (UK), 1492 Pictures (US), MIRACLE Productions GmBH & Co. KG (DE), Warnewr Bros. (US)

Warner Bros Productions Ltd
Warner Suite
Pinewood Studios
Iver Heath
Bucks
SL0 0NH
+44 (0)1753 654 545
Rbutton0993@aol.com

Sales
Company

Warner Bros Distribution Ltd
98 Theobalds Road
London
WC1X 8WB
+44 (0)20 7984 5202
nigel.sharrocks@warnerbros.com