Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeves
This hardback and weighty volume is an addition to the ever-increasing mountain of books, toys, even Lego that features the staggering success of the Potter phenomenon. The eight films of the much-loved books have been an unparalleled success, and it is the production values of the movies that made this such a brilliant accompaniment to the series.
The book is an example of the dedication to the spirit of Harry Potter in that the creativity, cleverness and humour are all in evidence. Those who are not familiar with the films will, nonetheless, be impressed by the extent to which the props were so skilfully employed to create the magical world of Hogwarts and Potter. They provide a kind of tribute to the imagination of J.K. Rowling.
Seemingly simple scenes such as the Hogwarts express steaming from London to Scotland involved a 1937 British Railways locomotive, repainted from green to crimson, a helicopter, the green screen used in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and window scenes taken from real moving trains.
The wizard’s chess pieces were up to 12 feet high and weighed up to 500 pounds. When captured, they blew up. The technicians used compressed air devices, remote controlled explosions to protect the young actors.
So many thrilling episodes in the movies had to ensure safety.
It surely was amongst the most exciting jobs for many working on the sets. The flying Ford Anglia, 14 of them, had to be mangled, modified, cut in half, or gutted to allow for filming the wilder scenes.
The humour and charm of Gilderoy Lockhart, played by Kenneth Branagh, is nicely conveyed in the multitude of his portraits around Hogwarts. One of them has Lockhart standing beside his own portrait – with his characteristic smile. His cheerful self-obsession is a feature of his moving books too.
The artistic element comes to the fore with the Black Family Tapestry which is an intricate work displaying the skulls of deceased Black family members. It is room size and has a strange beauty.
Throughout both media, the brilliant designs of the army of gifted workers is evident. Be it the simple elegance of the flying brooms, the Nimbus, the exquisitely fashioned flying keys, or the Art Nouveau of the Boggarts shape shifters, for instance, they all are delightfully frightening parts of the young wizards’ world.
Minor hurdles had to be overcome too. It is obvious that many of the props were hand crafted – even Harry’s wand. Daniel Radcliffe was tough on his which had to be shaped from a specially chosen piece of a tree with a burr. Because he drummed with it, it had to be replaced 60-80 times!
In making the Monster book, one version had moving tentacles and a mouth that spat out paper. Another leapt out of his hand, runs around the room and hides under the bed. The book explains how this was done.
The hundred props focused on in the book are fascinating even to those not really devoted to the Harry Potter world. It is a catalogue of ingenious design and creativity. Explanations on the way these were achieved are interesting but not too detailed. The range of ideas expressed, the talents of the people involved and the homage to the spirit of the books make this a marvellous thought for Christmas gift giving ……one that will be treasured and enjoyed.
From the Films of Harry Potter – 100 Objects
[2024]
by Jody Revenson
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
ISBN 978 152668 154 6
$59.99; 192pp