HARRIET THE SPY
US, 1996, 101 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Trachtenberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Eartha Kitt.
Directed by Bronwen Hughes.
According to the media kit practically every American has read the 60s children's book, `Harriet the Spy', and loved it. And the movie version has proven to be popular with both young and middle-aged. Harriet is a bright child who writes down all her observations - but they get out and her critical comments on her friends lead to her experiencing `welcome to the dollhouse' persecution. But she has to learn to apologise and value her friends. In this she is helped by her somewhat Mary Poppins like nanny, Rosie O'Donnell. Michelle Trachtenberg makes a credible Harriet. The film is an entertainment for young girls - with a message.
1.An American children's classic? Adaptation for the screen?
2.Audience response, adults, children - different reactions of boys from those of girls?
3.The credibility of the plot - the blend of reality and fantasy? The work of a young girl and her observations so that she could be a writer?
4.The portrait of Harriet: a girl of eleven, at home, with her friends, her experiences, the decisions to observe people, write them down and become a writer? Her friendship with Janie and Sport? Her notes, the spying? Her relationship with her parents - and their being busy? Her having a nanny, Ole Golly? The advice from Ole Golly and the encouragement in her writing? The nanny's observations and inspiration for Harriet? The clash with the parents and the nanny, her leaving, the effect on Harriet? Marion and her reading of Harriet's notes in class? Janie and Sport being hurt? Her becoming an outcast? The attitude of the teacher? Her decision to get revenge on those who were hurting her? The petty revenge - and the detail? The parents' concern, sending her to a psychiatrist? The visit from Golly and her effect? Her attempts to apologise to her friends? Her chance to look again at the various people she spied on, misinterpreting their lives, what she observed as only part of their stories? Her reinstatement, her volunteering to become the editor of the paper, the sharing of her stories with her readers?
5.Rosie O'Donnell as Ole Golly, the nanny in such a household, helping Harriet, inspiring her? Her eccentric style? Her boyfriend, George? Coming home late with Harriet, the clash with the parents, her decision to go away and leave Harriet to grow up by herself? Her return and helping Harriet in her crisis?
6.Harriet and her friends, Janie and Sport? Their being together, discussions? The hurt when Marion read out the observations about Janie and her experiments, Sport and his father, the writer with no money? Their spurning her? The reconciliation?
7.Marion Hawthorn, the leader of the class, the clashes with Harriet? Her getting the notebook, reading it, reading it out loud? Marion organising the club and the persecution of Harriet? Harriet's revenge? Marion and her own difficulties in her family?
8.The people Harriet spied on: Golly's boyfriend, George? As Golly's boyfriend? Seeing him take the vegetables? Interpreting him as a thief? Looking further - and his distributing the food to a poor family, his employer's agreement with this? The Chinese grocers, the arguing with the family, borrowing the truck, the differences between cultures of son and parents? The cage-maker, singing the blues, the clashes with the officials about his cats? Mrs Plummer, shut in, her eccentricities? Harriet and her having to change her perspective on people?
10.Sport's father, the writer, his house, his poverty, Sport and his relationship with his father - but ultimately the author selling his book?
11.The glimpse of Harriet's parents - the father as a television writer, social life, the clash with Golly? Sending Harriet to a psychiatrist? Trying to understand her better?
12.The atmosphere of the school, the teacher, the students? Harriet and her neighbourhood? The film's attention to detail of the supporting characters?
13.The popularity of the story, encouraging youngsters to be literate, to read, to write creatively?
