Esio Trot (film)

2015 television film by Dearbhla Walsh

Richard Curtis
Paul Mayhew-Archer

Directed byDearbhla WalshStarring

Judi Dench
Dustin Hoffman
James Corden
Richard Cordery
Pixie Davies

ComposerTim PhillipsCountry of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producers

Richard Curtis
Bob Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Matthew Read

ProducerHilary Bevan JonesCinematographyBen SmithardEditorTim MurrellRunning time90 minutesProduction companyEndor ProductionsOriginal releaseNetworkBBC OneRelease1 January 2015 (2015-01-01)

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot, or simply Esio Trot, is a British comedy drama television film directed by Dearbhla Walsh and written by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, based on the 1990 novel, Esio Trot, by Roald Dahl. In the film, a retired bachelor (Dustin Hoffman) falls in love with his neighbour, a widow (Judi Dench) who keeps a tortoise as a companion after the death of her husband.^[1]^[2]

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot debuted in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2015, on BBC One.^[3] It was seen by 7.86 million viewers, making it the ninth-most watched programme on BBC One and across all United Kingdom TV channels for the week ending 4 January 2015.^[4]

Cast

Judi Dench as Mrs. Lavinia Silver
Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Henry Hoppy
James Corden as The Narrator
Richard Cordery as Mr. Pringle
Pixie Davies as Roberta
Geoffrey McGivern as the Pet Shop Owner
Jimmy Akingbola as the keen Pet Shop Owner
Lisa Hammond as Mrs. Desmond
Anna Cannings as Mrs. Court
Joseph West as Philip
Katie Lyons as Philip's Mother
Polly Kemp as the woman on Bus
Pik-Sen Lim as Mrs. Wu
Salo Gardner as Mr. Mavrokoukoudopolous
Emily Ralph as the Little Girl

Music

The musical score is by composer Tim Phillips. All the commercial music used in the show is that of New Orleans jazz singer and trumpeter Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars, which includes Edmond Hall, Trummy Young, Billy Kyle, Arvell Shaw and Barrett Deems.

Differences from Dahl's novel

Mr. Pringle (Hoppy's rival for the affections of Mrs Silver) does not appear in the novel.
In the novel, Mr. Hoppy's ruse of switching tortoises to fool Mrs. Silver into thinking that hers is growing is successful, and she never discovers the truth. In the movie, she discovers Mr. Hoppy's plan, but eventually marries him anyway.

Production

Charlotte Moore announced the television film at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on 22 August 2013.^[1]^[5] It was produced by Hilary Bevan Jones and directed by Dearbhla Walsh.^[1]^[5] Bevan Jones said, "To bring together two of the world's favourite actors in Dame Judi and Dustin is a dream come true. Richard and Paul have captured the magic of Roald Dahl’s wonderful tale and I am thrilled that Dearbhla is to direct it."^[1]^[6] It was adapted by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, and filming took place in May 2014 in London.^[1]^[6]^[7] The apartment block featured in the film is Adelaide Wharf in Haggerston.

Reviews

The adaptation received praise, with Lucy Mangan in The Guardian writing, "An utterly, completely, inescapably beguiling adaptation of Roald Dahl's book by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, directed by Dearbhla Walsh, narrated by James Corden and starring Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench. You could argue that with a pedigree like that nothing could have gone wrong, but it doesn’t work like that. Although you can maximise your chances of being able to conjure it, charm is ineffable, alchemical. You can't measure it out by the yard and cut it off when you've got enough. You can't splash it on to a scene and then stopper it to make sure you've got enough for the next take. It just … appears, if you're careful and if you're lucky. And then it ripples through your film, or your play or your book, animating all and subtly transforming everything from a prosaic good – or even great – into a thing of wonder."^[8]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Nominated	Result
2016	44th International Emmy Awards	Best Performance by an Actor^[9]	Dustin Hoffman	Won
2016	44th International Emmy Awards	Best Performance by an Actress	Judi Dench	Nominated

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Maguire, Una (22 August 2013). "Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman to star in Roald Dahl's Esio Trot for BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
^ Sweney, Mark (22 August 2013). "Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench to star in Roald Dahl adaptation for BBC". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
^ "BBC One - Roald Dahl's Esio Trot". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
^ Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, barb.co.uk, shows Roald Dahl's Esio Trot in place 9 of most watched for week ending 4 January 2015. Accessed 23 December 2017
^ ^a ^b "BBC reveals new commissions at the Edinburgh Festival". BBC. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
^ ^a ^b Eames, Tom (22 August 2013). "Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman for Roald Dahl's 'Esio Trot' on BBC One". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
^ Patrick, Seb (23 August 2013). "Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman to Star in Roald Dahl's 'Esio Trot' for BBC". BBC America. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
^ "Esio Trot review – Dench sparkles, Hoffman is perfect; World's Strongest Man". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
^ "Brazil, UK Lead Pack For International Emmy Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.