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Eloise at the Plaza

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Eloise at the Plaza
DVD cover
GenreComedy
Based onEloise
by Kay Thompson
Written byJanet Brownell
Directed byKevin Lima
Starring
Music byBruce Broughton
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Christine Sacani
  • Thomas D. Adelman
CinematographyJames Chressanthis
EditorGregory Perler
Running time89 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 27, 2003 (2003-04-27)
Related
Eloise at Christmastime

Eloise at the Plaza is a 2003 American comedy television film based on the Eloise series of children's books written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. It stars Sofia Vassilieva as Eloise, an irrepressible six-year-old girl who lives in the penthouse at the top of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Julie Andrews, Jeffrey Tambor, Kenneth Welsh, Debra Monk, and Christine Baranski also star.

The film was directed by Kevin Lima, written by Janet Brownell, and produced by HandMade Films and DiNovi Pictures for Walt Disney Television. Filming took place in Toronto and New York City. It aired on ABC on April 27, 2003, as an episode of The Wonderful World of Disney. A sequel, Eloise at Christmastime, aired that November.

Plot

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Eloise is a fun-loving six-year-old girl with a knack for finding adventure every place she looks. While under the care of her "rawther" wonderful nanny, Eloise tries to play matchmaker to a lonely prince and wrangle an invitation to the society event of the season.

Cast

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Production

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Filming began in November 2002,[1] and mostly took place in Toronto, Canada. Scenes were also filmed in front of the Plaza Hotel in New York City.[2] The film was shot back-to-back with Eloise at Christmastime.[1]

Reception

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Alessandra Stanley from The New York Times praised the film's fidelity to the book and the actors' performances.[3]

Reel Film Reviews gave the film two out of four stars:

Eloise at the Plaza is mildly entertaining, if only because it seems to consist of one caper after another. The film's structure soon becomes perfectly obvious – Eloise gets into a madcap adventure, adults chase her around, Nanny admonishes her, etc – and the fast pace is clearly in place to keep younger viewers interested. But, though there are a number of talented actors in the cast, Eloise just isn't a compelling enough character to sustain an entire movie. There's no doubt that the movie will act as wish fulfillment for kids – who wouldn't want to run amuck and get away with it? – but when you get right down to it, Eloise is awfully thin and one-dimensional (not to mention annoying).[4]

DVDizzy.com wrote:

The film even ascends beyond the second-tier quality that most television movies are satisfied to achieve. Eloise deserves praise not merely as a more bearable Wonderful World of Disney presentation, but as a genuinely entertaining family film, regardless of format.[5]

For his work in Eloise at the Plaza, Bruce Broughton won one Primetime Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore)".[6]

Sequel

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The film's sequel, Eloise at Christmastime, aired on ABC on November 22, 2003.

References

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  1. ^ a b Grego, Melissa (October 7, 2002). "Andrews takes nanny role in 'Eloise' telepix". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Gates, Anita (April 27, 2003). "A Suite And the City: Eloise's New York". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (April 25, 2003). "TV WEEKEND; That Girl Is Loose At the Plaza Again". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  4. ^ Nusair, David (December 14, 2003). "Eloise at the Plaza (December 14/03)". Reel Film Reviews. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Eloise at the Plaza DVD Review". DVDizzy. April 5, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  6. ^ "55th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
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