Roald Dahl Retrospective Episode 4: Danny the Champion of the World

In this episode of the Roald Dahl Retrospective, Patricia and
Arun discuss about the first Roald Dahl adaptation in 18 years
after the box office failure of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory. This time, it's a 1989 TV movie from Thames Television
called Danny the Champion of the World based on the 1975 book of
the same name starring Jeremy Irons, his real life son Samuel
Irons, Robbie Coltraine, and Cyril Cusack. The plot is about a
boy named Danny Smith living with his father William in a gypsy
caravan working in a gas station/car garage. A rich millionaire
named Mr. Hazell is purchasing all the land of the town except
for the gas station/car garage. After being declined of not
selling the garage, Hazell tries hiring people to try to find
ways to shut it down and William tries to get revenge on Hazell
by poaching his pheasants. He then comes up with an idea of
capturing all the pheasants so that Hazell will be made a fool
during the big hunt. Will they succeed?   


When the TV movie premiered, Liccy Dahl, Roald Dahl's widow,
claimed that he loved Danny the Champion of the World and claims
that it was one of his favorite adaptions next to The BFG that
came out a few months later. However, it has become more obscure
to the point where it has been completely forgotten except for
the people who grew up watching it. Will Patricia and Arun enjoy
Danny the Champion of the World as much as The BFG? Listen and
find out.