UNITED KINGDOM: TOY SHOPS BRACE THEMSELVES FOR CHILDREN DESPERATE TO GET ANYTHING RELATING TO HARRY POTTER

Record ID: 392269

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: TOY SHOPS BRACE THEMSELVES FOR CHILDREN DESPERATE TO GET ANYTHING RELATING TO HARRY POTTER
  • Date: 31st October 2001
  • Summary: (DIALOGUE FROM FILM HEARD OVER VISION) VARIOUS OF BIOGRAPHY OF J.K. ROWLING BIOGRAPHY ON DISPLAY IN BOOKSTORE (3 SHOTS) PAN DOWN TO CHILD STANDING BY BOOKSTORE DISPLAY READING HARRY POTTER BOOK
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UK & VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Business,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5N1GSAMYKT781UR7C0PVMDNNX
  • Story Text: It could be the most eagerly awaited film of the year.
    Little wizards everywhere are preparing their broomsticks as Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone is about to premiere in London. Cinemas have already sold out entire screenings of the film and toy shops across the capital are bracing themselves for the hordes of children desperate to lay their hands on Harry Potter merchandise. There are even reports that stolen props from the set are appearing for sale on the internet.
    Countdown to Harry Potter on the big screen has begun.
    16th November is the day the film goes on release in the British capital. And from the sales in toy shops across London, there are going to be queues of excited children desperate to get a glimpse of the real-life Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, as he brings J.K. Rowling's tale to life.
    And excited adults. Harry Potter is not just on the children's best-seller lists, it's on the adults too - a thing almost unheard of in children's fiction. Indeed in the UK children's best-sellers lists never even existed in the pre-Harry Potter world of fiction. But the little wizard rescued from his cupboard has changed all that.
    Not surprisingly, Lego sets, jigsaws, dolls, board games, stickers, t-shirts, lunch boxes, broomsticks, wands, owls, cards.... yes, the list really does go on and on. A disaster for parents but heaven for children. The Harry Potter Lego range is proving to be the biggest hit according to Hamleys Store Manager Gary Seeney. "Harry Potter Lego has sold phenomenally well. I think it's a very creative toy. Everybody knows the brand name and as soon as they backed Harry Potter and brought out a range of Harry Potter Lego, everybody wanted it."
    And in case there was any fear that there was no one left to sell the book to, thousands of people are still buying the books, proved by the fact that the Harry Potter series is Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the Children's Best-sellers List.
    Scottish writer J. K. Rowling must be feeling delighted. She's come a long way from struggling as a single mum writing her book in an Edinburgh cafe...
    Warner Bros. are keeping the £100 million film tightly under wraps. Normally at this stage, clips of the film are released to tempt the public. But Warners have clearly recognised no teasing is necessary. Cinemas have already announced entire screenings sold out to company bookings, determined to offer their clients a different kind of entertainment.
    And filming of J. K. Rowling's second book is already well underway. As all the children appear in the second film, there was a big hurry to get on with it before the boys' voices broke. But dubbing has started already on Radcliffe's voice.
    The 12-year old actor started speaking too deeply in his final scenes.
    --
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