Madame Doubtfire

infobox Book |
name = Madame Doubtfire
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Anne Fine
cover_artist = Bob Lea
country = United Kingdom flagicon|UK
language = English
series =
genre = Young Adult
publisher = Hamish Hamilton
release_date = 1987
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 175pp
isbn = ISBN 0-140-37355-1

"Madame Doubtfire", known as "Alias Madame Doubtfire" in the United States, is a 1987 novel for young adults, about a family with divorced parents. It was adapted into the film "Mrs. Doubtfire", starring Robin Williams, in 1993.

Plot

Daniel and Miranda Hilliard, parents of three children, have separated and are constantly fighting. Miranda is a successful businesswoman, and is deeply angry with her husband, an impractical, out-of-work actor. Miranda is making it difficult for Daniel to see his children. But, she decides to hire a nanny to look after them, Daniel hits upon the plan of disguising himself as a woman whom is named after a character Daniel had portrayed. The two eldest children immediately knew who Madame Doubtfire really was, but the youngest and their mother had no idea. Daniel is able to spend time with his children, and Miranda comments that the house has never run better. After Miranda has discovered Daniel's secret and there has been one more terrible fight, the parents both admit their mistakes and arrangements are made for Daniel to see the children more. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2D8133BF932A35756C0A96E948260 New York Times] ]

Awards

*1987 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (shortlist) [http://www.annefine.co.uk/awards.php Awards] ]
*1987 Observer Teenage Fiction Prize (shortlist)
*1987 Whitbread Children's Book Award (shortlist)

Film Adaptation

The feature film adaptation was produced by 20th Century Fox, with a budget of $25 million, and was released on November 24, 1993. The adaptation was by Leslie Dixon and Randi Mayem Singer, and directed by Chris Columbus. Robin Williams played the titular character, and Sally Field played his wife, Miranda.

References