Category: Cinema 31
12 Things They Cut From Harry PotterThe book stuff that went missing from the movies
1Professor Cuthbert Binns
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)The only ghost teaching at Hogwarts – he died in his sleep one day years ago, didn’t notice and just carried on turning up to take his lessons.
The students wish he hadn’t, though: he’s legendarily dull, making his History Of Magic lessons a war of attrition. The only excitement in his classroom is when he drifts in through the blackboard.
Dad’s Army’s Private Godfrey would have been perfect for the role. And he’s dead – that’s Method for you.
2Peeves The Poltergeist
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)Pesky prankster Peeves is an anarchic poltergeist whose only goal is to create chaos. His sworn enemy is Argus Filch, the school caretaker, who has to clear up after him.
Rumours that he could be the ghost of Jeremy Beadle remain unfounded. Rik Mayall did film a scene as Peeves for Philosopher’s Stone, but it got chopped.
3Borgin & Burke's
Should Have Been In: Chamber Of Secrets (2002)Tenpole Tudor front man (and Crystal Maze presenter) Ed Tudor Pole filmed a scene as Mr Borgin – proprietor of the shop in Knockturn Alley that buys and sells objects of dark magic and other dangerous artefacts – for Chamber Of Secrets, but it was cut.
Despite the character appearing in the book of Half-Blood Prince, there’s no sign of Mr Tudor in the cast list. Time for that Tenpole reunion tour, perhaps?
4Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore
Should Have Been In: Chamber Of Secrets (2002)This deceased Sir is the head of the Headless Hunt – a group for spirits that has a zero-tolerance entrance requirement: you’re barred if your head isn’t completely cleaved from your body. Such rules are much to the annoyance of Hogwarts spook Nearly Headless Nick (John Cleese in the film), whose bouncing bonce clings on by a single sinew.
5The Origins Of The Marauder's Map
Should Have Been In: Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)If you’ve never read the book, the magic map given to Harry in Prisoner Of Azkaban seems to have ‘lazy plot device’ written all over it.
In fact, what it actually had written all over it is ‘Messrs Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs’, which is a clue as to its origins and a whole subplot about Harry’s dad, Sirius Black and the other map creators being animagii – those with the ability to turn into animals.
6Spew
Should Have Been In: Goblet Of Fire (2005) & Order Of The Phoenix (2007)By Goblet Of Fire, huge swathes of the novels had to be ejected, but few mourned the loss of a subplot that would have seen the return of irritating house elf Dobby.
Hermione forms SPEW – Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare – to champion the rights of house elves. She’s spurred on by the maltreatment of Winky, a female house elf who became an alcoholic.
7Ron's Quidditch Exploits
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)Quidditch was a casualty in Order Of The Phoenix. An entire comedy subplot about Ron becoming the unlikely Keeper in the Gryffindor Quidditch team was completely excised, to the disappointment of Rupert Grint, who’d been looking forward to some broom action.
This meant we were also sadly robbed of the Slytherins’ dubious terrace chant: “Weasley cannot save a thing, He can’t block a single ring.”
8Ludo Bagman
Should Have Been In: Goblet Of Fire (2005)A smooth-talking rogue who manages to charm his way into the role of Minister of Magical Games and Sports. He’s in charge of the Quidditch World Cup and even commentates on the matches.
A gambling man who owes a lot of gold to some Goblins, he bets on Harry to win the TriWizard Tournament then uses his influence to try and fix the result.
9Quidditch World Cup
Should Have Been In: Goblet Of Fire (2005)The Quidditch World Cup is a major set-piece that chews up a massive chunk of Goblet Of Fire, with a succession of matches leading to a spectacular final between Ireland and Bulgaria.
In the film we get an opening ceremony, a bit of scarf waving and a jarring jump cut. OK, it’s not essential to the plot, but the lack of any Quidditch action after all the build-up (and the stunning stadium) is a gaping absence in the film.
Shame. The Apprentice’s Nick Hewer could have done a great cameo as the ref.
10Marietta Edgecombe
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)Dirty rotten sneak Marietta is the grass who betrays Harry’s secret army to Hogwarts headmistress Dolores Umbridge. Daringly in the film, this betrayal is given instead to Harry’s girlfriend Cho, which is much more dramatically satisfying.
Sadly, Cho doesn’t share the unfortunate fate of the book’s traitor: a vengeful Hermione jinxes her so that her forehead erupts with zits spelling out 'SNEAK’.
11Percy Weasley: Traitor
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)In the film, elder Weasley sprog Percy – now working for the Ministry of Magic – comes across as a slimy yes-man. In the books he’s an all-out traitor, disowning his family and sending Christmas presents back unopened.
The film could have run with the idea of Percy going really evil – fiddling his expenses and claiming on a second Gnome or something.
12Kreacher's Hoarding
Should Have Been In: Order Of The Phoenix (2007)Aged house elf Kreacher would have been a no-brainer to cut from the fifth film, but JK Rowling herself insisted on his appearance.
But his role was snipped to a virtual cameo, wandering around the Order Of The Phoenix’s HQ (Sirius Black’s family home) grumbling and cursing.
In the book, the sour creature has a major role to play in betraying Sirius to the Malfoys. A big plot point about him hoarding old Black family heirlooms was left out, but will have to be addressed at some point in the film series...
http://www.totalfilm.com/features/12-things-they-cut-from-harry-potter
What other parts of the books were cut out in the movies? Another one is in HPSS the part about Norbert the dragon where Harry and Hermione help get him up the astronomy tower to Charlie's friends. Also, in OotP, they didn't show the part when they go to St. Mungo's hospital to visit Arthur Weasley and Harry sees Lockheart and Neville's parents.
Hmm. Thanks for mentioning that Bella! Lol!
Also, Bill and CHarlie didn't appear in Gobblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix or Half Blood Prince. Bill does marry Fleur after all.
Yeah. That should have been in there!
I'm so glad I'm not into the films! Every time they make a film of a book, they completely ruin it. Guess they had to do it with these too. And this is the kind of book that would make an amazing film if it stayed true to the writing, especially Quidditch and removing some of those things was just plain ridiculous. I also don't like how they took liberties by changing the plot as shown here.
I think what really makes me angry is the way that starting with the third film they almost totally eliminated the interaction between Harry and Dumbledore. At the end of each book there's that major conversation between Harry and Dumbledore that clarifies what happened in that book and whatnot. But the movies totally ditched those important bits.
I am currently going through and viewing each movie, and so much is different between the books and movies that I have been forced to come to one decision. If you are going to enjoy the movies, and you have read the books, do not compare them, enjoy each for what it is and let it go at that. The twelve things listed here do not even really begin the list of things they have changed, removed or added. So, enjoy them for what they are. :)
Maybe, someday, a place like the BBC can do an audio dramadisation and finally get it right. That would be really neat actually.
I actually heard they were planning on doing that years ago. And they do tend to do good jobs with things like that. Back in 1981 they did an excellent dramatization of the Lord of the Rings (although if you're not a fan that might be of no real concern), and what few Narnia dramatizations I've heard have been fairly well done. So if they ever decide to do Harry Potter I don't doubt that overall they'll do a fine job.
Post 8 makes a valid point.
There is no way they're going to fit everything in the book into the space of 2, 3 hours.
Even lord of the rings has many chapters missing from the films.
audio dramas will also leave things out.
The chronicles of Narnia were remade by focus on the family around 10 years ago, and judging by the stories I heard so far, I think I prefer the focus on the family versions to the BBC ones.
What the BBC did was good for its time.
I'm not going to comment on the lord of the rings audio drama, cause I haven't heard all of them, but based on what someone told me, they also have sections missing.