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Jeremy Irons, who stars in Danny The Champion Of The World, describes it as "that rare film I think parents will enjoy as much as children". Irons works in this film for the first time with his son (Samuel) and father-in law (Cyril Cusack).
The film is based on the best-selling children's novel, Danny The Clampion Of The World, by Roald Dahl. Set in rural England in the 1950s, is the story of nine year old Danny who lives with his father, William (Jeremy Irons), who has looked after him alone since his mother died when he was just four months old.
The tranquil existence of Danny and his father is shattered one day by the sinister and robust figure of cigar-chompmg Victor Hazell (Robbie Coltrane) who is the new lord of the local manor. Hazell is a city slicker who made his money on the blackmarket during the War and who intends, by fair means or foul, to acquire the land plum in the middle of his estate. This land is owned by Danny's father and is standing in the way of Hazell's secret development plan.
Hazell leads the village to believe that his plan is to set up a range to shoot pheasants; the locals indulge in poaching from time to time and it is accepted as a normal cultural practice. However, Danny is shocked to discover his father, who has always been his mentor, in the act of poaching. It is here that Danny learns of his cultural heritage, his grandfather was an expert in the art of poaching, and it is along this theme that Danny masterminds a "sting" which rids everyone of the villainous Hazell and leaves Danny champion of the poacher world!