Eloise in Hollywood
Visit Hollywood with Eloise This Month on Starz Kids and Family
Go along with Eloise and Nanny on their exciting trip to Hollywood where Eloise realizes that life as a big movie star isn't as glamorous as she expected.
The jury is out on whether or not Liza Minnelli was truly the inspiration for Eloise, a children’s book character who lived at a grand hotel in New York City known as the Plaza. Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, did indeed spend some years of her childhood at the Plaza, and Kay Thompson, the creator of Eloise, was even her godmother. However, some believe that the character of Eloise was based on the author herself or maybe even on another person altogether. We’ll probably never know for sure since Thompson passed on in 1998.
The origin of the privileged Eloise, a character created in the late 1940’s, really doesn’t have any impact on one’s enjoyment of the animated series. Eloise is a precocious little girl who is surrounded by people who care for her even though her mother, an actress, is often absent. Her family is made up of “Nanny” and the Plaza employees she knows so well and loves dearly. While she normally spends her days exploring the hotel, Eloise in Hollywood takes the spunky character to California after she is invited to visit a real-life movie set. Eloise is surprised when she’s asked to read for a small role in the film and happily accepts when she’s offered the part.
Debby Lincoln, a little girl Eloise met on the train, is set to play a major role in the movie but loses her big chance when she acts out and offends the director. Eloise is asked to replace her and she agrees, having no idea just how difficult movie-making can be--especially when the director is a perfectionist and requires many takes for each scene.
Eloise becomes bored and frustrated and wants to quit, so she fakes an injury and Debby Lincoln is given another chance to play the part. After taking some time to see some of the sites around town, Eloise happily returns to New York and finds her mother waiting for her at the Plaza.
This is a delightful Eloise special, but some parents may be concerned about the fact that Eloise is dishonest when she acts like she’s hurt in order to be released from her movie contract. Parents may want to discuss the issue of truthfulness with their children, encouraging them to come up with more honest ways for Eloise to deal with her problem.
Eloise in Hollywood is set to air on March 11 and March 17 at 6pm ET on Starz Kids and Family and will feature interviews with Liza Minnelli and Mary Matilyn Mouser, the voice of Eloise. Families who want to purchase a copy of Eloise in Hollywood will be able to do so when the DVD is released on Tuesday, March 13.
Sources: PR Newswire 2/21/07 and EloiseWebsite.com
