Hexham Abbey Film Club – James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach is a live‑action and stop‑motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel. It tells the story of James Henry Trotter, a lonely English orphan forced to live with his cruel aunts, Spiker and Sponge. His life changes when a mysterious old man gives him magical “crocodile tongues,” which accidentally create a giant peach on a barren tree.

Inside the peach, James discovers a warm, quirky group of human‑sized insect friends—including Mr. Grasshopper, Ms. Spider, Mr. Centipede, Mrs. Ladybug, and more—who join him on an unexpected journey. To escape his aunts, the peach breaks free and rolls into the sea, carrying James and his new companions across the Atlantic Ocean toward his dream destination: New York City. Along the way they encounter dangers such as a mechanical shark and ghostly pirates, relying on teamwork, bravery, and imagination to survive.

The film blends whimsy, adventure, and emotional warmth as James discovers friendship, courage, and a sense of belonging. Released in 1996, it was praised for its storytelling and striking visuals.