| Harry Potter began as a glint in author J.K. Rowling's eye one day in 1990 when she was on a train from Manchester to London. Looking out of the window, she started to imagine a boy on a train travelling to a school for wizards, where he was about to start his first term. It wasn't until seven years later that she saw her idea in print. Four books have been published so far, and there will be seven in total - one for each year Harry is at school. J.K. Rowling is reported to have based Harry on her neighbour when she was a young child, a boy called Ian Potter. The pair used to play together, spending hours acting out imaginary tales. Albus Dumbledore, meanwhile, the Hogwarts headmaster, is said to be based on her old headmaster Alfie Dunn. In the movie, interior shots of Hogwarts, Harry's wonderfully colourful and imaginative school, were filmed at England's Gloucester Cathedral. Some religious leaders were appalled because of the book's associations with witchcraft. However, the cathedral's Very Reverend Nicholas Bury says:' The main reason for saying yes to the film is that the books are a very good and wholesome read for children.' A lot of people would agree, judging both by book sales and advance screenings of the film. At test screenings, audiences complained that the movie wasn't long enough - even though it has a running time af nearly two and a half hours! |