Harry Potter Uses Net Wizardry for Film Preview

LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter, the world's most popular wizard, used some Internet magic on Thursday to allow fans a sneak preview of the eagerly-awaited Hollywood film of his first book.

A three-minute trailer for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" showed the bespectacled wizard and his friends-- ginger-haired Ron and the bookish Hermione -- having an enchanting time at Hogwarts, their new school.

Hogwarts is more about bewitched steam engines, flying broomstick lessons and Quidditch than school dinners, double biology lessons and soccer practice.

Those who praised the bespectacled Harry for helping children rediscover books and bringing welcome relief in the cyber era of Playstation and Pokemon may bemoan the electronic preview on World Book Day.

But the Internet trailer is testament to the diminutive wizard's global appeal.

Pottermania has gripped both adults and children and the site will give fans some clue about how director Christopher Columbus has translated J.K. Rowling's magical books onto the screen.

Briton Daniel Radcliffe was the lucky 11-year-old picked from hundreds of hopefuls to play Harry.

Clips showed him disappearing under a snowstorm of Hogwarts letters, hidden by his Muggle (non-wizard) aunt and uncle in an attempt to prevent him becoming a pupil there.

Heavyweight Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane also featured in the trailer as Hagrid, the school's groundsman who befriends the young wizard.

And Dame Maggie Smith looked suitably authoritarian as transfiguration teacher Professor McGonagall.

The film will be released in the U.S. and the UK on November 16. The trailer can be found online at harrypotter.co.uk.

Rowling has published four of the seven volumes planned in the Potter series.
More than 60 million copies have been sold in 200 countries.

In honor of her services to children's literature, Rowling will go to Buckingham Palace on Friday to receive an Order of the British Empire award from Queen Elizabeth.

"Harry Potter Uses Net Wizardry for Film Preview"

by Claire Soares (Reuters, March 1, 2001)

	"Harry Potter Uses Net Wizardry for Film Preview" by Claire Soares (Reuters, March 1, 2001)
LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter, the world's most popular wizard, used some Internet magic on Thursday to allow fans a sneak preview of the eagerly-awaited Hollywood film of his first book. A three-minute trailer for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" showed the bespectacled wizard and his friends-- ginger-haired Ron and the bookish Hermione -- having an enchanting time at Hogwarts, their new school. Hogwarts is more about bewitched steam engines, flying broomstick lessons and Quidditch than school dinners, double biology lessons and soccer practice. Those who praised the bespectacled Harry for helping children rediscover books and bringing welcome relief in the cyber era of Playstation and Pokemon may bemoan the electronic preview on World Book Day. But the Internet trailer is testament to the diminutive wizard's global appeal. Pottermania has gripped both adults and children and the site will give fans some clue about how director Christopher Columbus has translated J.K. Rowling's magical books onto the screen. Briton Daniel Radcliffe was the lucky 11-year-old picked from hundreds of hopefuls to play Harry. Clips showed him disappearing under a snowstorm of Hogwarts letters, hidden by his Muggle (non-wizard) aunt and uncle in an attempt to prevent him becoming a pupil there. Heavyweight Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane also featured in the trailer as Hagrid, the school's groundsman who befriends the young wizard. And Dame Maggie Smith looked suitably authoritarian as transfiguration teacher Professor McGonagall. The film will be released in the U.S. and the UK on November 16. The trailer can be found online at harrypotter.co.uk. Rowling has published four of the seven volumes planned in the Potter series. More than 60 million copies have been sold in 200 countries. In honor of her services to children's literature, Rowling will go to Buckingham Palace on Friday to receive an Order of the British Empire award from Queen Elizabeth.