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Film / Eloise at the Plaza

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Eloise at the Plaza is a 2003 Canadian-American made-for-TV movie, based on the Kay Thompson Eloise book series. The film follows the adventures of six-year-old Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva), who lives at the Plaza Hotel with her beloved Nanny (Julie Andrews) and annoys the concierge, Mr. Salomone (Jeffrey Tambor). When a troubled little boy named Leon (Kintaro Akiyama) meets Eloise, they become fast friends, with Eloise unaware that the boy is a Chinese prince travelling with his widowed father.

Compare Madeline, an earlier 1998 film which establishes a very similar plot structure to Eloise At the Plaza.

The movie was quickly followed by a sequel, Eloise At Christmastime (2003). Audio from the film was lip-synced over by TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney when she dressed up as Eloise and made a video of herself staying at The Plaza for her Days of Girlhood web series.


This film provides examples of:

  • Actor Allusion: Julie Andrews' role as Nanny appears to be shout out to two of her famous roles on stage and on screen: Mary Poppins (her position as Eloise's nanny) and Eliza Doolittle (her accent).
  • Anachronism Stew: The two Live-Action Adaptations starring Sofia Vassilieva were ostensibly set in the 1950s, based on the clothing and certain vehicles, but it seems like the producers forgot to keep it true to Kay Thompson's 1950s setting. Cars from the 1990s and early 21st century appear in certain scenes, and a montage shot of the MetLife building and several other present-day structures, particularly Times Square at the time the film was shown, showed up halfway through.
  • Angry Chef: Played by Julian Richings, the chef in the film is loud, dramatic, angry and an extreme worrywart.
  • Beta Couple:
    • Nanny and Sir Wilkes.
    • The Prince of Kushin and Mrs. Daniels. Also counts as a Ship Tease.
    • Molly and Phillip.
  • Bratty Half-Pint: Eloise, somewhat averted by the fact that she means no harm, but much of her behaviour is consistently annoying, disruptive and rude.
  • The Jeeves: Mr. Salomone is this character to a tee.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Leon's father is oppressive and callous, but he means well. Having lost his wife, he only wants to protect his son.
  • My Beloved Smother: Mrs. Daniels sees class before Molly's happiness and thanks to having tea with Nanny and Sir Wilkes, she softens up.
  • Rebel Prince: Leon, who runs away with Eloise for a day in New York City to get away from his oppressive father and enjoy life as a regular boy.
  • Retro Universe: The film appears to be set in the present day with a lot of 50s aesthetics in order to match the books.

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