'' is a
2005 children's film. It was adapted from
Christianna Brand's ''
Nurse Matilda '' books by
Emma Thompson .
Widower Cedric Brown has seven children. He is clumsy, loves his children but spends little time with them and cannot handle them. The children have had a series of nannies, which they systematically drive out by bad behavior. For example, they scare people by pretending to eat the youngest of them, a baby. They also terrorize the cook, Mrs. Blatherwick.
Nanny McPhee comes to help. Similar in character to
Mary Poppins , with discipline and a little magic, she transforms the family's lives. In the process, she changes from ugly to beautiful. The children, led by the eldest son Simon, first try to play their tricks on her, but gradually start to respect her and ask her for advice. They change to responsible people helping their clumsy father in solving the family problems, making McPhee less and less needed.
The family is financially supported by Cedric's nearsighted Great Aunt Adelaide. However, she demands custody over one of the children. She first wants one of the daughters, but Evangeline, the
Scullery Maid , volunteers and Adelaide agrees, assuming she is one of the daughters.
She threatens to cut off the allowance unless Cedric remarries within the month. The family would lose the house, and it would not be able to stay together. Desperate, Cedric turns to frequent widow Mrs. Quickly. The children assume from books that
Stepmother s are terrible. Therefore they sabotage a visit of Mrs. Quickly, who leaves, angry at Cedric. After the children are explained the financial aspect they agree to the marriage, and appease Mrs. Quickly by confessing they were to blame for the disturbance of her visit.
However, they discover that Mrs. Quickly is unkind. When everybody is gathered for the marriage ceremony, they disturb the ceremony by pretending there are bees, and chasing them. Cedric understands they do not like the bride, and does not like her himself, and therefore starts disturbing the ceremony himself. Mrs. Quickly cancels the marriage. This seems to mean that Adelaide's marriage deadline is missed. Simon asks Evangeline whether she loves Cedric. She first denies, explaining that that would be inappropriate, but then confirms she does. The love is reciprocal and Cedric marries Evangeline the same day, thus meeting the deadline.
Nanny McPhee leaves, in accordance with what she told the children before: "When you need me, but do not want me, then I will stay. When you want me, but do not need me, then I have to go."
''"When you need me, but do not want me, then I will stay. When you want me, but do not need me, then I have to go."'' - Nanny McPhee to the children.
''"The person you need is Nanny McPhee."'' - A mysterious voice to Cedric Brown.
''"I NEVER say 'please'!"'' - Simon Brown
''"I did knock."'' - Nanny McPhee to Mr. Brown
''"The nanny is a witch."'' - Eric Brown
''"Incest?"'' - Aunt Adelaide
- It was actually Emma Thompson who threw the cake that hits Angela Lansbury in the face.
- There was a scene where Cedric is playing around with a corpse's mouth, and tightening his jaw, but it was cut from the film as it proved too frightening for children.
As of
February 20 ,
2006 , the film grossed a total of 39.2 million dollars in the
United States Box Office.
